Indian Lancers

[Hedley Malloch]

Can some kind person tell me if SDITGW carries details of Indian Lancers' casualties (officers and/or OR) on the Western Front?

[Malcolm]

Don't know Hedley but the following may help.

http://www.sikhspectrum.com/112003/sikharmynames1.htm

Aye

Malcolm

[Tony Lund]

I have an old catalogue from Savannah Publications that lists the Soldiers Died volumes in book form, and I can see no reference to Indian casualties. However there is Volume 1 of The Cross of Sacrifice series:- “Officers who died in the service of British, Indian and East African Regiments and Corps 1914 - 1919.”

Tony.

[TD60]

Don't know Hedley but the following may help.

http://www.sikhspectrum.com/112003/sikharmynames1.htm

Aye

Malcolm

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interesting list.

Just two remarks:

The Indians, members of the RAF seem not in the list. Exemple:

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/tanneguy.desplanqu...nd%20pilote.htm

The same for british officers of the Indian army. Exemple

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/tanneguy.desplanqu...ona%20horse.htm

Hum... at first look on this website I missed they were all called "Singh".

It is only one part of the casualties there.

Regards.

Edited 18 June , 2005 by TD60

[Steven Broomfield]

Don't know Hedley but the following may help.

http://www.sikhspectrum.com/112003/sikharmynames1.htm

Aye

Malcolm

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I've added that to my Favourites.

[Matthew B.]

Headley,

Quick answer. SDITGW does not list Indian Army casualties.

ODITGW (revised edition) does list Indian army officers who died 1914-20.

CWGC does show Indian army casualties (the trick is serching them - put everything the in surname field for indian names if I remember.

You need to shell out for the few IA cavalry histories otherwise andf i can tell you thay are very mixed lot.

Any specific question you want answering?

Matthew B.

[JulianB]

Regarding Indian Lancers, you might be interested to know that many years after the war my grandfather wrote "A squadron of Indian Cavalry carried out a patrol near Bapaume but I never saw cavalry in action in the fighting line on the western Front."

He didn't give a date but he was near Bapaume only in Sept 1916 and in March 1918 so I guess it was one of those two occasions.

Sorry if this does not entirely relate to casualties but if anyone knew the date and unit I'd be interested.

thanks

Julian

[Matthew B.]

Julian B.

As most of Indian Divisions were withdrawn from France in 1917, this would have to date from September 1916.

Much of the cavalry employed in france did not see much action after 1914 - they were used as dismounted infantry but they did see some 'classic' action - look into the charge of the 7th DG & the 20th Deccan Horse in July 1916 at High Wood. I can not tell you off hand who was at Baupame in 1916 - their were two division of indian cavalry in France!

Cheers

Matthew B.

[Steven Broomfield]

Interesting list.

Hum... at first look on this website I missed they were all called "Singh".

It is only one part of the casualties there.

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I think 'Singh' is a name used by all Sikhs. I believe it was adopted from the (Hindu) Rajputs, and means 'lion'.

[JulianB]

Thanks Matthew, I'll try to find details - any idea where I can find ORBAT of said Indian cavalry divisions.

Julian

[Steven Broomfield]

Julian - not sure but did the recent (well, a few years ago) reprint of the Official History orders of battle not include 'new' volumes? I have one with Canadian and ANZAC orbats, and i think an Indian one was also done, though i didn't get it, sadly. They were published by Ray Westlake about 10 years ago.