Page 61 - History of War - Issue 18-15

THE FORGOTTEN SIKH REGIMENTS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

a heavy-handed response, completely crushing “EXTREME GALLANTRY HAS BEEN SHOWN BY THIS FINE
back in Punjab. After the war, the British dealt
festival) 1919, Colonel Reginald Dyer ordered BATTALION… IN SPITE OF THE TREMENDOUS LOSSES, THERE WAS
the resistance. On Vaisakhi (Punjab harvest
than 400 died and a thousand were injured in NOT A SIGN OF WAVERING ALL DAY. NOT AN INCH OF GROUND WAS
his soldiers to open fire on the crowd. More
This bloodshed could have signalled the end GIVEN UP AND NOT A SINGLE STRAGGLER CAME BACK”
what became known as the Amritsar massacre.
of Sikh citizens willing to volunteer in the British
Army, and it nearly did in an event known by Frontier of India during the Waziristan Campaign, a major concern for the British, who were
some as the Third Anglo-Sikh War. Dismayed he managed to repel charging Afghans with a determined to hold on to their lands in Asia.
at the British rule in India, a number of Sikhs Lewis Gun, protecting many of his fellow soldiers The economy was also affected after the
began the Singh Sabha Movement, resulting who were receiving medical attention. Wall Street Crash of 1929, which meant the
in a five-year revolt and the creation of the 1930s saw Sikh regiments being disbanded
Akali Dal Sikh nationalist party. The motivation Once more unto the breach to cut costs. However, after the ill-fated
behind the movement was reclaiming Sikh During the inter-war years, Sikh migration into ‘peace for our time’, it was not long before the
identity from the spread of Christianity. Britain unprecedented levels. Demobilised volunteers were required again as the might of
Despite the unrest, on the whole the Sikhs after World War I, many settled in Britain; the Third Reich’s blitzkrieg loomed large.
remained behind the British Crown and were wealthy Sikhs came in search of higher study As war was declared, Britain once again
on hand to fight in the Third Anglo-Afghan War. while poorer migrants found work. Door-to-door dragged the full strength of its empire into
Beginning in the summer of 1919, the 3rd Sikh salesmen were a common sight on the the war. The Indian people were not consulted
Sikh Pioneers and the 11th Sikh Regiment streets of Britain, but as it became apparent on entering the war (the Viceroy of India, Lord
joined up with the British to combat the that appeasement wasn’t the way forward, they Linlithgow, declared war on their behalf) but,
Afghan insurgents, once more displaying their returned to the army in their droves. Within nonetheless, the Sikhs, both in Britain and in
renowned bravery. Ishar Singh was one of these the army, however, demand for Sikh soldiers Asia, willingly got behind the war effort. Once
men who fought courageously in the heat of had waned. After the unrest in the British Raj, again in combat on land, sea and air, the
battle. Engaged in combat in the North-West Sikhs were falling out of imperial favour despite resounding Sikh battle cry of ‘jo bole so nihal,
the fighting ability they showed during the war. sat siri akal’ (He who cries God is Truth, is ever
Below: A British Howitzer is inspected by the Churchill insisted on a reduction in troops from Happy) would ring out from the regiments, as
maharaja of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh the subcontinent, as Sikh nationalism became six years of total war got underway.

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