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This post is purely about data. The aim is simply to show the extent of the SOE / Force 136 commitment to Burma and Southeast Asia from their own summary report. Figures are from July 1945.
Burma – Personnel
In the field during 1945
British Officers – 148
British Other Ranks – 53
Native Officers and Other Ranks – 230
TOTAL – 431
Guerrillas – approx. 20,000 raised
French Indo-China – Personnel
In the field during 1945
TOTAL – 114
Guerrillas – approx. 600
Siam – Personnel
In the field during 1945
British Officers – 3
British Other Ranks – 1
Siamese – 29
TOTAL 33
Guerrillas – no figure given, but ‘potential’ for 10,000
Malaya – Personnel
In the field during 1945
British Officers – 60
British Other Ranks – 33
Gurkhas – 48
Malays – 20
Chinese – 42
TOTAL – 203
Guerrillas – approx. 3000
Sumatra – Personnel
In the field during 1945
British Officers – 2
British Other Ranks – nil
Dutch – 3
Natives – 13
TOTAL – 18
Guerrillas – nil
Andaman Islands – Personnel
British Officers – 14
British Other Ranks – 15
Native Officers and Other Ranks – 51
TOTAL – 80
China – Personnel
British Officers (attached to British Army Aid Group (BAAG)) – 5
British Other Ranks – 5
TOTAL – 10
In July 1945, Force 136 had:
1729 British personnel
672 British Officers and
1057 British Other Ranks.
Total female personnel, FANY and civilian: 723
FANY – 449 Civilian – 274
368 of the 723 were employed by the Signals establishment.
355 remaining were distributed on clerical and secretarial roles.
Note 27. of this document: ‘It is estimated that were these female personnel to be replaced by B.O.R.s (and the majority are performing duties normally carried out by Other Ranks) an increase of 480 B.O.R.s would be required immediately to carry out the same duties.
Note 28. of this document: ‘When female staff is employed it is necessary to budget for a higher sickness rate than with males.’
Between 1 January and 20 June, the following were Signals trained:
FANY – 26
French – 87
Siamese – 55
Sino-Siamese – 9
Javanese – 7
Canadian Chinese – 61
Gurkhas – 6
Punjabi Musselmen – 28
British Officers & ORs – 339
Malays – 14
Chinese – 37
Annamites – 28
Burmese (all castes) – 39
Pathans – 4
Dogras – 19
Sikhs – 6
Dutch – 10
TOTAL: 775
TOTAL OPERATIONS BRIEFED: 191
TOTAL W/T STATIONS INTRODUCED 1/1/45 to 15/7/45:
Andamans – 2
Burma – 50
French Indo-China – 75
Liaison (all with XIV Army, Burma) – 6
Malaya – 32
Siam – 15
Sumatra – 3
The total number of cipher groups in and out of the field in the same period up to 7 July was 1,422,356.
The Special Operations Executive in Burma 1941-1945 
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