THE ARAKAN CAMPAIGN OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH INDIAN DIVISION March 1944 - March 1945

Formed in Southern India in August 1942 for the defence of the area in the event of a Japanese invasion, the ’Ace of Spades’ Division had its baptism of fire in Arakan in February 1944. It served throughout the remainder of that campaign, the climax being the battle of Tamandu. Its victorious fight for the Kangaw roadblock was considered by many to be the fiercest battle of the whole of the Burma War, while its liberation of Akyab was convincing proof to the world that the tide of war had turned against the Japanese.

In January 1945, the Division took part in the first large-scale amphibious operations in South-East Asia. They were ferried across the four-mile-wide Mayu estuary to land on the northern beaches of Akyab Island and in the course of the following weeks they occupied Myrbaw and Ruywa. The Badge of this unit was a black Ace of Spades on a green background. This epic history is accompanied by seven maps and concludes with a list of honours and awards to all ranks.