 The 13th Battalion , King 's Regiment , was raised in October 1940 for coastal defence in England and assigned to the 208th Independent Infantry Brigade ( Home ) . The battalion sailed for India in December 1941 , coinciding with Japan 's entrance into the war . Intended for internal security and garrison duties , the 13th 's strength contained many men categorised as old or of a medically downgraded condition with the result that few men were well trained . After Japan occupied Burma in 1942 , the Allies formed a unit intended to penetrate deep behind Japanese lines from India . The 13th King 's provided the majority of the British contingent for the " Chindits " , which was formally designated as the 77th Indian Infantry Brigade and commanded by Brigadier Orde Wingate . 
