INDIAN SOLDIERS IN MESOPOTAMIA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14235, 1 March 1917, Page 3

INDIAN SOLDIERS IN MESOPOTAMIA.

WORK OF THE IMPERIAL SERVICE SAPPERS.

(From Mr Edmund Gaudier, official Eye-Witness" at General Headquarters, Indian Expeditionary Force Mesopotamia). '' So much has been written and spoken of the loyalty of the Indian Native States to the down smce war broke out that some apology is necessary for enlarging on thi 3 subject. The best apology is the fact that it is with the smaller States, whose names -are comparatively seldom heard,; and of whose existence many people are unaware, that this article deals, and. more particularly with the four small States m the. Punjab ajad United Provinees-r-Faridkote, Malerkotla, Sirmoor and Tehri .Gaihwal. Imperial Service troopg '• are picked units of the .armed forces of the different Native States, , and experience has shown that: they are a most valuable addition to the King-Emperor's Indian f orces. They are occasionally employed; m peace time?, dff;"gafrlsoif * and other duties outsMfe their own borders; an important section of one of the strategic railway lines on the North- West frontier was constructed m this way by the Sirmoor Imperial Service Sappers. The four native States, above referred to provide their quota of troops for the defence of the Empire field companies of sappers and miners, with complete transport and medical ' and signalling establishment and equipment. The Siiv moor State supplies, m addition, a printing and photographic section. Imperial Service troops m the field remain under the command of their own State-ap-pointed commandants, but they are accompanied by special service officers usually British officers from the Staff of the Inspector-General," Imperial Service troops m India. The function of these British officers is to convey orders to Aative Commandants, and on them falls the onus of seeing that they are understood and carried out; •

Tlie Sivmobr Imperial ' Service Sapper U»rp s is the oldest- Imperial ' Service bapper unit, and /has a fine record. It is a matter of history nbjftthat the Sirmoor Imperial SterVice -Sappers formed part of the gallant. . garrison under General , Townshend m - -Eut-el-Amara sharing to the firil the privations, dangers, and discomforts of :the siege, and eventually accompanied the^arrison into captivity. ' ■':.

The Malerkotia. Imperial Service .Sappers Corps is with the' "Mesopotamia, Field Force, and anyone moving through Basra cannot fail to. be~struck with the widespread nature of -their , work there ; road s where swamps existed m former days and trim.neat-bridges, over the various creeks testify .to^tbeir.'value. ' A large draft of. the Malexkotia Imperial Service Sappers went to France as a reinforcement to- the. 2nd!-^Sappers and Miners, and' shared; the.' hardships and honors which feU to the-lot-of the Indian troops. They were mentioned m dispatches; one Indian officer-being personally mentioned for. good- -work. More will be heard of this corps/ as they now form part of one of orav-fighting divisions. ; ■ ';•■'■.■ '■;•'■':.■: -',- ' : : .. . ■

Faridkote is,ohe of the Sutlei Sikh States of the Punjab. The Imperial Service Sapper Corps'' consists of four sections of Jat Sikhs, and has rendered valuable service m the East African theatre of war, sharing both the bright and dull days .of., that campaign. Last and youngest -lout Certainly not least of the Imperial Service Sapper Corps is that of Tehri " Garhwal . Of the many and various 'regiments of the Indian Army who * Lave clistignuisned themselves m the present, tfar, ho corp or regiment can ; show a"T>elter or more sallant record .than ,th£ (3arhwals. The 39th Garhwal r in Prajnce as part of the Indian "Corps, and when reinforcements 'werS re--quired the Tehri Gfarhrral Imperial Service Sappers nobly stepped m and sent praofcicaHy the whohj^pper Company. For their gallant work 1 4here they were mentioned m dispatches, and their com.mandant received the Military, Cross* : -Eater. when 1 Hhel Indian" troops Vere* transferred from -France,' the tattered remnantjTof the 39th went back to India to l-eorganise, and the heroes of the Tehrf GarhwaL Imnerial- Service Sappers came on to Mesopotamia. Like tihe Malei^iotlasj-i;h"e i Tehris hare left perMa^eYnVifaces of their, stay m Basra, and are- flow; eftgjjged oh 'must important. ...work- -m- Mesopotamia. In due courses- 'rfc-wnry,*be'TTopea, they also will go to on a of the~nghting divisions and with thei^rtgeSrdQuul experience mr both. France and Mespptamia will add fresh laurels to' the Mame Garhwal.