Page 53 - History of War - Issue 18-15

THE FORGOTTEN

Sikh

OF THE
British Empire

WORDS JACK GRIFFITHS

Serving the British Army for decades, Sikh
soldiers became some of the fiercest fighters
and most loyal servants to crown and country

efore the British first cast their eyes to local soldiers and use their fighting skills within
the northern frontier of India, the Sikh their own ranks; the Sikh Pioneers were born.
BEmpire was the major force in Punjab. Starting as a small number of troops, they
Existing since 1799, under the leadership of would later go on to form the Sikh Light Infantry
Maharaja Ranjit Singh it became one of the and serve Britain with distinction.
largest territories in the subcontinent. But when Eight years after the end of the Sikh Empire,
Singh died in 1839, it began to disintegrate. As unrest was growing again. After the mutiny
the 1840s dawned, the British Empire and its of 1857, control was handed to the direct
East India Company drew closer to the southern supervision of the British Crown. The corrupt
border of Punjab. The British saw the Sikh and faltering East India Company was now all
Empire as a beneficial buffer between them but over as the British Raj was born. From here,
and the uncharted Afghan lands, and military the Sikhs of Punjab would assist the British
operations were stepped up in the region. Army whenever they could, armed with their
Distrusting British intentions, a Sikh army motto ‘Deg Tegh Fateh’ (prosperity in peace
crossed the River Sutlej into British-controlled and victory in war).
lands, initiating the first of two Anglo-Sikh
Wars. Conflict ebbed and flowed until 1849, The Sikhs and the Sepoy Mutiny
when the British emerged victorious at the 1857 is seen as a major turning point for Indian
decisive Battle of Gujrat, and the region of nationalism. The Indian Rebellion had gripped
Punjab was annexed. The Sikh military found the subcontinent and the Sikhs, now fighting
itself leaderless, and its generals seized this for the crown, were pressed into action. These
opportunity to ally themselves with their new were still early days for the Sikhs in the British
British overlords, who rewarded them with Army and their decision to assist was primarily
small kingdoms such as Kashmir. Impressed motivated by their disdain for the Hindustanis
by the performance of the Sikh warriors in the and Sepoy soldiers. After the two wars, the
two wars, the British decided to take on the Sikh people were scattered and rudderless,

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