GUTS AND GLORY ON FOREIGN SOILS – IV
Camaraderie that began with
WW-I lasts for generation

I n the first months of 1915 the Germans had prepared a new plan to break through allied lines at the Ypres Salient. On 22 April 1915, at 5 pm, the Second Battle of Ypres made history in the north of the now infamous Salient with the first successful chemical attack. The Lahore Division – not yet recov ered from the terrible Battle of Neuve Chapelle – was called upon to fill a gap in the line. During this battle, 47thSIKH (Now 5thBattalion, the SIKH Regiment) went in with eleven British, ten Indian officers and 423 other ranks. Of this only two British, two Indian officers and 92 rank and file mustered after the action. It was in this chaotic field of battle that Sepoy Manta Singh of the 15thLudhiana SIKHs (now the 2ndBattalion, the SIKH Regiment) witnessed an English comrade, Captain Henderson, suffering serious injury. Manta Singh pushed him to safety in a wheel barrow he found in no-man’s land but he himself was severely injured. Manta Singh and the injured man he rescued, Captain Henderson became firm friends as well as brothers in arms. When Manta Singh died, Henderson encouraged his son Assa Singh to join the Sikh Regiment. Throughout the Second World War, Assa Singh and Henderson’s son, Robert, served togeth er, in France, Italy and North Africa. To this day, the Singh and Henderson families remain close friends. Assa and Robert have passed away, but their sons, Jaimal and Ian, are in regular contact. Such camaraderie is unique to the Army especially the old regiments which create an everlasting bond between their troops. The contribution of the Indian troops was vital since they were more often than not deployed as reinforcements to either exploit success or restore balance in an adverse situation. They filled the gaps that could have potentially allowed a German breakthrough and held onto them resolutely even at the cost of huge casualties. Deployed as storm troops in counter offensives where all circum stances were to their disadvantage, they explored and prepared the field so it could be expanded into a new allied line of defence by others after them. Overall despite being deployed piecemeal their contribution to success of operations was phenomenal. This was to be the last time that the Indian troops were mas sively deployed in the Ypres Salient. After May 1915 the Indian Corps became active near Aubers Ridge, Festubert and Loos. After the Battle of Loos, in late September 1915 the Indian Corps was transferred to Mesopotamia. In fourteen months the Indian Corps had lost 34252 men, including 12807 from the British units of the corps and 21445 from the Indian battalions……………… can we afford to forget these Martyrs? The Indian Armed Forces stand tall among their global peers because of their rich battle-hardened heritage, high motivation and tough training. To be continue