It functioned from 1937 to 1942, when the country fell to Japanese Forces during the Second World War, and functioned again from 1945 to 1948, when the country secured independence from the UK.

Before the formation of the command, Burma had functioned as independent district within the British Indian Army.

[2] In April 1937, when Burma became a semi-autonomous country, it was decided to separate the command from the British Indian Army.

[3] However with the Second World War imminent, responsibility was delegated to Lieutenant-General Kenneth McLeod as the first General Officer Commanding in January 1939.

[1] After the war it was reformed from the core of the Twelfth Army on 1 October 1945.