Off the top of my head the only Indian soldier in any war related movie I can think of is Naveen Andrews in The English Patient. What do his shoulder titles say? Ah, according to this photo he's RE. Surely it should be Corps of Indian Engineers? http://www.fanzone50.com/Naveen/EP/EP_02e.jpg Anyone think of any others? Naveen Andrews as Kip in The English Patient
How could you forget Fl/Lt Singh in 633 Squadron (played by Julian Sherrier!!)? Can't find a picture at the moment.
Oh yes, that was on TV the other day! See my head is stuck on the ground war. YouTube - The orginal theatrical trailer to 633 squadron Singh at 33 seconds
Surely it should be Corps of Indian Engineers? Probably but not neccessarily. It's like the fact that all Indians in the Air Force have been lumped together on the CWGC as Royal Indian Air Force, even though some died whilst members of the Royal Air Force. Also it'd make it less plausible that an Indian would be commanding white troops if he was in the CIE. And you've stumped me on the whole films thing. Apart from background material for some Burma related films, I can't think of any (apart from Bhowani Junction, which isn't really a war film as such).
Ah, according to this photo he's RE. Surely it should be Corps of Indian Engineers? I am currently reading the excellent 'The Tiger Kills' the story of the Indian divisions in North Africa. The only mention of Indian Engineers so far has been the 'Bengal Sappers and Miners' now this seems to have been a recognised Corps, doing all of the normal RE type work. 'The Tiger Kills' is the middle volume of the trilogy that begins with 'The Tiger Strikes' (I don't have this one yet) and finishes with 'The Tiger Triumphs' which continues the story through Italy to the end of the war.
The only mention of Indian Engineers so far has been the 'Bengal Sappers and Miners' now this seems to have been a recognised Corps, doing all of the normal RE type work. You're sort of right Bod. The Bengal Sappers was one of the three presidency corps that were amlgameted in the Corps of Indian Engineers in 1932, along with the Madras Sappers, and the Bombay Sappers. It was originally done as a cost cutting exercise (even though the Indian Army Sappers were seen as some the best in WW1). However, to the old Indian Army hands the old names were still used (like regimental pride etc). As to the Tiger Kills, it's a great little booklet. The third installment is more difficult to get hold of (finally managed to get one about a month ago) and the first even more scarce. But the third can be read for free. Have a look at this thread. And I can rather smugly state since that starting that thread I've managed to get a nice copy of "Ball of Fire" for £20!! heehee.
Is that the same book Gerry mentions in my Adriatic thread? AbeBooks: Search Results - The Tiger Triumphs, the Story of Three Great Divisions in Italy
Yep that's the one. The first couple on abe look like new listings - when I looked before, the going rate, including P&P was £15+ (and, shhh, don't tell anyone but I still haven't gotten around to reading it!)
Yep that's the one. The first couple on abe look like new listings - when I looked before, the going rate, including P&P was £15+ (and, shhh, don't tell anyone but I still haven't gotten around to reading it!) I have got 'the Tiger Triumphs' sat on the shelf ready to read next, it looks as though I paid £12 (pencil inside cover). I have flicked through it and did notice that it does mention Gerry's Northern Irish Horse, supporting the Ghurka's I think. Funny that you mention the Bombay Sappers as well as the Bengal, because 'the Tiger Kills' is at work in my locker at the moment and I could not quite remember which was mentioned. So it could have been either. There is not enough information on the Indian involvement in WW2. I would love to know more. Cheers. Bod
A couple of books worth reading are: Philip Mason "A Matter of Honour: An Account of the Indian Army, its Officers and Men" - a good introduction, but rather short Maj General J G Elliott "A Roll of Honour: The Story of the Indian Army 1939-1945" - a much more detailed history covering all the fronts
Just bought on eBay for £5.30 inc p&p. Photos inside look impressive. eBay.co.uk: The Tiger Kills - 8th army troops in North Africa (item 170108523635 end time 15-May-07 23:10:00 BST)
Christ, you guys are going to start showing me up now. :p Owen, what's No Triumphant Procession like? Any good?
Just bought on eBay for £5.30 inc p&p. Photos inside look impressive. eBay.co.uk: The Tiger Kills - 8th army troops in North Africa (item 170108523635 end time 15-May-07 23:10:00 BST) Good find at a great price. The photos are mainly posed, as is normal for the North African theatre. The portrait shots are very good. Any photos of Indian troops are always unusual and very welcome. Not many vehicles though.
Slightly bigger please Bod, my eyes not THAT good. Soldiers of the 4th Indian Division decorate the side of their lorry 'Khyber pass to Hellfire Pass'. 'Hellfire Pass' was the nickname for the strategically important Halfaya Pass, fortified by the Germans and which the British attacked, unsuccessfully, during Operation Battleaxe. I agree some good photos on IWM of Indians. The ones of Indian troops in an East London Mosque and the Woking Mosque in WW2 are rather good. Search for "mosque" or EID UL FITR CELEBRATIONS, 1941
OK, I'd done this for my own amusement a couple of weeks ago but I thought I'd post them now for a laugh: