 During the war, the British relaxed the ban, raising a Burmese battalion in the 70th Burma Rifles, a Burmese company in the "85th Burma Rifles", and seven Burmese Mechanical Transport companies.In addition, three companies (combat units) of "Burma Sappers and Miners", made up of mostly Burmese, and a company of Labour Corps, made up of Chins and Burmese, were also raised.All these units began their overseas assignment in 1917.