 Organised into two groups , the Chindits ' first operation ( codenamed <unk> ) began on 8 February 1943 . No. 2 Group , commanded by Lieutenant Colonel S.A. Cooke , was formed from the 13th King 's and divided into five independent columns , two of which ( Nos 7 and 8 ) were commanded by majors from the battalion . No Japanese opposition was encountered initially , allowing the Chindits to cross the Chindwin River and advance into Burma unimpeded . 
