‘X’ – 104th Mortar Battery, W.A.A.

The H.Q.R.A., 82nd (W.A.) Infantry Division received on 24th July 1944 advanced copies of new war establishments for Divisional Artillery Units.  Amongst these, was the formation of a Divisional 3-inch mortar regiment of three batteries, each of two troops each quipped with four 3-inch mortars.  The new regiment was formed from the mortar troops of the light batteries, augmented with personnel from the 84th L.A.A. Battery, which was to be disbanded.[1]

‘X’ Mortar Battery, W.A.A.

'X' Mortar Battery, West African Artillery was formed on 1st August 1944 at Jhalida (Jhalda), West Bengal, and regimented with 'X' Mortar Regiment, W.A.A.

On 1st September 1944, the Battery was re-titled to become the 104th Mortar Battery, W.A.A. and regimented with the 42nd Mortar Regiment, W.A.A. (redesignated from ‘X’ Mortar Regiment, W.A.A.).[2]

104th Mortar Battery, W.A.A.

The 104th Mortar Battery, W.A.A. served with the 42nd Regiment as part of the 82nd (W.A.) Infantry Division. [3]

The Regiment moved to East Bengal in November 1944 before moving to the Arakan.  Having arrived in the Bawli area, the Regimental H.Q. with the 105th and 106th Batteries was ordered to Goppe and the 104th Battery to Razabil, leaving on 2nd December.  The 104th Battery arrived at Razabil on 5th December and came under the command of the 1st (W.A.) Infantry Brigade.[4] 

The Regiment advanced with the 82nd Division into the Kaladan Valley and southwards.  The Myohaung area was reached by 22nd January 1945.  The mortars had been in action several times against the Japanese.  The Regimental H.Q. was at the Dakota airstrip, Myohuang, with the 104th Battery under the 1st (W.A.) Infantry Brigade, the 105th also under that brigade but due to come under the 4th (W.A.) Infantry Brigade when that formation reached Kyweguseik and the 106th Battery at Myohaung.[5]

The 82nd (W.A.) Infantry Division was directed to advance southwards along the coast towards An,  The 4th (W.A.) Infantry Brigade was now sent to Taungup and on 12th April, the 104th Battery left to join the Brigade the next day.[6]

By the end of April 1945, the Japanese had withdrawn from the Arakan.  There was little now for the 82nd (W.A.) Infantry Division to do and on 1st May it came under direct command of H.Q. ALFSEA.  The 42nd Mortar Regiment, W.A.A. prepared monsoon accommodation to the north of Taungup, in the Kindaunggyi area, where the 82nd Divisional Artillery was gathering, and by 5th May, the Regimental H.Q. and the 104th and 105th Batteries had moved into their monsoon quarters.  They were joined there by the 106th Battery on 15th May.[7]

The Regiment remained in the monsoon quarters until December 1945,  As part of a general move of the 82nd (W.A.) Infantry Division to the Prome area, the 42nd Mortar Regiment left Kindaunggyi for the new area on 14th December.  The Regiment was complete in the new area near Prome by 24th December.[8]

16 July 2025