INDIANS’ FINE SERVICE

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22052, 27 August 1941, Page 6

INDIANS’ FINE SERVICE

Work In All Theatres Of War Distinguished Record In Many Campaigns India’s men and women in virtually every theatre where fighting has occurred have added in this war to rhe already distinguished record of Indian soldiers in the service of the British Raj. It must be remembered that the Indian joins the colours of his free will, no pressure has ever been put on him, and that to-day his deeds and bearing have made an army of which his country is proud. Behind the regulars of the Indian Army are the Territorials and Auxiliary services, and, in addition, the Indian Princes’ troops raised and maintained by rulers of the independent states. Indians also serve in the Royal Indian Navy and in the Air Force. In France, Indian units did meritorious work and played their part in the epic of Dunkirk, later taking their place the defenders of Britain. Moslems, Sikhs, Rajputs. Jats. Garwalis, Madrassi, and other Indian soldiers were among the first troops to attack in the successful thrust at Sidi Barrani and they have participated brilliantly in the defence of Tobruk. During the desert fighting an Indian motor brigade, supported by United Kingdom and Australian troops, broke through immensely superior Italian forces which had surrounded them at Mckeile. At Kassala and Gallabat, Indian troops played a gallant part in holding up strong Italian forces on the Sudan frontier while preparations for the East African campaign were being pushed forward. Their capture of GalJ labat was the first action in the advance which overthrew Mussolini's East African Empire. The first Indian •V.C. of the war was won by a sapper, 2nd Lieut. Singh Bhagat, at Metemma on February 1, 1941, during this fighting. Agordat, Barentu and Keren were scenes of distinguished work by the Indians.! At the long storming of the tremendously difficult rock bastion of Keren the Indian soldiers were especially conspicuous. They were the first to enter Massawa on April 8, and Assab fell to their surprise attack in June. In northern Abyssinia they formed the main strength oft the advance from Eritrea. Sweeping through terrific artillery fire they took Italian positions covering Amba Alagi after fierce hand-to-hand fighting, and holding the fortress on three sides, they co-operated with the South Africans from the south in the movements which a few days later resulted in the enemy's capitulation. When Raschid All’s revolt broke out in Iraq, Indians were among the troops hurried to the scene and a force was put into Habbaniyah by air. On June 8, with Free French forces, they crossed the Eastern Syrian frontier in a successful allied advance. Several stiff engagements were fought by them and they were warmly praised for their splendid work. Units representing all arms of the Indian Army are serving in Malaya, as well as oatteries of the Hong KongSingapore Royal Artillery, with headquarters at Singapore. They are also represented at Aden. Indian Navy Plays Its Part The Royal Indian Navy was given its present status in 1934. Since the outbreak of war it has been engaged in convoy work and patrol duties in the Indian Ocean, Red Sea. and Persian Gulf. In the summer of 1940 a R.I.N. trawler captured an enemy submarine and towed it to Aden and two Italian islands in the Red Sea—Noera and Dahlak—were taken by a sloop belonging to the R.I.N. When British Somaliland was regained the first troops to land in the Berbera area on March 16 were carried by H.I.M.S. Parvati and Netravati. ,

Started in 1932 after the first Indian cadets had been trained at the R.A.F. school at Cranwell, the Indian Air Fcrce has already acquitted itself with credit. Indians are serving with the R.A.F. They were represented in a famous fighter squadron stationed in Libya which shot down 24 enemy planes in the first three weeks of the offensive last December. Industrially India is playing a big part in the Empire's war effort and her people are helping financially with contributions while recruiting is so vigorous that she has a .surplus of reserves in hand for her expanding fighting forces. The sons and daughters of India are energetically throwing themselves into British Raj’s fight for the cause of Democracy.