NAM.1954-02-9-1

Dha sword with scabbard, nd. Single edged blade, without a point, the end being cut square. Indented outline of a revolver near the shoulder. Wooden hilt, covered with silver. Lower part of grip faceted, with circular ring. Upper part of grip has decorative twisted and plaited wire bands and a metal mesh binding. Pommel shaped like ‘a garlic bulb’. Kachin Chiefs ceremonial sword, presented to Lt Col E D Timms OBE 5/13 F F Rifles, by the men of the 1st Bn Kachin Rifles, on the occasion of his handing over command of the Regiment to a Kachin Lt Col in Nov 1947, having commanded the Regiment from August 1945. According to the donor, the 1st Bn Kachin Rifles were originally an irregular force called the Northern Kachin Levies. This unit fought in Burma from Sunprabanu down to Myetkynia and afterwards, the Captain of Myetkynia’s Army Headquarters decided to turn this unit into a Regular Battalion. This battalion was formed at Bhamo and subsequently went to Muse on the River Shweli. A second Kachin Rifle Battalion was shortly formed, and at Partition time, 1947-1948, there were two Kachin Regular Bns. The 1st Kachin Rifles and the 2nd Kachin Rifles.