Auxiliary Regiments

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Auxiliary or volunteer regiments were originally local civilian volunteer corps tasked with local security. In 1917 compulsory service was introduced. When the corps became the Auxiliary Force, India in 1920 volunteer service was resumed, however there was a minimum term of service.

History

  • Post-1858 - volunteer corps formed over subsequent decades
  • 1917 - Formation of Indian Defence Force (IDF), disbanded at the end of the war
  • 1920 - Formation of Auxiliary Force (India) (AFI)

Indian volunteer force

After the Indian Mutiny local volunteer infantry forces began to be set up. Cavalry corps started in the 1860s and the first volunteer artillery brigade was constituted in 1879. Railway companies also formed infantry corps from their staff beginning in 1869.

The volunteer corps were open to Europeans and 'Eurasians' and, with the exception of an adjutant, consisted entirely of volunteers.

However, in railway employment, it was virtually compulsory for all employees, both European and Eurasian, to enlist in the ‘Auxiliary Force’. One of the most important roles assigned to these men was to crack down on strikes by native employees (endnote 54)

Henry Gidney, a campaigner for Eurasian rights, in 1934 wrote
‘for economic purposes we are called statutory natives of India, and as such we are expected to work amicably on an equality with our Indian fellow-workmen. Suddenly a railway strike develops, as has so often happened during the past decade, or a riot breaks out. Promptly, the Anglo-Indian [Eurasian] and domiciled European employee on the railways (still classed as “statutory Indian”) has to don his uniform, carry his rifle, and turn out as a member of the Auxiliary Force […] he is suddenly metamorphosed into a European British subject’.(endnote 55) [1]

Indian Defence Force

During the First World War compulsory service was deemed necessary and the Indian Defence Force Act was passed in 1917. The volunteer corps became units of the IDF and were redesignated. European British men between the ages of 18 and 41 were subject to compulsory service. Some corps allowed Indians to join as volunteers.

The IDF corps performed local security duties during the war and were not sent to the front. Some officers were transferred to regular Indian Army units. After the War the IDF as an official organization was disbanded.

Auxiliary Force India

A further reorganization of the units occured in 1920 when the Auxiliary Force (India) replaced the IDF. Volunteers enrolled for an indefinite period but could be discharged after four years (or upon reaching the age of 45). The AFI was disbanded upon Partition.

References

  1. ↑ Loyalty, Parity, and Social Control-The Competing Visions on the Creation of an ‘Eurasian’ Military Regiment in late British India by Satoshi Mizutani The International Journal of Anglo-Indian Studies Volume 10, No. 1, 2010

Cavalry

This list is currently being reorganized

1917 redesignations

Corps redesignated as numbered battalions on the 1st April 1917 on formation of the IDF:

1920 redesignations

Battalions and regiments redesignated on the 1st October 1920 on formation of the AFI:

Infantry

This list is currently being reorganized

1917 redesignations

Corps redesignated as numbered battalions on the 1st April 1917 on formation of the IDF:

1918:

1920 redesignations

Battalions and regiments redesignated on the 1st October 1920 on formation of the AFI:

1926

Artillery

This list is currently being reorganized

Volunteer units of the Royal Artillery in India.

1917 redesignations

Batteries and brigades redesignated on the 1st April 1917 on formation of the IDF:

1920 redesignations

Batteries and brigades redesignated on the 1st October 1920 on formation of the AFI:

1925

1933 redesignations

Batteries and brigades redesignated in 1933:

Engineers

Corps Of Signals

Machine Gun Corps

External links

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