Formed in Southern India in August 1942 for defence of that area in case of Japanese invasion, the 'Ace of Spades' Division had its baptism of fire in Arakan in February 1944. It served throughout the remainder of that campaign, the climax being the battle of Tamandu. Its victorious fight for the Kangaw roadblock was considered by many to have been the fiercest battle of the entire Burma war, while its liberation of Akyab was the first convincing proof to the rest of the world that the tide had turned against the Japanese.