Shahbahraz wrote: ↑Fri Mar 27, 2020 5:18 pm
Having worked with a lot of Sikhs, I've got a lot of time for Mr Singh and Mr Singh, and Mr Singh. Lovely looking unit.
Me too. And they're great for an exceptional free curry as long as you help out with the washing-up (I went through officer training with a Sikh lad)!
Incidentally, one of the best and funniest war memoirs I've ever read was that of an officer of Sikh Sappers belonging to 23rd Indian division (foolishly loaned out and never returned). Some epic moments are when he discovers that his Sikh Havildar has been teaching him a 'Ribald, Amritsar Guttersnipe' version of the local lingo and only finds out when his brother officers look at him in horror when he asks the waiter to fetch him something in the Mess, or when he witnesses a Japanese rout and the Colonel of the attached Gurkha battalion is fighting with one of his Gurkhas to 'have a go' on the Bren Gun as the Japanese flee across open ground "Please bugger off, Colonel Sahib!".
Great photos, RMD - I'm hoping to achieve something similar in 28mm when I get my Sikh platoons up and running for CoC - one in trousers for Op Compass, and one in shorts for Malaya '42. (Incidentally, I've never seen an Op name for Malaya - was there one?)
Interesting little story I picked up recently whilst researching Sikh troops. Back in the early 1970s, it became compulsory to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle, but Sikhs were exempted (which caused much muttering about preferential treatment). One of the reasons for the exemption was the number of ex-Indian Army officers - including several of general rank - who wrote to the Government stating that they had personally witnessed the turban (or dastaar, to give it its correct name) stopping spent bullets and shrapnel, that head injuries in Sikh units had been no worse than for troops wearing "battle bowlers", and that it was just as good as a crash helmet.
Kein Plan überlebt den ersten Kontakt mit den Würfeln. (No plan survives the first contact with the dice.) Baron Mannshed von Wreckedoften, First Sea Lord of the Bavarian Admiralty.
I'm not aware of an operational name for Malaya, but then they were generally only given to offensive operations.
Sikhs were excluded from becoming Paras because they couldn't wear protective headgear. Volunteers from all Indian regiments were accepted into 152 Parachute Battalion, with the exception of 11th Sikhs and Sikhs from the other regiments.
Once again, excellent stuff. Martin really is a talented modeller isn't he? How's he doing - do you see him much these days?
Kein Plan überlebt den ersten Kontakt mit den Würfeln. (No plan survives the first contact with the dice.) Baron Mannshed von Wreckedoften, First Sea Lord of the Bavarian Admiralty.
BaronVonWreckedoften wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 7:56 am
Once again, excellent stuff. Martin really is a talented modeller isn't he? How's he doing - do you see him much these days?
Yeah, he's exceptional. Sadly haven't heard from him in nearly two years (about the time I started the blog).
