The Indian Army in World War II

THE INDIAN ARMY IN WORLD WAR II, 1939-45

[ PAGE 1 ] [ PAGE 2 ] [ PAGE 3 ]

-	-
	Two Dogras, in forward light machine-gun positions in Burma. Circa 1944.
-	-
	Indian infantry assaults through a burning objective, in Burma. Possibly, Circa 1945.
-	-
	Ayo Gurkhali!!! Gurkha troops charge the enemy lines in Burma. Possibly, Circa 1945.
-	-
	The first Indians to parachute - Captain Rangaraj (right) and Havildar Major Mathura Singh (left).
-	-
	Sikh mountain gunners cleaning Italian guns captured by the 5th Indian Division in Eritrea. Circa 1941.
-	-
	A Naik, 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles, in battle order at the North West Frontier. Circa 1939.
-	-
	Humbling of a symbol of unbridled power - Indian troops examine a captured German Swastika, at Sidi Omer.
-	-
	Indian paratroopers from the 152nd Para Battalion, lined up before emplaning for their jump into enemy territory.
-	-
	Infantry of the 29th Indian Brigade assault Italian defensive positions at Jalo, a point to the west of Tobruk, on the 5/6th of December 1941.
-	-
	A truly spectacular image. In the heat of the moment - Indian soldiers storm a German trench, after exploding it with hand grenades. Circa 1945.
-	-
	Until 8 March 1945, the pagodas crowning Mandalay Hill outside that city came into sight. There was stiff fighting ahead for the men of the 1/6th Gurkha Rifles.
-	-
	The 4/6th Gurkha Rifles cross the Irrawaddy River on 27 January 1945. The Gurkhas spent the next few weeks involved in hard fought actions with the Japanese.
-	-
	Jawans of the INA, surrendering their weapons to the 14th Army in Burma, Circa 1945. The INA were armed with weapons, which were captured by the Japanese at Singapore in 1942.
-	-
	Circa 1940. A parade of the INA {Indian National Army} in Singapore, led by Captain Lakshmi Swaminadhan of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment. This parade had occurred before departing for Burma.
-	-
	An Italian soldier surrenders to a Jawan, during Operation Crusader, of an unnamed Division and Regiment, on 08 December 1941. The purpose of Operation Crusader was two-fold; to relieve Tobruk and destroy the Afrika Korp. First part of the conflict was a success, the second a failure. The battle took place between the Egyptian border and El Agheila in Libya.
-	-
	Indian troops, during Operation Battleaxe on 06 August 1941. An Indian infantry division was involved in the first attempt to remove Reverend Major Bachs' forces out of Halfaya Pass - an important position between the Egypt and Libyan border. The latter was then an Italian colony. Bachs was a German priest and therefore had a religious title, as well a military rank.
-	-
	The Afrika Korp had retreated towards oncoming reinforcements and their counter attack was swift and vicious. Muddles within Allied High Command left the 4th Indian Division's (Fighting Fourth) 7th Brigade widely exposed and despite a daring move by the Brigade's commander, Brigadier H.R. Briggs which saved most of the unit, a 1000 men were taken POW. They are shown here being marched through Benghazi in January 1942.
-	-