23rd Infantry Division ( India ) The Indian 23rd Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II . It fought in the Burma Campaign . History . The division was raised on 1 January 1942 , at Jhansi in Central India . Its badge was a red fighting cock on a yellow circle . ( The animal was chosen by Major General Reginald Savory , the division ' s first commander , as one which would offend neither the Moslem nor Hindu soldiers of the division . In May that year , while the division was still forming , it was ordered to Imphal in Manipur , where Burma Corps was retreating , having been driven out of Burma by the Japanese . Imphal lay within the mountainous frontier between India and Burma , and the division was ordered to move while the monsoon season was at its height . Movement was difficult , and disease ( mainly malaria , but also typhus ) was rampant . The division ' s chief claim to respect lies in holding its positions in these trying conditions , while also trying to undertake basic training . On 3 June 1943 , Major General Savory was promoted and appointed Director of Infantry in India . The division was temporarily commanded by Brigadier Collingridge of 37th Brigade until 15 August , when Major General Ouvry Lindfield Roberts , who had gained widespread respect by his handling of operations in the Middle East , was appointed . Battle of Imphal . In March , 1944 , the Japanese launched a major attack on the British troops at Imphal . At the time , 23rd Division was the reserve unit for Indian IV Corps . After its previous service in Imphal , the division was no less than 5 , 000 men short of establishment ( about 18 , 500 ) . This was due mainly to disease , and poor administration in the rear areas in 1943 , which prevented many recovering sick men from rejoining the division . When the Japanese offensive began , Indian 17th Infantry Division was cut off in its forward position at Tiddim . One brigade of 23rd division was left to hold Imphal while the remainder of the division was sent to help extricate the 17th Division . Once the two divisions had linked up , they retreated to Bishenpur south of Imphal , being supplied by parachute drops . The 23rd Division was then sent to Kanglatongbi , north of Imphal , where Japanese troops had cut the road linking Imphal with India and were threatening a major supply dump . The Japanese were held back while the dump was emptied of stores . In June , all the divisions at Imphal were reorganised and repositioned . 23rd Division defended the Shenam Saddle southeast of Imphal against the last Japanese attacks in this area . Operation Zipper . After the end of the Battle of Imphal , the division was withdrawn to India . After recuperating , it began training for future operations in Malaya . Major General Roberts was promoted to command Indian XXXIV Corps , and the division was commanded by Major General Douglas Hawthorn . In mid - 1945 , the division was due to take part in Operation Zipper , a landing on the west coast of Malaya , as part of XXXIV Corps . Although forestalled by the Japanese surrender , the landing took place unopposed , as the quickest means of sending troops to Malaya to enforce the surrender . Later that year , the division was sent to Java , where the end of the war had brought widespread disorder and conflict between the restored Dutch East Indies colonial regime and pro - independence movements . The division was broken up in Java , and its units were merged into Indian 5th Infantry Division . Order of battle . " as of 1st April , 1944 " Assigned brigades . All theses brigades were assigned or attached to the division at some time during World War II