Indians in the Boer War

Once the war had started the forces in India were eager to take part but the British government ddid not want them fighting agaist the Boers; probably thinking if they did then they would antagonise the local native population. Quite a number were however selected to handle supplies, munitions and general servicing and maintenance. there were therfore several ewxpertise that were selected for these non-military roles such as farriers, tailors, labourers, horse handlers and so forth.

A number of these non-combatant soldiers were deployed in and around Ladysmith and several were killed at the stores camp on Convent Hill. After the siege was lifted almost all of the Indians were sent back home although several volunteered to join the British army serving in their various skills capacity.

 

The following is from the SA Military History Society given by Ganes Pillay.

After General White arrived in Ladysmith in October 1899, a series of British military reverses enabled the Boers to invade Northern Natal and to surround British forces, forcing them to retreat to Ladysmith. When the Boers encircled the town, the 119-day Siege of Ladysmith began. Upon hearing of the British defeats at Dundee and Colenso, a great cry of support went up from “the Sons of the Empire” in all the major cities of India and they declared “we shall fight”.

British Colonial forces in India were eager to join the war but the War Office and British High Command did not want to use native Indian troops against Boer Forces so as not to burden British taxpayers with the additional cost of native forces so as not to exacerbate the tenuous relationship between the natives of South Africa and the Boer population. However, Lord Roberts, commanding the British forces in Natal, requested as many troops from India, as well as their Indian counterparts as possible. The Viceroy in India received a telegram from the War Office advising him that British troops departing for war in South Africa must provide their own butchery, bakery and victualling services. This condition allowed him to further permit the Colonial troops to take their native Seepoys. Orders were sent out for mobilisation and departure.

Indian personnel selected to assist in the war effort included soldiers specialised in handling munitions, supplies and logistics, technicians for maintaining and servicing field guns, gunsmiths, carpenters, blacksmiths, farriers, tailors, firemen, washing personnel (Dhobis), hospital orderlies, postal administrators, batmen, sailors (Lascars), labourers (Mocha’s), horse remount trainers and veterinary assistants. By 30th August 1899, the Indian contingent arriving in Durban was the largest number of non-white troops in the war. Some 13 000 officers and men – about 11 000 of whom were deployed outside of Ladysmith. A small number from the Rampur and Rajput regiments were caught up in the siege.

On arrival the Indian contingent’s rifles, swords and lances were removed and stored. Indian artillery personnel, ammunition pack-mule handlers and other military attendants were deployed around Ladysmith to serve the British troops. A number of these non-combatant soldiers were killed and injured. India supplied 6 750 remount horses, 507 ponies and 1 108 mules. Rajahs, princes, wealthy merchants and other benefactors donated 327 000 Lak Rupees, 35 fully fitted, horse drawn ambulance wagons, tons of tea, tobacco and cigarettes, potted meat, 300 fully trained and fitted artillery horses and their 50 handlers. The Indian government contributed 15 000 fuse’s, 5 000 friction tubes, 6 X 4.7 quick firing guns plus 3 000 rounds of ammunition, 300 tents, 100 000 coats, 12 000 horse blankets, 181 000 helmets, 2 000 water carriers, and 2 000 saddles and bridles.

An Indian Ordnance Field Park, established outside Pietermaritzburg, played a critical role in the relief effort. The offloading of munitions arriving by train from Durban and the expeditions dispatch of orders for the Front Line were expertly and efficiently undertaken by Indian Officers and their staff. Another Indian stores camp was located outside of Ladysmith at Convent Hill. This camp came under Boer fire on occasions and several Indians were killed and injured. The siege lasted 119 days and ended in relief on 1 March 1900. Nine Indians serving in the Ordinance camps were mentioned in despatches.

Mohandas Gandhi, based in South Africa when war was declared, recruited some 1 000 stretcher-bearers from the ranks of indentured labourers who were paid from funds collected from local merchants. The stretcher-bearer corps was trained in basic first-aid and saw service mostly in the battles around Spioenkop and Colenso. Their white garments with red cross arm bands were changed to Khaki after a number were wounded by Boer marksmen.

After the siege was lifted most of the 13 000 Indian contingent were repatriated to India. The remainder were moved to the Transvaal and the OFS where they were deployed in camps for the storage of armaments and equipment, as well as in the remount camps for the horses required by General Roberts’ forces, well trained horses were needed to pursue Boer Commandos.

Many Indian soldiers, after de-mob, sought permission to remain in South Africa. Some were awarded war pensions by the British and some obtained employment by the British army to repair damaged railway lines and bridges. British forces returning to India were welcomed in India with great fanfare as heroes.