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Eastern Arunachal Pradesh: The
Walong Battle continues...
In the lull after the first phase of the Chinese attack from 20th-24th October, a new divisional HQ was set up, named 2 Infantry Division (2 Div), in the Digboi-Tinsukhia area, to take over operational responsibility in Subansiri, Siang and Lohit Frontier Divisions of NEFA. Maj. Gen. 1 Mohinder Singh Pathania , who was GOC 23 Infantry Division at the time, was given command of the new 2 Div.
He arrived at Walong on 26th October. 181 Brigade was accordingly placed under 2 Div. But Maj.Gen. Pathania preferred to have Brig. N.C. Rawlley, Military Cross, and his HQ 11 Infantry Brigade, one of 4 Div’s original brigades, then located in Manipur. The new Brigade Commander arrived at Walong on 31st October. 181 Brigade was re-tasked to face the border with Myanmar [Burma].
As Brig. Sodhi comments, ‘This meant that, in just a period of ten days, there were three changes of command which left its mark on the preparations for the coming battle.’ Two changes of Div HQ and three changes of Brigade HQ for the existing two battalions, 6th Kumaon and 4th Sikh. To add to the confusion, 2/8 Gorkha Rifles of 62 Infantry Brigade, which was in the process of induction and already had two companies air-lifted into Walong on October 25, was ordered to move to 5 Brigade which was now responsible for the Subansiri, Siang and western Lohit Frontier Divisions. 3/3 Gorkha Rifles was also flown in, which could concentrate at Walong only in the first week of November.
This resulted in its being deployed with two companies on either bank of the unfordable Lohit River, two of them going under command of 4th Sikh, while one company of 4th Sikh came under command 3/3 G.R. The command hierarchy for the sector at this stage was 11 Infantry Brigade under 2 Infantry Division under Lt. Gen. Kaul’s 4 Corps.
To be continued...