17th Gurkha Division
Military unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 17th Gurkha Division/Overseas Commonwealth Land Forces (Malaya) was a British military formation that saw active service during the Malayan Emergency.
| 17th Gurkha Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1952â1970 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Light infantry |
| Role | Anti-tank warfare Artillery observer Close-quarters battle Counterinsurgency Indirect fire Jungle warfare Mountain warfare Raiding Reconnaissance |
| Size | Division |
| Engagements | Malayan Emergency |
History
The Division was formed by redesignating Headquarters South Malaya District at Maxwell Road Camp, Malaya, on 1 September 1952 as part of the army response to the Malayan Emergency.[1]
It perpetuated the traditions of the former 17th Indian Infantry Division which had used a Black Cat as its emblem.[2]
Headquarters 17th Gurkha Division was the operational headquarters for all British and Gurkha units in Malaya.[3] It controlled the 26th, 48th and 63rd Gurkha Brigades, and 99th Gurkha Brigade which formed about 1952 also came under command. Maxwell Road Camp was renamed Lamjung Camp in 1953.[4]
In 1957, upon the Federation of Malaya gaining independence from British colonial rule, the Division was redesignated as the 17th Gurkha Division/Overseas Commonwealth Land Forces (Malaya).[5]
It was based at Lamjung Camp in Kuala Lumpur until 1966 when it moved to Seremban[4] where it remained until the Division disbanded in 1970.[6]
General Officers Commanding
Commanders included:[6]
- 1952â1955 Major-General Lancelot Perowne
- 1955â1958 Major-General Richard Anderson
- 1958â1961 Major-General Jim Robertson
- 1961â1964 Major-General Walter Walker
- 1964â1965 Major-General Peter Hunt
- 1965â1969 Major-General Arthur Patterson
- 1969â1970 Major-General Derek Horsford