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{{Short description|Burmese general}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}} | ||
{{Infobox military person | {{Infobox military person | ||
|honorific_prefix=[[Lieutenant General]] | |honorific_prefix=[[Lieutenant General]] | ||
|name=Smith Dun | |name=Smith Dun | ||
|honorific_suffix= [[Military Cross|MC]] | |honorific_suffix= {{post-nominals|list=[[Military Cross|MC]]}} | ||
|image=Smith Dun.jpg | |image=Smith Dun.jpg | ||
|caption= | |caption= | ||
|birth_date={{birth date|1906|11|11|df=y}} | |birth_date={{birth date|1906|11|11|df=y}} | ||
|death_date={{death-date and age|1979|11 November 1906}} | |death_date={{death-date and age|1979|11 November 1906}} | ||
|birth_place=[[Irrawaddy delta]], [[ | |birth_place=[[Irrawaddy delta]], [[Burma Province]], [[British Raj|British India]] | ||
|death_place=[[Kalaw]], [[Shan State]], [[Burma]] | |death_place=[[Kalaw]], [[Shan State]], [[Burma]] | ||
|nickname=The Four-Foot Colonel | |nickname=The Four-Foot Colonel | ||
|allegiance={{ | |allegiance={{flag|British India}}<br/>{{flag|British Burma}}<br/>{{flag|Burma|1948}} | ||
|branch= {{army|British | |branch= {{army|British India}}<br/> {{flagicon image|Flag of Burma (1939–1941, 1945–1948).svg}} [[British Burma Army]] <br/>{{flagicon image|Former army flag of Myanmar.png}} [[Burmese Army]] | ||
|serviceyears= | |serviceyears=1924–1949 | ||
|rank=[[Lieutenant-General]] (Burmese Army)<br/>[[Brigadier]] (Indian Army) | |rank=[[Lieutenant-General]] (Burmese Army)<br/>[[Brigadier]] (Indian Army) | ||
|servicenumber = IC-3 (India)<br/>BC 5106 (Burma) | |servicenumber = IC-3 (India)<br/>BC 5106 (Burma) | ||
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}} | }} | ||
[[Lieutenant General]] '''Smith Dun''' [[Military Cross|MC]] (11 November 1906 – 1979<!--- BC 5106--->) was the commander-in-chief of the [[Burma|Burmese]] Army from 4 January 1948 to 1 February 1949. | [[Lieutenant General]] '''Smith Dun''' {{post-nominals|list=[[Military Cross|MC]]}} (11 November 1906 – 1979<!--- BC 5106--->) was the commander-in-chief of the [[Burma|Burmese]] Army from 4 January 1948 to 1 February 1949. He was an ethnic [[Karen people|Karen]] and the first person belonging to the ethnic group to hold the office. | ||
Dun enlisted in the Indian Army on 8 November 1924, initially with the 10th battalion [[20th Burma Rifles]] and after training served with the 2nd battalion 20th Burma Rifles, seeing service in Burma during the rebellion of 1930-32. | Dun enlisted in the Indian Army on 8 November 1924, initially with the 10th battalion [[20th Burma Rifles]] and after training served with the 2nd battalion 20th Burma Rifles, seeing service in Burma during the rebellion of 1930-32. | ||
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He was commissioned a [[Viceroy's Commissioned Officer]] on 10 January 1931. He attended the Kitchener College, Nowgong and from there was later selected to attend the [[Indian Military Academy]] and earned the first [[Sword of Honour (Indian Military)|Sword of Honour]] which is given to the best cadet of each year’s class. He was commissioned on 1 February 1935, his seniority later being antedated to 4 February 1934. For a year after commissioning he was attached to the 2nd battalion the [[Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry]] at Agra. On 24 February 1936 he was admitted to the Indian Army and appointed to the 2nd battalion the [[1st Punjab Regiment]] on 9 March 1936. He was promoted Lieutenant on 4 May 1936. His battalion was involved in fighting on the North West Frontier during 1936-37. | He was commissioned a [[Viceroy's Commissioned Officer]] on 10 January 1931. He attended the Kitchener College, Nowgong and from there was later selected to attend the [[Indian Military Academy]] and earned the first [[Sword of Honour (Indian Military)|Sword of Honour]] which is given to the best cadet of each year’s class. He was commissioned on 1 February 1935, his seniority later being antedated to 4 February 1934. For a year after commissioning he was attached to the 2nd battalion the [[Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry]] at Agra. On 24 February 1936 he was admitted to the Indian Army and appointed to the 2nd battalion the [[1st Punjab Regiment]] on 9 March 1936. He was promoted Lieutenant on 4 May 1936. His battalion was involved in fighting on the North West Frontier during 1936-37. | ||
During his time at the Indian Military Academy, Dun was selected as part of the first batch of cadets. Called "The Pioneers", his class also produced [[Sam Maneckshaw]] and [[Muhammad Musa Khan]], future commanders-in-chief of India and Pakistan, respectively. | During his time at the Indian Military Academy, Dun was selected as part of the first batch of cadets. Called "The Pioneers", his class also produced [[Sam Maneckshaw]] and [[Musa Khan (general)|Muhammad Musa Khan]], future commanders-in-chief of India and Pakistan, respectively. | ||
He was serving attached to the Burma Military Police when the Japanese invaded in 1941. For his services on the retreat from Burma he was Mentioned in Despatches (''London Gazette'' 28 October 1942). He attended the Staff College at Quetta and then saw further service in Burma, receiving another Mention in Despatches (''London Gazette'' 5 April 1945) and later was awarded the [[Military Cross]] (''London Gazette'' 17 January 1946) as a temporary Major attached the Burma Intelligence Corps. He was promoted to war-substantive lieutenant-colonel in the Indian Army, to acting colonel on 15 November 1945 and to temporary colonel on 5 May 1946.<ref name="Quarterly_Army_List">{{cite book|pages= | He was serving attached to the Burma Military Police when the Japanese invaded in 1941. For his services on the retreat from Burma he was Mentioned in Despatches (''London Gazette'' 28 October 1942). He attended the Staff College at Quetta and then saw further service in Burma, receiving another Mention in Despatches (''London Gazette'' 5 April 1945) and later was awarded the [[Military Cross]] (''London Gazette'' 17 January 1946) as a temporary Major attached the Burma Intelligence Corps. He was promoted to war-substantive lieutenant-colonel in the Indian Army, to acting colonel on 15 November 1945 and to temporary colonel on 5 May 1946.<ref name="Quarterly_Army_List">{{cite book|pages=220s–t|title=The Quarterly Army List: December 1946 (Part I)|publisher=HM Stationery Office|year=1946}}</ref> He retired from the Indian Army on 3 January 1949 as an honorary brigadier.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1470 |date=8 October 1949 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> | ||
In a move to build confidence in the Burmese Union that would include all ethnic groups, Dun, a [[Karen people|Karen]], was appointed commander-in-chief of the Burmese army and of the police forces when Burma gained its independence from Britain following [[World War II]]. However, in 1949 when the Karen began their war for independence from Burma, Dun was removed from his position. Dun was a loyal leader of the Burmese Army while maintaining a strong sense of his Karen ethnicity. Known as the "four-foot colonel" for his small stature, he kept his Karen soldiers disciplined although suspicion of his ethnic roots lingered even after his dismissal. | In a move to build confidence in the Burmese Union that would include all ethnic groups, Dun, a [[Karen people|Karen]], was appointed commander-in-chief of the Burmese army and of the police forces when Burma gained its independence from Britain following [[World War II]]. However, in 1949 when the Karen began their war for independence from Burma, Dun was removed from his position. Dun was a loyal leader of the Burmese Army while maintaining a strong sense of his Karen ethnicity. Known as the "four-foot colonel" for his small stature, he kept his Karen soldiers disciplined although suspicion of his ethnic roots lingered even after his dismissal. | ||
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{{Authority control}} | {{Authority control}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dun, Smith}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Dun, Smith}} | ||
Latest revision as of 00:41, 28 August 2022
Smith Dun | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname(s) | The Four-Foot Colonel |
| Born | 11 November 1906 Irrawaddy delta, Burma Province, British India |
| Died | 1979 (aged 72) Kalaw, Shan State, Burma |
| Allegiance |  British India British Burma Burma |
| Service/ |  British Indian Army British Burma Army  Burmese Army |
| Years of service | 1924–1949 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General (Burmese Army) Brigadier (Indian Army) |
| Service number | IC-3 (India) BC 5106 (Burma) |
| Unit | Karen Rifles Burma Rifles |
| Commands held | |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | |
Lieutenant General Smith Dun MC (11 November 1906 – 1979) was the commander-in-chief of the Burmese Army from 4 January 1948 to 1 February 1949. He was an ethnic Karen and the first person belonging to the ethnic group to hold the office.
Dun enlisted in the Indian Army on 8 November 1924, initially with the 10th battalion 20th Burma Rifles and after training served with the 2nd battalion 20th Burma Rifles, seeing service in Burma during the rebellion of 1930-32.
He was commissioned a Viceroy's Commissioned Officer on 10 January 1931. He attended the Kitchener College, Nowgong and from there was later selected to attend the Indian Military Academy and earned the first Sword of Honour which is given to the best cadet of each year’s class. He was commissioned on 1 February 1935, his seniority later being antedated to 4 February 1934. For a year after commissioning he was attached to the 2nd battalion the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry at Agra. On 24 February 1936 he was admitted to the Indian Army and appointed to the 2nd battalion the 1st Punjab Regiment on 9 March 1936. He was promoted Lieutenant on 4 May 1936. His battalion was involved in fighting on the North West Frontier during 1936-37.
During his time at the Indian Military Academy, Dun was selected as part of the first batch of cadets. Called "The Pioneers", his class also produced Sam Maneckshaw and Muhammad Musa Khan, future commanders-in-chief of India and Pakistan, respectively.
He was serving attached to the Burma Military Police when the Japanese invaded in 1941. For his services on the retreat from Burma he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 28 October 1942). He attended the Staff College at Quetta and then saw further service in Burma, receiving another Mention in Despatches (London Gazette 5 April 1945) and later was awarded the Military Cross (London Gazette 17 January 1946) as a temporary Major attached the Burma Intelligence Corps. He was promoted to war-substantive lieutenant-colonel in the Indian Army, to acting colonel on 15 November 1945 and to temporary colonel on 5 May 1946.[1] He retired from the Indian Army on 3 January 1949 as an honorary brigadier.[2]
In a move to build confidence in the Burmese Union that would include all ethnic groups, Dun, a Karen, was appointed commander-in-chief of the Burmese army and of the police forces when Burma gained its independence from Britain following World War II. However, in 1949 when the Karen began their war for independence from Burma, Dun was removed from his position. Dun was a loyal leader of the Burmese Army while maintaining a strong sense of his Karen ethnicity. Known as the "four-foot colonel" for his small stature, he kept his Karen soldiers disciplined although suspicion of his ethnic roots lingered even after his dismissal.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External link[edit | edit source]
- Dun, Smith. Memoirs of the Four-Foot Colonel. Ithaca, NY: Cornell Southeast Asia Program, 1980.