Thank you Sumer Chauhan for contributing this link.

The Indian Army during World War II in 1939, numbered just under 200,000 men. By the end of the war it would become the largest volunteer army in history, rising to over 2.5 million men in August 1945. Serving in divisions of infantry, armour and a fledgling airborne force, they fought on three continents in Africa, Europe and Asia. The Indian Army fought in Ethiopia against the Italian Army, in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia against both the Italian and German Army, and, after the Italian surrender, the German Army in Italy. However the bulk of the Indian Army was committed to the fighting the Japanese Army, first during the defeat in Malaya and the retreat from Burma to the Indian border. Then after resting and refitting the victorious advance back into Burma, part of the largest British Empire army ever formed. These campaigns cost the lives of over 36,000 Indian servicemen, another 34,354 more were wounded,and 67,340 became prisoners of war. Their valour was recognised with the award of 4,000 decorations and 38 members of the Indian Army were recipients of the Victoria Cross or the George Cross. The Indian Army was an experienced force, having fought in the Third Afghan War and two major campaigns in Waziristan, during 19191920 and 19361939 and in smaller disputes on the North West Frontier since World War I. There was no shortage of manpower to call upon, but they did suffer from a shortage of skilled technical personnel. The conversion of the cavalry force to a mechanized tank force had only just began, and was hampered by the inability to supply adequate numbers of tanks and armoured vehicles. The Indian Army of 1939, was different from the Indian Army during World War I, it had been reformed in 1922, moving away from single battalion regiments to multi-battalion regiments. Overall the army was reduced to 21 cavalry regiments and 107 infantry battalions. The field army now consisted of four infantry divisions and five cavalry brigades. There was a covering force of 12 infantry brigades to protect the North West Frontier from incursions and one third of the infantry, 43 battalions, were allocated to internal security and to aid the civil power. In the 1930s, the Indian Army began a programme of modernization, they now had their own artillery—the Indian Artillery Regiment—and the cavalry had started to mechanise. By 1936, the Indian Army had committed to supplying in wartime a brigade each for Singapore, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, Burma and two for Egypt. But by 1939, further reductions had reduced the Indian Army to 18 cavalry regiments and 96 infantry battalions, in total 194,373 men including 34,155 non-combatants. They could also call upon 15,000 men from the Frontier Irregular Force, 22,000 men from the Auxiliary Force (India), consisting of European and Anglo-Indian volunteers, 19,000 from the Indian Territorial Force, and 53,000 from the Indian State forces. Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Army_during_World_War_II

Second Lieutenant P S Bhagat earned his VC in North Africa for clearing a passage for tanks to cross an anti tank minefield, by strapping himself to the barrel of a tank and disarming the mines with his hands. During this process he was so close to the deadly mines that any explosion would have cost him his life. He was from the Bombay Sappers and Miners, Royal Indian Engineers.

Thank you for this. Had just put it up on my page and wondered whether any extensive work's been done on the Indian contribution to WWI -- have seen monuments to local soldiers who fought in it even in small towns in Kerala. And sure that's true of the whole country even if no monuments were built. Any idea if any books written/documentaries made about it?

A cousin of mine, a couple of years older than my father, served as a nurse in the Indian army in Africa. He actually looked like a British officer. Unfortunately, he did not share his war time stories.

Glad to be of help RBSI. :) It should also be noted that many of the Royal armies also took part in both of the World Wars and came as allies to the British Army, while they were under the command of Maharajas and other Indian officers. There is a painting called the Great Statesmen by Sir James Guthrie where you can see Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner among the other members of the Imperial World War 1 Cabinet of England. Maharaja Ganaga Singh was also presented with the key to the city of London after the War. I will also try to locate my photograph of Maharaja Pratap Singh during the great war and send it to you. In the War Museum in Paris France, there are several paintings of Indian soldiers, officers and forces on the French frontier during the first World War.

Mr Chauhan : You are quite correct. The Maharaja of Bikaner was a member of the Imperial War Cabinet under Lloyd-George (though not a member of the inner most sanctum - which was a 4 man council). I'm not sure what Lord Curzon, who was a member of the same cabinet, would have thought about that - he would probably have welcomed the idea. Funnily enough, 20 or so years earlier while Viceroy, Curzon had advised the Maharaja, who was about to embark on a visit to England "not to develop extravagent or undseriable tastes" (whilst abroad) not to "acquire ideas that are above his station" !! Seems the Maharaja did not follow this advice too closely !

Ms. Narayan: Please do read "The Indian Sappers and Miners", by Lieutenant Colonel E W C Sandes, DSO, MC, Royal Engineers. The achievements of all three Groups of Sappers and Miners (Bengal, Bombay and Madras), in all theatres of World War I, are covered in detail in this very readable history of the Great War (WW I). The fact that the Sappers' achievements are dovetailed in the narratives of the main operations, gives the reader a good insight in to how the major operations were planned and executed, and what part the Sappers played in them.

For most conspicuous gallantry on active service in the Middle East. During the pursuit of the enemy following the capture of Metemma on the night 31 January – 1 February 1941, Second-Lieutenant Bhagat was in command of a section of a Field Company, Sappers and Miners, detailed to accompany the leading mobile troops (Bren Carriers) to clear the road and adjacent areas of mines. For a period of four days and over a distance of 55 miles this officer in the leading carrier led the Column. During this period, he himself detected and personally supervised the clearing of no less than 15 minefields of varying dimensions. Speed being essential, he worked at high pressure from dawn to dusk each day. On two occasions when his carrier was blown up with casualties to others, and on a third occasion when ambushed and under close enemy fire he himself carried straight on with his task. He refused relief when worn out with strain and fatigue and with one eardrum punctured by an explosion, on the grounds that he was now better qualified to continue his task to the end. His coolness, persistence over a period of 96 hours, and gallantry, not only in battle, but throughout the long period when the safety of the Column and the speed at which it could advance were dependent on his personal efforts, were of the highest order. — London Gazette: 10 June 1941[3]

... a genuine hero... these men have never recieved the credit that they deserve. I dare say that Lieutenant Bhagat might be the sort of 'freedom fighter' who proves to be somehow embarrassing in India today ?...

Not at all. Lt Gen PS Bhagat, VC, PVSM, is revered by one and all, including the civilian workers of the Damodar Valley Corporation, a gigantic power generation cum irrigation enterprise, which he successfully turned around, from the brink of being declared sick.

...I am pleased to hear that Mr Srivastava... Lt Bhagat was a member of an elite and gallant band. A quick search of the internet reveals that 153 members of the Indian Army were awarded the VC during the colonial period. The full list can be found on wikipedia (as below). I have a particular interest in the life of one Lt. Phillip Salked, who was posthumously awarded the VC for his actions at Delhi in 1857 - he was born in the village in Dorset in which I grew up, though he is buried in India. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Victoria_Cross_recipients_of_the_Indian_Army

Well. I have the full details about Lt. Salkeld. They are given in a book "Kashmir Gate". It is in our Regimental Archive. Philip was killed while leading a troop of the Bengal Sappers at Delhi. Can send scanned pages.

Mr Srivastava ~ I am fairly well acquainted with Lt. Salkeld's life and times ~ but ~ I should be very interested to read a new account, especially one that comes from an official military source. I would be very grateful if you could pass along those pages as you suggest.

Well. I have the full details about Lt. Salkeld. They are given in a book "Kashmir Gate". It is in our Regimental Archive. Philip was killed while leading a troop of the Bengal Sappers at Delhi. Can send scanned pages.

Mr Srivastava ~ I can be contacted at the following e-mail address: julian.craig.2009@live.rhul.ac.uk Regards etc

...I enclose some photographs that I took of the 'Salkeld Memorial' ( Fontmell Magna, Dorset, UK) a few months ago: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2098719&id=1383732580