Japanese Occupation of The Andaman Islands - Japanese Occupation

Japanese Occupation

Port Blair was occupied on the 23rd. The garrison offered no resistance to the landings, and were disarmed and interned; many of the Sikh militia later enlisted in the Indian National Army. The British militia officers were sent to Singapore as POWs, whilst Chief Commissioner Waterfall, Deputy Commissioner Major A.G. Bird and the other British administrative officers were imprisoned. The Japanese released the prisoners held in the jail, one of whom, Pushkar Bakshi, became their principal collaborator. The islands were put under the authority of Colonel Bucho, whilst a number of junior Indian officials in the administration were elevated to more responsible posts. The defence of the islands was assigned to the newly formed fighter squadron of the Kanoya Kokutai based at Tavoy in southern Burma. This fighter squadron was the former "Yamada Unit" under the control of the 22d Koku Sentai, then based at Penang. Six flying boats from the Toko Kokutai were dispatched on March 26, with twelve more arriving shortly thereafter. Within the islands a Japanese garrison of approximately 600 men, together with the police force, now under Japanese control, were responsible for maintaining order.

'Japanese Army Personnel in Andaman and Nicobar'

• Yoshisuke Inoue: Commanding Officer 35th Independent Mixed Brigade, Andaman Islands
• Toshio Itsuki: Commanding Officer 36th Independent Mixed Brigade, Nicobar Islands
• Hideo Iwakuro: Japanese Liaison Officer to Indian National Army
• Major-General Saburo Isoda: Japanese Liaison Officer to Indian National Army