HISTORY OF BURMA AS I REMEMBER

Part 7.
Since 1885 after the Third Anglo - Burmese War Burma had become a Colony of the British Empire, later on, attached to British India. On 1 April 1937, Burma became a separate colony. Burmese were now eligible to join the army under British. British Burma Army consisted of Karen [27.8%], Chin [22.6%], Kachin [22.9%], and Burman [12.3%]. Burmese were not much interested in joining the armed forces. After Bogyoke Aung San and Twenty Nine Comrades completed military training, with the assistance from the Japanese Imperial Army, BIA [Burma Independence Army] was formed in December 1941. According to a reliable source the strength of BIA was approximately 22,000. BIA was dissolved and BDA [Burma Defense Army] was formed on August 26, 1942. By August 1, 1943 BDA was transformed into BNA [Burma National Army]. BNA changed side and allied with the Allied Forces on March 27, 1945. Japanese Imperial Army noted that as Desertion and Treason, and if they could have their way Bogyoke Aung San would be Court Marshall.

Bogyoke Aung San with Military Officers. Burma Army was reorganized in September 1945 at Kandy Conference, combining British Burma Army and the Patriotic Burmese Force. A total of 15 Rifle Battalions were formed, four of them were made up of Patriotic Burmese Force and the rests were formed on ethnic base. No. 1 Burma Rifles made up of Patriotic Burmese Force. No. 2 Burma Rifles made up of 2 Karen Companies + 1 Chin Company and 1 Kachin Company. No. 3 Burma Rifles with Patriotic Burmese Force under CO Major Kyaw Zaw.

No. 4 Burma Rifles with Patriotic Burmese Force under CO Lieutenant Colonel Ne Win. No. 5 Burma Rifles with Patriotic Burmese Force under CO Lieutenant Colonel Zeya. No. 6 Burma Rifles formed after Bogyoke Aung San was assassinated in later part of 1947 with Patriotic Burmese Force; First CO was Lieutenant Colonel Zeya. No. 1 Karen Rifles, No. 2 Karen Rifles, and No. 3 Karen Rifles with former members of British Burma Army and ABRO [Army of Burma Reserve Organization]. No. 1 Kachin Rifles and No. 2 Kachin Rifles with Kachin from former members of British Burma Army and ABRO. No. 1 Chin Rifles and No. 2 Chin Rifles with Chin from former members of British Burma Army and ABRO. No. 4 Burma Regiment with Gorkha. Chin Hill Battalion with Chin. With Kandy Agreement Burma Army Officers were given BC Numbers [Burma Commission] and it was started from BC 3500: Bo Let Yar BC 3501, Ne Win BC 3502, Aung Shwe BC 3505, Maung Maung BC 3507, Tin Phay BC 3508, Aye Maung BC 3512, Kyi Maung BC 3516, Tin Maung BC 3517, Saw Myint BC 3518, Chit Myaing BC 3520, Thaung Kyi BC 3523, Sein Win BC 3525, Kyaw Soe BC 3526, Khin Nyo BC 3537, San Yu BC 3569, Hla Maw BC 3570, Kyi Win BC 3572, Than Sein BC 3574, Maung Shwe BC 3575, Kyaw Myint BC 3581, Thein Tote BC 3647, Chit Khaing BC 3649, Thura Tin Oo BC 3651, etc. Baby Officers of later years Burma Army: Senior General Saw Maung BC 6187, Senior General Than Shwe BC 6710, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing BC 14232.

Burma Defense Army [BDA] The rest of the Patriotic Force that were not incorporated into newly formed Burma Army were assigned to the PVO [Patriotic Volunteers Organization - Pyithu. Ye Baw]. It was Bogyoke Aung San who assigned different officers to different institution Burma Army and PVO. In the ensuing years of Independence Burma was engulfed with insurgencies, multi-colors, PVO succumbed to the color scheme also White and Yellow. White went underground, aligned with the Communists and the Yellow remained above ground aligned with the AFPFL Government. Yellow PVO Rangoon based faction had its Headquarters at Louis Road. From U Wisara Road towards Hantharwaddy Circle turn right at Boundary Road and turn left into Louis Road that would lead to Golden Valley. It was on the left hand side; a little further up would get to First Burma Broadcasting Service [BBS]. The Headquarter was under the leadership of Bo Sein Hman, one of the leaders of the Yellow PVO along with Bo Hmu Aung. A few months before the Constituent Assembly was convened Thakin Nu and family was moved from the servant quarters of the AFPFL Hqtrs to the PVO Hqtrs. The AFPFL headquarters at that time was at Bahan Quarters of Rangoon near Kandawgyi Lake. It was a huge two-storey building. The makeshift living quarter was situated at the end of the ground floor on the right, a one bedroom, probably meant for the

servant. Pagan U Ba Gyan, Daw Mya Kyi and their son Ko Aye Ko occupied another one bedroom like Nu across the hall. The Hut Nu family moved in was on a little mound that had walls of bamboo matting totally eaten by termites and covered with termite excrements. New inhabitants were very careful not to touch the wall because one could poke a finger to make a hole or with a little force the entire walling, even the whole hut, might fell apart. The hut had dhani [nipa palm] thatch roof, a living room part of which was used as shrine room and it was a two room hut. It was quite roomy compared to the AFPFL Headquarters living condition. This was the best accommodation Burma under the British could offer the President of the Constituent Assembly.

Lord Mountbatten of Burma inspecting Guard of Honor in Rangoon, Burma after Independence, escorted by Prime Minister U Nu. During the course of insurrection, PVO Leader Bo Sein Hman fell in a very heroic way. He went to bid farewell to the Prime Minister along with five comrades before they went to Tharrawaddy to defend his native town from the onslaught of the rebels coming down from Thayetmyo. The Prime Minister could only give his blessing and a Bren gun to Bo Sein Hman. Bo Sein Hman defended not only his hometown from being taken over by the rebels but also was able to thwart the rebels plan to march down to Rangoon. He had Burma Air Force cooperation and in one of the aerial scouting sorties, a fatal single bullet from the enemy from the ground went through his seat. The lion hearted Bo Sein Hman was no more.

2/14/2014 3:10:14 PM