The Division was formed by redesignating Headquarters South Malaya District at Maxwell Road Camp, Malaya, on 1 September 1952 as part of the army response to the
Malayan Emergency. It perpetuated the traditions of the former
17th Indian Infantry Division which had used a Black Cat as its emblem. Headquarters 17th Gurkha Division was the operational headquarters for all British and Gurkha units in
Malaya. It controlled the 26th,
48th and 63rd Gurkha Brigades, and 99th Gurkha Brigade which formed about 1952 also came under command. Maxwell Road Camp was renamed Lamjung Camp in 1953. In 1957, upon the
Federation of Malaya gaining independence from British colonial rule, the Division was redesignated as the 17th Gurkha Division/Overseas Commonwealth Land Forces (Malaya). It was based at Lamjung Camp in
Kuala Lumpur until 1966 when it moved to
Seremban ==General Officers Commanding==