What do you think?
Rate this book
The Indian Contingent: The Forgotten Muslim Soldiers of Dunkirk
'An incredible and important story, finally being told' - Mishal Husain On 28 May 1940, Major Akbar Khan marched at the head of 299 soldiers along a beach in northern France. They were the only Indians in the British Expeditionary Force at Dunkirk. With Stuka sirens wailing, shells falling in the water and Tommies lining up to be evacuated, these soldiers of the British Indian Army, carrying their disabled imam, found their way to the East Mole and embarked for England in the dead of night. On reaching Dover, they borrowed brass trays and started playing Punjabi folk music, upon which even 'many British spectators joined in the dance'. What journey had brought these men to Europe? What became of them – and of comrades captured by the Germans? With the engaging style of a true storyteller, Ghee Bowman reveals in full, for the first time, the astonishing story of the Indian Contingent, from their arrival in France on 26 December 1939 to their return to an India on the verge of partition. It is one of the war's hidden stories that casts fresh light on Britain and its empire.
- GenresNonfictionHistoryIndia
381 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2020
10 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Read
August 4, 2020This is excellent. A social rather than military history of the Indian soldiers--mostly Muslim, some Sikh and Hindu--who came over to France in 1940.
Many were evacuated at Dunkirk, and spent much of the rest of the war in the UK training for Churchill's planned Norway raid that never came off, which meant they spent a lot of time in some quite remote communities. These stories are incredible, often deeply warming--Scottish and Welsh villages taking these men far from home to their hearts (literally--there are several babies, and one incredibly moving lasting love story told in detail). There's surprisingly little record of racism, though of course it would have been about.
Others were trapped in France. Some spent years as prisoners of war (there is a fantastic story of a white officer who actually escaped while being sent to officer prison to return to his imprisoned Other Ranks men and masqueraded as an Indian for a year to stay with them before escaping for good). Some were recruited to fight for Germany as the Indian Legion under Subhas Chandra Bose's direction on the 'enemy of my enemy is my friend' basis. On which, can we have a massive round of applause for mule-driver Mahmud Khan, who joined the Indian Legion, seduced both the daughter of the German officer who ran the training camp *and* one of his good-looking male orderlies, and promptly escaped to Switzerland. Sir, we salute your indefatigability.
The book covers the Indian contingent from sweepers and mule-drivers to Major-Generals, giving a really good sense of the scale and sweep of the Indian presence, their lives, how they fitted in to Britain and the British army and how those adapted (or failed to) to them. And indeed what it was like to return home after what was often years in a very different environment, only to have home ripped into two.
This is such an important book. The author makes the point that we're not gone till our traces have vanished from the world: well, these men deserve to be remembered and to have their places marked, not whitewashed by ignorance and selective memory. A great history, fluently written with an incredibly amount of research behind it, and a great read about humanity in its many forms. Strongly recommended.
Many were evacuated at Dunkirk, and spent much of the rest of the war in the UK training for Churchill's planned Norway raid that never came off, which meant they spent a lot of time in some quite remote communities. These stories are incredible, often deeply warming--Scottish and Welsh villages taking these men far from home to their hearts (literally--there are several babies, and one incredibly moving lasting love story told in detail). There's surprisingly little record of racism, though of course it would have been about.
Others were trapped in France. Some spent years as prisoners of war (there is a fantastic story of a white officer who actually escaped while being sent to officer prison to return to his imprisoned Other Ranks men and masqueraded as an Indian for a year to stay with them before escaping for good). Some were recruited to fight for Germany as the Indian Legion under Subhas Chandra Bose's direction on the 'enemy of my enemy is my friend' basis. On which, can we have a massive round of applause for mule-driver Mahmud Khan, who joined the Indian Legion, seduced both the daughter of the German officer who ran the training camp *and* one of his good-looking male orderlies, and promptly escaped to Switzerland. Sir, we salute your indefatigability.
The book covers the Indian contingent from sweepers and mule-drivers to Major-Generals, giving a really good sense of the scale and sweep of the Indian presence, their lives, how they fitted in to Britain and the British army and how those adapted (or failed to) to them. And indeed what it was like to return home after what was often years in a very different environment, only to have home ripped into two.
This is such an important book. The author makes the point that we're not gone till our traces have vanished from the world: well, these men deserve to be remembered and to have their places marked, not whitewashed by ignorance and selective memory. A great history, fluently written with an incredibly amount of research behind it, and a great read about humanity in its many forms. Strongly recommended.
June 12, 2020
What makes the Indian Contingent such a good read is that it combines solid history with fascinating human stories. The Punjabi soldiers of Force K6 really come alive and their narratives are variously gripping, charming, interesting, funny, poignant, sad and, most importantly, untold until now.
I don’t normally read non-fiction, so it was a joy to read a book that relates a story (and personal histories within the story) that advances chronologically. So many novels today jump about in time to piece together the narrative. Being so exclusively a reader of fiction, I was a bit daunted to read a book about military history. I was afraid of lots of details of troop movements, battles and strategy. I needn’t have worried. Those elements are there in Ghee Bowman’s book, but they are told in a really engaging way, with interesting contextualisation (Punjab, France, Germany, England, Scotland, Wales and mules!) and with fascinating insights into the ways in which these soldiers interacted with the communities they were stationed (or imprisoned) among. The fact that there is little evidence of the soldiers of the Indian Contingent encountering racism in Britain certainly puts the hideous comments by the bigoted so-called comedian on TV that are mentioned at the end of the book into sharp contrast. It also makes us think about the way Muslims and South Asians in the UK today suffer daily micro-aggressions and worse. It is certainly an important contribution to the current interest in the colonial history of Britain and its legacy today.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in 2nd World War history and to anyone who isn’t!
I don’t normally read non-fiction, so it was a joy to read a book that relates a story (and personal histories within the story) that advances chronologically. So many novels today jump about in time to piece together the narrative. Being so exclusively a reader of fiction, I was a bit daunted to read a book about military history. I was afraid of lots of details of troop movements, battles and strategy. I needn’t have worried. Those elements are there in Ghee Bowman’s book, but they are told in a really engaging way, with interesting contextualisation (Punjab, France, Germany, England, Scotland, Wales and mules!) and with fascinating insights into the ways in which these soldiers interacted with the communities they were stationed (or imprisoned) among. The fact that there is little evidence of the soldiers of the Indian Contingent encountering racism in Britain certainly puts the hideous comments by the bigoted so-called comedian on TV that are mentioned at the end of the book into sharp contrast. It also makes us think about the way Muslims and South Asians in the UK today suffer daily micro-aggressions and worse. It is certainly an important contribution to the current interest in the colonial history of Britain and its legacy today.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in 2nd World War history and to anyone who isn’t!
October 18, 2021
The Indian army was constituted by the British more than a century ago and they widely used the troops in their battles around the world. The Indians excelled in warfare after it obtained modern training and lessons in discipline. The Indian contingent was effectively used in both world wars in many theatres of operation such as France, Italy, north and east Africa, Mesopotamia, Burma, Malaysia and Singapore. They fought on all roles like combat troops, transportation and medical corps. This book narrates the experiences of an Indian support contingent who operated in France and England. These transportation companies assisted frontline soldiers by carrying the war material on the back of mules. When the Allies buckled before the German onslaught in 1940, a large number of them were evacuated to Britain. A group surrendered to the Germans as prisoners of war. Some of them enrolled in Subhas Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army (INA) and fought on the Axis side. After the major thrust of the war was over, the troops were reunited in India but the country was just about to submerge into the partition horrors. Contrary to expectations of racism, the British people treated the Indian soldiers rather well and there were even some instances in which a few babies were left to the care of their mothers when the troops returned home! Ghee Bowman is a historian, teacher and story teller based in Exeter, England. This is his first book that sprang from research he undertook to explore Exeter’s multicultural history. His extensive study of the Indian military contingent took him to five countries and numerous reference sources.
Even though the soldiers under study were part of the transport company and only indirectly linked to combat, Bowman presents their important contribution to the war and how the British war effort would not have been complete without them. The sound of a lorry engine and its high profile would draw fire from enemy side. Mules were quieter and far less visible. So, they were used to carry barbed wire, sand bags, timber and ammunition to the frontline within the view of Germans. This book deals with men of the 25th Animal Transport Company of the Royal Indian Armed Services Corps, also called Force K6 or simply, Indian Contingent. They handled the mules really well. Almost all of them were Muslims and joined the Pakistan army after partition. Only a small part of them were assigned forward duty, assisting the British Expeditionary Force tasked with holding a 15-mile frontage of the Allied Line. They carried the soul of their native land abroad. The company resembled a Punjabi village transplanted in European territory minus women and children, self-sufficient in every physical, medical and spiritual need. Deaths occurred were mainly due to disease or accident. The only member of Force K6 killed by a rifle during their time in Europe was shot by a colleague after a petty dispute.
Bowman provides a glimpse of how the British Indian army restricted its recruitment to specific groups of people called the ‘martial races’ such as Sikhs, Gurkhas and Punjabi Muslims. These people were short in stature, but believed to be warlike and obedient. This false theory was based on colonial pseudo-scientific discourse and established by Field Marshal Roberts in 1857. However, the real reason was that it was these groups that opposed the national rebellion in 1857 and fought alongside the British. The recruitment policy lasted till World War II when the Commander-in-Chief Claude Auchinleck started recruiting from all areas. For a long time, the Indian army was led by an exclusive cadre of white British officers. Indians were admitted into the officer cadre only from 1919 onwards. Even then, they were not treated on equal terms with white officers and not paid the same amount as their British counterparts. They were not permitted to serve in courts martial, most social clubs would not admit them as members and there was a general feeling that they were still on a lower level.
This book also points out the sectarian feelings in the army, sometimes encouraged by the British. There was no feeling of equality between men. Even though the Indian contingent – basically muleteers – were entirely Muslim, the sweepers who disposed human and animal excrement were untouchables who belonged to Hindu, Sikh and Christian communities. Theirs was a sad lot among the others and even now in Pakistan, such menial jobs are reserved for them as seen in employment notices on newspapers. And there was no national feeling. The Muslim soldiers fought for the British and then for their religion. It was only after Jinnah’s profession of Pakistan that these men thought about an alternate career other than serving the British. When the fleeing Indian troops were evacuated from Dunkirk in France, they were taken to Britain. These were the first companies that were ever posted in Britain for war duty. It is interesting to note the people who gathered to welcome them. They were received at the dock by a representative of the Muslim Working Mission and a smattering of British and Indian Muslims.
Surveying the overall picture described in the book, readers reach a conclusion that racism spread its wings on all avenues of life, not only in Britain but their enemies Germany as well. However well the British generally behaved, the author does not deny a strong undercurrent of colour prejudice. Discrimination extended also to civilian sailors of the merchant fleet. They worked longer hours than their European colleagues, slept in worse conditions, ate a cheaper diet and were generally exploited. Things were not better in the case of prisoners who fell to the Germans. Nazis practiced racial supremacy principles and black Africans, Russians, Jews and Romany Gypsies were very badly treated. The author claims that Indians fared comparatively better as Hitler believed that the origin of the German ‘master race’ was in north India and they were thought to be fellow Aryans in the Nazi racial hierarchy. Even with these disadvantages, conditions in Europe were far more comfortable to what they experienced at home and were in fact enjoyable. When they returned home, their commanders found that England had softened and weakened the soldiers and observed that they were making silly demands that were impossible. They were like spoilt children much indulged by their parents. With this remark, the author has unknowingly let the colonial paternalistic attitude slip out.
For the Indian prisoners of war, there was one more chapter to play out before the end of the war. This book handles this topic with some seriousness. Subhas Chandra Bose escaped from his house arrest in India and reached Germany by clandestine routes. He implored the Indian prisoners to join him and fight against the British for Indian freedom with German and Japanese assistance. Bose’s personality and conviction won him many men. The trickle of Indian POWs grew into a flood after the surrender in Crete. A good many people demurred to make the defection to the German side. Objections were raised against breaking their oath of allegiance to the British. Pragmatic religious teachers found ways to circumvent the moral dilemma. The Indian camp maulvi informed the prisoners that the Quran exempted a Muslim from an oath if he starved for three days (p.150)! Instead of separation by community, Muslims, Sikhs, Gurkhas and Hindus were mixed up in Bose’s army, going against the idea of segregation. This policy was initially strange to the men, but proved surprisingly successful.
Bowman has chosen the K6 contingent as it had been stationed in his home town of Exeter. Otherwise, the selection of this company would have been odd. Thousands of Indian soldiers had laid down their lives elsewhere in Europe in a war for which they were deployed as mercenaries. Tales of heroism abound in those warfronts. Instead, the author has selected a group of Pakistani troops whose sole job in the war was to transport material on mules. The book is neatly and pleasantly written that readers would find it difficult to believe that it is the author’s first work.
The book is recommended.
Even though the soldiers under study were part of the transport company and only indirectly linked to combat, Bowman presents their important contribution to the war and how the British war effort would not have been complete without them. The sound of a lorry engine and its high profile would draw fire from enemy side. Mules were quieter and far less visible. So, they were used to carry barbed wire, sand bags, timber and ammunition to the frontline within the view of Germans. This book deals with men of the 25th Animal Transport Company of the Royal Indian Armed Services Corps, also called Force K6 or simply, Indian Contingent. They handled the mules really well. Almost all of them were Muslims and joined the Pakistan army after partition. Only a small part of them were assigned forward duty, assisting the British Expeditionary Force tasked with holding a 15-mile frontage of the Allied Line. They carried the soul of their native land abroad. The company resembled a Punjabi village transplanted in European territory minus women and children, self-sufficient in every physical, medical and spiritual need. Deaths occurred were mainly due to disease or accident. The only member of Force K6 killed by a rifle during their time in Europe was shot by a colleague after a petty dispute.
Bowman provides a glimpse of how the British Indian army restricted its recruitment to specific groups of people called the ‘martial races’ such as Sikhs, Gurkhas and Punjabi Muslims. These people were short in stature, but believed to be warlike and obedient. This false theory was based on colonial pseudo-scientific discourse and established by Field Marshal Roberts in 1857. However, the real reason was that it was these groups that opposed the national rebellion in 1857 and fought alongside the British. The recruitment policy lasted till World War II when the Commander-in-Chief Claude Auchinleck started recruiting from all areas. For a long time, the Indian army was led by an exclusive cadre of white British officers. Indians were admitted into the officer cadre only from 1919 onwards. Even then, they were not treated on equal terms with white officers and not paid the same amount as their British counterparts. They were not permitted to serve in courts martial, most social clubs would not admit them as members and there was a general feeling that they were still on a lower level.
This book also points out the sectarian feelings in the army, sometimes encouraged by the British. There was no feeling of equality between men. Even though the Indian contingent – basically muleteers – were entirely Muslim, the sweepers who disposed human and animal excrement were untouchables who belonged to Hindu, Sikh and Christian communities. Theirs was a sad lot among the others and even now in Pakistan, such menial jobs are reserved for them as seen in employment notices on newspapers. And there was no national feeling. The Muslim soldiers fought for the British and then for their religion. It was only after Jinnah’s profession of Pakistan that these men thought about an alternate career other than serving the British. When the fleeing Indian troops were evacuated from Dunkirk in France, they were taken to Britain. These were the first companies that were ever posted in Britain for war duty. It is interesting to note the people who gathered to welcome them. They were received at the dock by a representative of the Muslim Working Mission and a smattering of British and Indian Muslims.
Surveying the overall picture described in the book, readers reach a conclusion that racism spread its wings on all avenues of life, not only in Britain but their enemies Germany as well. However well the British generally behaved, the author does not deny a strong undercurrent of colour prejudice. Discrimination extended also to civilian sailors of the merchant fleet. They worked longer hours than their European colleagues, slept in worse conditions, ate a cheaper diet and were generally exploited. Things were not better in the case of prisoners who fell to the Germans. Nazis practiced racial supremacy principles and black Africans, Russians, Jews and Romany Gypsies were very badly treated. The author claims that Indians fared comparatively better as Hitler believed that the origin of the German ‘master race’ was in north India and they were thought to be fellow Aryans in the Nazi racial hierarchy. Even with these disadvantages, conditions in Europe were far more comfortable to what they experienced at home and were in fact enjoyable. When they returned home, their commanders found that England had softened and weakened the soldiers and observed that they were making silly demands that were impossible. They were like spoilt children much indulged by their parents. With this remark, the author has unknowingly let the colonial paternalistic attitude slip out.
For the Indian prisoners of war, there was one more chapter to play out before the end of the war. This book handles this topic with some seriousness. Subhas Chandra Bose escaped from his house arrest in India and reached Germany by clandestine routes. He implored the Indian prisoners to join him and fight against the British for Indian freedom with German and Japanese assistance. Bose’s personality and conviction won him many men. The trickle of Indian POWs grew into a flood after the surrender in Crete. A good many people demurred to make the defection to the German side. Objections were raised against breaking their oath of allegiance to the British. Pragmatic religious teachers found ways to circumvent the moral dilemma. The Indian camp maulvi informed the prisoners that the Quran exempted a Muslim from an oath if he starved for three days (p.150)! Instead of separation by community, Muslims, Sikhs, Gurkhas and Hindus were mixed up in Bose’s army, going against the idea of segregation. This policy was initially strange to the men, but proved surprisingly successful.
Bowman has chosen the K6 contingent as it had been stationed in his home town of Exeter. Otherwise, the selection of this company would have been odd. Thousands of Indian soldiers had laid down their lives elsewhere in Europe in a war for which they were deployed as mercenaries. Tales of heroism abound in those warfronts. Instead, the author has selected a group of Pakistani troops whose sole job in the war was to transport material on mules. The book is neatly and pleasantly written that readers would find it difficult to believe that it is the author’s first work.
The book is recommended.
July 18, 2021
Forgotten story of D Day
Thoroughly enjoyable narrative on a greatly ignored page of History. We should all be indebted to Ghee Bowman who brought these soldiers to life again in such a vivid light.
Thoroughly enjoyable narrative on a greatly ignored page of History. We should all be indebted to Ghee Bowman who brought these soldiers to life again in such a vivid light.
May 19, 2023
The Indian Contingent: The Forgotten Muslim Soldiers of Dunkirk by Ghee Bowman
.
Whenever we engage with literature or media regarding World War II, we inevitably encounter numerous white individuals who fought against their Allied counterparts.
However, it is important to recognize the often-overlooked fact that around 2.5 million Indian soldiers valiantly fought alongside the British army during World War II. These brave soldiers selflessly sacrificed their lives in the war, despite their nation's lack of direct involvement.
Continuing along the same train of thought, today I would like to introduce a book that adeptly unveils compelling facts and captivating stories about the Indian soldiers who participated in the historic Battle of Dunkirk.
The Indian Contingent: The Forgotten Muslim Soldiers of Dunkirk by Ghee Bowman is a meticulously researched and eye-opening account of the contributions made by Indian soldiers during the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940.
The book sheds light on the largely overlooked role played by the Indian contingent, which consisted of a mix of Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim soldiers. However, it is the contribution of the Muslim soldiers that is the focus of Bowman's narrative. He argues that these soldiers have been largely forgotten by history, despite their bravery and sacrifices during this critical period.
The book takes readers on a journey through the experiences of these soldiers, from their recruitment and training in India to their deployment in France. Bowman skillfully weaves together archival records, interviews with descendants of the soldiers, and contemporary news reports to create a vivid picture of the soldiers' lives and experiences.
One of the most striking aspects of the book is the way Bowman highlights the discrimination faced by these soldiers, both during their service and after their return to India. Despite fighting for the British Empire, they were often treated as second-class citizens by their colonial rulers. Bowman shows how this discrimination had a profound impact on the soldiers' sense of identity and place in society.
The Indian Contingent is an important and timely book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of World War II history. Bowman's careful research and engaging writing make this a compelling read for anyone interested in military history or the experience of colonial subjects during the war. Highly recommended.
.
Whenever we engage with literature or media regarding World War II, we inevitably encounter numerous white individuals who fought against their Allied counterparts.
However, it is important to recognize the often-overlooked fact that around 2.5 million Indian soldiers valiantly fought alongside the British army during World War II. These brave soldiers selflessly sacrificed their lives in the war, despite their nation's lack of direct involvement.
Continuing along the same train of thought, today I would like to introduce a book that adeptly unveils compelling facts and captivating stories about the Indian soldiers who participated in the historic Battle of Dunkirk.
The Indian Contingent: The Forgotten Muslim Soldiers of Dunkirk by Ghee Bowman is a meticulously researched and eye-opening account of the contributions made by Indian soldiers during the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940.
The book sheds light on the largely overlooked role played by the Indian contingent, which consisted of a mix of Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim soldiers. However, it is the contribution of the Muslim soldiers that is the focus of Bowman's narrative. He argues that these soldiers have been largely forgotten by history, despite their bravery and sacrifices during this critical period.
The book takes readers on a journey through the experiences of these soldiers, from their recruitment and training in India to their deployment in France. Bowman skillfully weaves together archival records, interviews with descendants of the soldiers, and contemporary news reports to create a vivid picture of the soldiers' lives and experiences.
One of the most striking aspects of the book is the way Bowman highlights the discrimination faced by these soldiers, both during their service and after their return to India. Despite fighting for the British Empire, they were often treated as second-class citizens by their colonial rulers. Bowman shows how this discrimination had a profound impact on the soldiers' sense of identity and place in society.
The Indian Contingent is an important and timely book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of World War II history. Bowman's careful research and engaging writing make this a compelling read for anyone interested in military history or the experience of colonial subjects during the war. Highly recommended.
August 18, 2023
For the month of independence this year, I wanted to read a book on Indian soldiers who devoted themselves to the nation and whose history had been erased from records. I did not plan to read a book focusing on soldiers from a particular community. But I remember seeing an online post recently that argued why no Muslims are found in the army or navy and alleged that they are largely anti-nationals, even though I know many of my Muslim friends and relatives who are a part of the defence. Yes, I don't differentiate between soldiers coming from different communities and backgrounds, even after I came across this questionable post. But I just wanted to see if I could find a book focusing on their history.
Luckily, I got hold of this book at the right time and decided to try it. This book precisely describes why we do not know of any Muslims being a part of the Indian army. The book focuses on Indian soldiers who were a part of world war 2 in the battle of Dunkirk. A group of Hindu, Muslim and Sikh soldiers were relocated from India to France for the Dunkirk evacuation. Most part of the narration focuses on the Muslim soldiers because no one else chose to. They knew their lives were about to change forever. But what they were not aware of was how some of them would never see their home again and how they would perish in a foreign land without a trace, and how history would never speak about them.
The amount of research and hard work in this book is just incredible. The author mainly focuses on the discrimination the Indian soldiers face among soldiers from different nations and their difficulties during their operations in France. The minor details of their simple lives before reaching Dunkirk were soulful, and most importantly, the background detailing an undivided India was a delight to read. Forgotten histories need to be read to honour those who went through tougher times for the nation, and this book is definitely worth it.
Luckily, I got hold of this book at the right time and decided to try it. This book precisely describes why we do not know of any Muslims being a part of the Indian army. The book focuses on Indian soldiers who were a part of world war 2 in the battle of Dunkirk. A group of Hindu, Muslim and Sikh soldiers were relocated from India to France for the Dunkirk evacuation. Most part of the narration focuses on the Muslim soldiers because no one else chose to. They knew their lives were about to change forever. But what they were not aware of was how some of them would never see their home again and how they would perish in a foreign land without a trace, and how history would never speak about them.
The amount of research and hard work in this book is just incredible. The author mainly focuses on the discrimination the Indian soldiers face among soldiers from different nations and their difficulties during their operations in France. The minor details of their simple lives before reaching Dunkirk were soulful, and most importantly, the background detailing an undivided India was a delight to read. Forgotten histories need to be read to honour those who went through tougher times for the nation, and this book is definitely worth it.
November 11, 2021
Like an engaging storyteller, Ghee Bowman attempts to reveal the astonishing story of the Indian contingent – the Muslim soldiers who fought in the pivotal Battle of Dunkirk – from their arrival in France on 26 December 1939 to their return to India, then on the verge of Partition. What brought these men to Europe and what happened thereafter is something that the entire plot revolves around.
The war may one day come to an end but its repercussions will last eternally and this is portrayed beautifully in this book. From sweepers to mule-drivers to Major- Generals to Viceroys, this book covers the plight of all highlighting the raw reality of those who lived in the British era. These are the obscure stories of those who left home only to find it split into two, if and when they returned.
Easy and lucid language of the book makes the reader visualize the entire narrative leaving them spellbound. Not only does the book bring you to terms with the reality but also leaves you emotional by the time it ends. It’s a book for everyone to read.
The war may one day come to an end but its repercussions will last eternally and this is portrayed beautifully in this book. From sweepers to mule-drivers to Major- Generals to Viceroys, this book covers the plight of all highlighting the raw reality of those who lived in the British era. These are the obscure stories of those who left home only to find it split into two, if and when they returned.
Easy and lucid language of the book makes the reader visualize the entire narrative leaving them spellbound. Not only does the book bring you to terms with the reality but also leaves you emotional by the time it ends. It’s a book for everyone to read.
March 1, 2023
Ghee Bowman has researched very well travelling to Europe and Asia to write this accurate account of the role of Indian Muslims in the famous Dunkirk battle of France and British theatre in the year 1940.
Force K6 was part of the royal Indian service corps. 4 companies of mules, carts and men left India by ship in end 1939 to provide support services to advance troops.
There is a detailed description of the mules, their handlers, the other men. Diet of animals and men is described in details. It's interesting to read the logistics. There were vets for the animals and doctors and paramedics for men. For convenience of diet the forces were entirely Muslims from the North West Frontier region, now in Pakistan
In the next 6 months Germans occupied France and 3 companies evacuated to England while 1 company was taken prisoner of war.
Over the next 4 years the book follows these men till 1945 when they were repatriated to India and the force disbanded.
An interesting book for war history followers.
Force K6 was part of the royal Indian service corps. 4 companies of mules, carts and men left India by ship in end 1939 to provide support services to advance troops.
There is a detailed description of the mules, their handlers, the other men. Diet of animals and men is described in details. It's interesting to read the logistics. There were vets for the animals and doctors and paramedics for men. For convenience of diet the forces were entirely Muslims from the North West Frontier region, now in Pakistan
In the next 6 months Germans occupied France and 3 companies evacuated to England while 1 company was taken prisoner of war.
Over the next 4 years the book follows these men till 1945 when they were repatriated to India and the force disbanded.
An interesting book for war history followers.
October 6, 2021
‘The Indian Contingent: The Forgotten Muslim Soldiers of the Battle of Dunkirk’ by Ghee Bowman.
Writer focused mainly in force K6,which is more of belongs to northeast province(Pakistan)albeit this book tells the story of undivided India. Bountiful information encompassed in it, Muslim soldiers who fought pivotal battle in Dunkirk - from their arrival in France on 26 December 1939.
It is all about a sailing contingent during it how they were coping with situations, Bowman touched various obscure stories which is completely forgotten.Every character exhumed and well delved that’s why most of the time it moist eyes even astound.
This is documents of undivided india and plethora of stories.
Writer focused mainly in force K6,which is more of belongs to northeast province(Pakistan)albeit this book tells the story of undivided India. Bountiful information encompassed in it, Muslim soldiers who fought pivotal battle in Dunkirk - from their arrival in France on 26 December 1939.
It is all about a sailing contingent during it how they were coping with situations, Bowman touched various obscure stories which is completely forgotten.Every character exhumed and well delved that’s why most of the time it moist eyes even astound.
This is documents of undivided india and plethora of stories.
January 9, 2022
Such an important story which revives the re-energises the fuller story of the Indian soldiers who fought in WW11, As Bowman clarifies, all the footage and archival details have recorded their actions and their presence. They made an impact in Britain and in France on the villages they lived in, marched through or had to seek refuge and they were both feted and welcomed.
Bowman charts their individual and personal stories and examines the narrative which allowed their actions and relationships to be somehow forgotten. This book revives their stories in a thoroughly well-researched and readable way. Congratulations to Ghee Bowman on his fine work.
Bowman charts their individual and personal stories and examines the narrative which allowed their actions and relationships to be somehow forgotten. This book revives their stories in a thoroughly well-researched and readable way. Congratulations to Ghee Bowman on his fine work.
February 17, 2022
There is no better way to learn history than through real experiences of people who have lived through those times. This book is a brilliant example of that. One might think that it would be intense with military history, but it isn’t. Instead, it a beautiful narrative of lives of Punjabi muslims and their journey through the years of WW II. It covers the entire canvas of their journey, from induction to de-induction, including love affairs, racism and so much more. A must read for everyone from India and Pakistan ..
May 28, 2021
Really fascinating history of these forgotten soldiers. Dr Bowman's writing is wonderful, focusing on specific individuals for each part of the soldier's journey makes it very personal, and his interviews with family members help to bring the individuals to life, rather than a book filled with stereotypes.
August 6, 2022
Meticulously researched history of this sadly forgotten episode in our relatively recent history.
January 15, 2023
Teared up so many times while reading this. So meticulously and carefully researched. So many incredible connections and moments
April 15, 2025
This is an excellent book that describes clearly, in detail and with great empathy the real human experiences of the members of the Indian Contingent, what they did, how they were treated, how they reacted and where they lived and died. The stories of the troops are poignant and touching, and the book is well-written and enthralling from start to finish. This book has given me a much better understanding of the Second World War, who was fighting and what they were fighting for.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews