Imperial Service Troops

The Imperial Service Troops (IST) were forces raised by the Princely States of the British Indian Empire. These troops were available for service alongside the Indian Army when such service was requested by the British government.

They were formed in 1885 under the pretext of supporting India against the threat of Russian invasion. The IST were supplied and largely trained by officers of the Indian Army and were expanded and elected to fight alongside the British Army or the Indian Army, during the two world wars. In 1920, they were renamed the Indian States Forces.

First World War

Jodhpur Lancers

The Jodhpur Lancers were supposedly the most aristocratic unit in India that went to the Great War. Sir Pertab, the 70-year-old Maharaja Regent of Jodhpur, himself accompanied the unit to France. Jodhpur Lancers fought at France and Flanders, Palestine and Syria during the whole of the War from Aug 1914 to Feb 1920. In the Jordan valley, at Haifa, and at Aleppo, the Jodhpur Lancers acquitted themselves gloriously.

Kashmir Rifles

2nd Battalion Kashmir Rifles was sent to East Africa, see Kashmir Infantry

External Links

• Imperial Service Troops Wikipedia
  
• Imperial Service Troops 1903 Wikipedia
  
• "The Imperial Service Troops Scheme in the 19th and 20th Centuries" by Tony McClenaghan Docs.google version, original pdf BCMH Summer Conference 2012 – Indian Armies (The British Commission for Military History bcmh.org.uk) (retrieved 8 May 2014)
• British Indian Army: Imperial Service Troops (1888-1918) by Paul Watson September 27, 2006 Docs.google version, original pdf orbat.com (retrieved 8 May 2014}
• Bhavnagar Imperial Service Lancers – WWI stampomania.blogspot.com. This regiment was stationed in Suez Canal, Sinai, Palestine and Syria.

Historical books online

• History of the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade during the Great War 1914-1918 London: HMSO, 1920. Includes maps IOR/L/MIL/17/6/78 Digitised Manuscripts from the India Office Records, British Library
  • The Brigade seems to have spent the War in Egypt and Palestine. The constituent regiments include the

Kathiawar Signal Troop

Hyderabad Lancers

Mysore Lancers including two troops Bhavnagar Lancers and one troop Kashmir Lancers

Patiala Lancers

Jodhpur Lancers