Maybe a thread to drop random Indian army pictures into? I'll start with this website. India's Wars before Independence [www.bharat-rakshak.com]
Some good pics on this thread. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/north-africa-med/6469-headgear-4th-indian-division.html
LIFE: War 1939 1945 Ww2 Italy 1Of2 - Hosted by Google http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/02826921bae156be_landing
A classic From the IWM collection K 6697 CATALOGUE NUMBER ITEM NAME: THE INDIAN ARMOURED CORPS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, MARCH 1944 MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION PRODUCTION DATE: c 15 March 1944 OBJECT TYPE: Official photograph FORMAT DESCRIPTION: Official photograph DESCRIPTION: Two crew members of a Sherman tank of the Scinde Horse, part of the Indian 31st Armoured Division in Iraq. FURTHER INFORMATION: Original caption reads: 'The fame of the old Indian Cavalry Regiments is known throughout the world. They have always been splendid horsemen, and fine fighting soldiers. These regiments still exist bearing their famous names and traditions, but newly equipped for modern warfare they have become the Indian Armoured Corps. Formations of this Corps have fought with distinction in the campaigns in the Middle East, and the Far East, and are now engaged in fighting in Italy. An Indian Armoured Formation somewhere in the Middle East. Picture shows:- Before the start of manoeuvres, two Sikhs test their radio. They are:- loader-operator Kundah Singh (inside turret), and Risalder Dalipsingh. Both come from the district of Amritsar, Punjab.'
Galleries from “We Were There” exhibition World War Two - India 1 World War Two - India 2 World War Two - India 3 World War Two - India 4
The first two Indians that became Field Marshals: Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji "Sam Bahadur" Jamshedji Manekshaw MC. (April 3, 1914 – June 27, 2008) During World War II, Manekshaw saw action in Burma in the 1942 campaign on the Sittang River as a captain with the 4/12 Frontier Force Regiment,[1] and had the rare distinction of being honoured for his bravery on the battle front itself. He was commanding his battalion's 'A' Company in a counter-attack against the invading Japanese Army and despite suffering 50% casualties the company achieved its objective, Pagoda Hill, which was a key position on the left of the Sittang bridgehead. After capturing the hill, he was hit by a burst of LMG bullets and was severely wounded in the stomach.[2] Major General D.T. Cowan spotted Manekshaw holding on to life and was aware of his valour in face of stiff resistance from the Japanese. Fearing the worst, Major General Cowan quickly pinned his own Military Cross ribbon to Manekshaw saying, "A dead person cannot be awarded a Military Cross." The official recommendation for the MC states that the success of the attack "was largely due to the excellent leadership and bearing of Captain Manekshaw". The award was made official with the publication of the notification in a supplement to the London Gazette of 21 April 1942 (dated 23 April 1942). Manekshaw was almost pronounced dead when brought to Rangoon hospital with nine bullets in the lung, liver and kidneys. The military surgeon was reluctant to operate, seeing his hopeless condition, though Manekshaw was conscious. When the surgeon asked what had happened to him he is said to have replied that he was kicked by a donkey Field Marshal Kodandera "Kipper" Madappa Cariappa OBE. (28 January 1899 - 15 May 1993) Cariappa served in Iraq, Syria and Iran from 1941-1942 and then in Myanmar in 1943-1944. He spent many of his soldiering years in Waziristan. He earned his 'Mentioned in Despatches' as DAA and QMG of General (later Field Marshal) Slim's 10th Division. He was the first Indian Officer to be given command of a unit in 1942. After command he volunteered to serve in 26 Division engaged in clearing the Japanese from Burma, where he was awarded the Order of the British Empire. In 1947, Cariappa was the first Indian who was selected to undergo a training course at Imperial Defence College, Camberly, UK on the higher directions of war. During the traumatic period of partition, he handled the division of the Indian Army and sharing of its assets between Pakistan and India, in a most amicable, just and orderly manner. He was then the Indian officer in charge of overseeing the transition. Sam Manekshaw - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Kodandera Madappa Cariappa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Here are a few more that have been lurking on my hard-drive A mortar team of the 31st Indian Armoured Division which served with 14th Army in Burma. The charging elephant is black on green. M-7 Priest 105mm SP gun 255th Indian Tank Bde. 44th Indian Armoured Division.
10th Division AEC Mk II armoured car, from the Skinner's Horse, crossing a Bailley bridge over the moat 10th Division infantry advancing north up the Tiber valley with Monte Acuto behind them, July 1944. These soldiers are from 4th Battalion 10th Baluch Regiment. King George VI visited Umbertide, as part of a tour of the Italian front. He is the figure standing in the staff car moving towards S. Maria della Reggia. He is receiving the cheers of 10th Infantry Division troops lining Via Giuseppe Garibaldi. The jeep following carries 8th Army HQ insignia. Umbertide history Mazzaforte
Indian forces in Mediterranean, North Africa and Italy We Were There - The Second World War in the Mediterranean, North Africa and Italy
Indian and African troops in the Far East We Were There - The Second World War in the Far East and Pacific
Not quite Indian Army but I guess these are in the best place 16 Images here: Search results for "bundesarchiv Freies Indien" - Wikimedia Commons
Pictures of the Gurkhas from ww1... World War I - a set on Flickr ... and ww2 World War II - a set on Flickr
Some photos of training the 44th Indian Airborne Division, 1945 Training the 44th Indian Airborne Division 1945
All sizes | Unknown World War 2 soldiers | Flickr - Photo Sharing! All sizes | Unknown World War 2 soldiers | Flickr - Photo Sharing! All sizes | Unknown World War 2 soldiers on vehicle | Flickr - Photo Sharing! All sizes | Indian troops in North Africa, October 1940 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! The above feature on flickr only a small number which the user has stated have come direct from transparancies(Negatives?)
Can I just ask, what was the indian division that had an elephant's arse as their divisional insignia? Been bugging me for weeks!
Can I just ask, what was the indian division that had an elephant's arse as their divisional insignia? Been bugging me for weeks! As far as I know none Indian division didn't have elephant's arse as sign. 1st (later renumbered 31st) Indian Armoured Division had elephant as it's sign, IV Corps also, but it was whole elephant not just his arse. Do you maybe have a picture?
The story I was told was that they were always situated at the back of columns, behind the elephants...
