Page 55 - History of War - Issue 18-15

THE FORGOTTEN SIKH REGIMENTS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

THEANGLO-SIKHWARS

THE END OF THE SIKH KINGDOM AND THE BEGINNING OF BRITISH CO-OPERATION
By the time of the First Anglo-Sikh War in 1848,whichlastedalmostayearbeforeasecond
1845, the majority of the Indian subcontinent andfinaldefeatfortheSikhs.Withoutamilitaryof
was under the controloftheBritishEastIndia their own, the Sikh soldiers soon joined the British
Company. Upon the death of Maharaja Ranjit Armyinsearchofacareerinthearmedforces.
Singh in 1839,
disjointed and s
confl icts. When
empire’s frontie
invaders had de
of the Punjab. B
assembled a fo
men and 60 gu
War was dec
against the Sik
Khalsa Army af
they crossed th
Sutlej. Ranjit Si
left a modernis
disciplined arm
to low morale a
they were no m
It is without dou
lost by the egoc
commanders ra
British rout. Th
took over the a
of the region un
Treaty of Lahor
but resentment
to this new rule
led to the Seco
Anglo-Sikh War

The Punjab Frontier Force was set up and
comprised the 1st, 2nd (Hill), 3rd and 4th SIKHSOFTHESOMME
Regiments of infantry as well as cavalry units.
Acting primarily as rapid-response regiments, THEREGIMENTSWHOFOUGHTINONEOFTHEBLOODIESTBATTLESOFTHEWAR
they would patrol the British borders in TheBritishSikhregimentsfoughtalloverFrancefortheTripleEntente,includinginYpres,Neuve
search of any Afghan aggression. The Sikhs Chapelleandthe1916BattleoftheSomme.Facedwithgasattacks,disease,machinegunsandthe
displayed great bravery during the war and mud of the trenches, the fields of France were a world away from the peaceful plains of the Punjab.
were employed effectively at both Ahmed Khel Two Indian regiments even took part in the notorious High Wood cavalry assault, the only charge of
and Kandahar towards the end of the confl ict thebattle.Sikhsalsoformedateamofbicycledespatchriders,traversingFricourtandtheMametz
in 1880. Their courage and dedication was Road near to the battlefield.
admired by the British and would be utilised to ThelossoflifeamongtheunitswassohighthatbythelatterstagesofthewartheIndian
greater effect in future campaigns. regiments were relocated to the Middle East, where they were closer to India and easier to reinforce
A British victory came in 1880, but the war andsupply.ASikhsoldier,IndarSingh,fightingattheSommeinSeptember1916,wrotehome:“It
was now more than just an Anglo-Afghan affair, isquiteimpossiblethatIshouldreturnalive.[But]don’tbegrievedatmydeath,becauseIshalldie
as Russia waded into the confl ict. A period arms in hand, wearing the warrior’s clothes. Thisisthemosthappydeaththatanyonecandie.”
known as the ‘Great Game’ was initiated, and
Sikh soldiers on the march in northern France
in what has been known since as the ‘Cold
War of the 19th century’, the two powers
sidestepped each other without ever locking
horns. To stabilise their forces, the British
raised two more Sikh regiments, the 35th and
the 36th, who would see battle in the next big
confl ict in the region, the Tirah Campaign.
The war was almost inevitable. In the face
of further British expansion during the Great
Game, the empire became tangled up in issues
with various local hill tribes. Although rarely
united, they put their forces together against
the British in what became known as the Tirah
Expedition. As a result, the British lost a fair
amount of land in the north west including
the strategically important Khyber Pass. With
access to the pass now in Afghan hands, the
security of the British Raj was in jeopardy. Up
to 40,000 soldiers were called into the area
including many Sikhs, who were keen to put
their skills to the test after being marginalised

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