Monthly Archives: August 2018

Lt Gen Baljit Singh (retd)

REPORTS regarding the recruitment of skilled Indians for employment in the war-ravaged Israel-Gaza region prompted me to recall Jim Corbett’s stint in the Indian Labour Corps during World War I.

Fired by patriotic fervour, as also the desire to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, Corbett had applied to the War Commission but was turned down as he was nearing 40. However, as the British-French forces were unable to defeat the Germany-led alliance by 1917, ‘word was sent to Delhi for the formation not only of more fighting units for the Western Front but also of Indian Labour Corps…’ (from The Indian Empire at War by George Morton-Jack).

Corbett’s biographer Martin Booth states that ‘being deemed too old to fight, Jim was not considered too old to command and in 1917, he was given a wartime commission as a Captain’, with the caveat to create from scratch the 70 Kumaon Labour Company. ‘The esteem in which he was held in the Kumaon region did not make his job too difficult,’ writes Booth. About 5,000 volunteered, from which Corbett picked the requisite 500.

Realising that he would be exposing them to the most lethal war zone, Corbett visited the home of each volunteer, ‘optimistically and rashly promising to the head of family that he would bring every single individual home safely when the war ended’.

But Corbett’s dilemma surfaced on reaching the Flanders battlefield. Besides facing ‘bullets and bombs’, the personnel were given food that was scanty and inappropriate (tinned beef stew, pork), which they refused outright. Corbett reached out to an adjoining Animal Transport Company with the proposal to barter beef and pork for barley and gram, thus securing ample ingredients for chapatis, dal, khichri, pakoras and even laddoos!

Unlike fellow Indian Army officers who were permitted visits to London on short leave, Corbett chose to remain with his men till Armistice Day. To enforce personal hygiene, he rallied the Kumaonis to salvage suitable material from war rubble to construct a bathroom, a mini-laundry and an improvised incinerator! His men were thus assured of privacy and a warm bath every third day.

Lord Ampthill, who was in charge of the Labour Corps troops fighting in France, visited 70 Kumaon in January 1918. He put this on record: ‘Captain Corbett, who impressed me as a competent and resourceful man, gave me a cheerful account of his Company… men were standing the cold very well and there has been no sickness… I was astonished to see a substantial brick building built by Captain Corbett… walls of red brick and the mortar with nothing more than chalk and rice water.’

On his return to India after the Armistice, Corbett was feted throughout Kumaon as he had brought back all the volunteers, except one, who had died of pneumonia. Befittingly, the names of 1,174 personnel of the Indian Labour Corps are engraved on the National War Memorial in New Delhi.

Each regiment develops its ethos and principles based on the ‘genius of the troops’ and the ‘leadership provided by the officers’

Brig Gurwant Baghiana (Retd)

Passing out from any of the academies is a very significant moment and especially so from the Indian Military Academy, as it is here that one’s choice of arms gets finalised. The allocation of arms seems like a surreal moment and has a profound impact on one’s future, deciding whether one would be a tank man, in the artillery, a foot slogger or catering to rations and clothing, etc. With insurgencies raging, the Line of Control being active and the IPKF at its height of deployment in Sri Lanka, there were adequate opportunities for the young officers to earn their spurs and the excitement of being soon in combat was obviously palpable.

My excitement had no limits when I was allotted one of the most prestigious regiments, 5 GR (FF), and within it, the seniormost battalion, 1/5 GR (FF), also fondly called ‘Jethi’. The first thing I understood about the Gorkhas was that there are very few in the Army who comprehend how Gorkha units are numbered. For example, they find it difficult to differentiate 1/5 GR from 5/1 GR, so much so that whenever we were in the station together with 5/1 GR, we had the field post office also confused, with the mail doing the rounds before it reached the desired destination.

Having reached the unit and started the rigorous routine of settling down, I learnt the significance of remembering the numbers of individuals other than their names, as a platoon may have more than a couple of Dhan Bahadur Thapas/Gurungs (slowly, over time, you learn to differentiate between the Thapas and Gurungs, based on the slant of their eyes).

Despite whatever seniority they may achieve, even up to Subedar Major of the unit, their number was the main identity — chappan (56), challis (40), tettees (33), a tradition peculiar to Gorkha battalions.

The realisation of being the only Sikh in the battalion, though being reflective of our secular credentials and however proud I may be of this, did pose a few practical challenges. The items of uniform being peculiar to me being a Sikh officer were not very well known to the sahayak and even the dhobi. Coupled with the language barrier (it being mandatory for a newly commissioned officer to be allotted a sahayak from the interiors, whose understanding of any other knowledge other that Gorkhali was rather elementary, in case not nil), it made the situation rather piquant for me.

So commenced an arduous journey of familiarising the sahayak with items like the pagri and patka (headgear for Sikhs for different occasions), pooney (the procedure of preparing the pagri to be tied around one’s head), the fifti (worn underneath the pagri, reflecting a triangle of a contrasting colour under the folds of the pagri), and thatha (cloth to keep the beard in place). I have covered the main ones. However, there are various ancillaries too. My worst nightmare used to be my sahayak being changed as all the briefing, etc, would have to be done again amid the scanty time available to a young officer.

A recent feature film has extolled the bravery of the Gorkha troops. Suffice it to say that each regiment develops its ethos and principles based on the “genius of the troops” and the “leadership provided by the officers”. This enviable combination has steered the Gorkha regiments to be among the best anywhere. The retention of this bond is essential as it binds the countries of Nepal and India together in a warmer embrace, duly blessed by ‘Maa Durga’.

New Delhi, January 27

India and France have moved forward on deepening their military partnership and are ready to collaborate on making the next generation of engines to power fighter jets.

India’s Ambassador to France Jawed Ashraf said on Friday Safran, the French engine manufacturer, had conveyed its readiness for a complete transfer of technology (ToT) for various developmental stages of the project.

Full transfer of tech for AMCA

• French engine maker Safran has agreed to full transfer of technology for various stages of project to build next generation of engines for fighter jets
• India is planning indigenous fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) with likely induction in eight to 10 years
• To be designed and made in India, AMCA will have 2 versions — first with US’ GE 414 engine & second with more powerful Safran engine
• Pact aims to explore intricacies of design phase, metallurgical components, and other vital elements crucial for advancement of jet engines

Ashraf was part of the media briefing organised by the Ministry of External Affairs on Republic Day following a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. The discussion with France focuses on synchronising the engine specifications with India’s forthcoming fighter jet needs.

India is currently producing fourth-generation jet — Light Combat Aircraft Tejas — using engines by US’ General Electric. It is now ready to take a leap and make an indigenous fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) planned for induction in eight to 10 years from now.

The AMCA is being designed in India and will be manufactured here. Two separate versions are planned — the first will have the GE 414 engine, while the second will have a more powerful Safran engine.

Ashraf said the agreement on the engine aims to explore intricacies of the design phase, metallurgical components, and other vital elements crucial for the advancement of sophisticated jet engines.

“We are looking for not just manufacturing and Transfer of Technology, but work in the actual design phase, metallurgical phase. Safran is willing to do it with 100% technology transfer including design, development, certification to production,” Ashraf added.

A joint statement after the Modi-Macron meet said: “They reiterated their commitment to further deepening the integration between the two countries’ respective defence industrial sectors and to work together to identify opportunities for co-design, co-development, co-production”. Ashraf said the engine-related discussions will continue within the framework of the defence industry roadmap. In July 2023, India and France decided to expand their defence collaboration in advanced aeronautical technologies, endorsing the joint development of a combat aircraft engine.

he 76th Army Day was celebrated with grandeur on Monday in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow with a parade of six marching contingents

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 15

The Bathinda military station celebrated the 8th Armed Forces Veterans’ Day on Sunday. The event began with the solemn wreath-laying ceremony held at Yodha Yaadgar, the war memorial inside the station.

An interactive session was held in which General Officer Commanding Sub Area Maj Gen Hari B Pillai interacted with various other stakeholders to put forth their issues pertaining to ECHS, DPDO, Veterans branch and ZSB.

He thanked the veterans for their exemplary services to the nation and called upon them to use their skills and experience for betterment of society and contribute positively towards nation building. He remarked that their indomitable spirit can motivate the youth of today towards nation building. He also reiterated that continuous outreach through SATAT MILAP will be done to reach out to the veterans and meet their aspirations.

As many as 300 veterans attended this event.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 15

Indian Army’s focus has been on development of critical infrastructure and strengthening border infrastructure, said Army Chief General Manoj Pande while addressing the annual Army Day Parade in Lucknow on Monday. Today was the 76th Army Day.

On the present security situation, he said, “ The situation is under control on our western borders in Jammu and Kashmir, but continued infiltration attempts make it clear that terrorist infrastructure still exists across the border (in Pakistan).”

Highlighting the military prowess of Indian Army, he said it was ready to transform into a future ready, technology driven, lethal and agile force. General Pande said time-bound deliverables have been identified under the five pillars of the ‘transformation roadmap’. The Army has focussed on force restructuring and optimisation, technology infusion and making systems, processes and functions more effective.ADVERTISEMENT

General Pande also awarded 15 gallantry awards and 23 unit citations in recognition of valour and meritorious service.

Also a military and combat display ‘Shaurya Sandhya’ was organised at Lucknow Cantonment. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan were present at the event.

The minister added: “The country is now witnessing how our military is continuously being equipped with modern weapons/technologies powered by drones and artificial intelligence.”

Army Day is celebrated on January 15 every year to commemorate the achievements of the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army General (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa. On this day, Gen Cariappa, who led Indian forces to victory in the 1947 war with Pakistan, took over the command of the Indian Army from General Sir FRR Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949.

Our Correspondent

Jammu, January 15

Three days after an Army convoy came under attack in Krishna Ghati area of Poonch, a search operation was launched in different areas after reports of suspicious movement in the district were received by intelligence agencies.

The operation has been launched by the Army, J&K Police and Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF) in Sawjian area of the densely forested area of the district. Security forces received an intelligence input from locals after they saw some suspicious men in the area.

Another search operation is already underway in Krishna Ghati sector in areas including Dhara, Magnad and Jallas to track down the terrorists who had fired on a convoy of the Army vehicles on Friday.ADVERTISEMENT

The Army in an official statement had said on Friday that at around 6 pm, a security forces convoy was fired upon by suspected terrorists from a jungle. There was no casualty to the troops. The troops are using sniffer dogs and aerial surveillance to search the area.

The Army and J&K Police are struggling in the wake of little intelligence regarding the group of terrorists active in the forest areas of Rajouri and Poonch.

The group behind the attack on an Army convoy on December 21 last year near Dera ki Gali of Poonch in which four soldiers were killed is still at large. Despite efforts of the Army and police, the ultras have given a slip to the security forces.