Auxiliary Regiments
The Indian volunteer regiments were originally local civilian volunteer corps tasked with local security.
In 1917, the Indian Defence Force (IDF), a part-time group, was formed to undertake garrison duties in India to release professional soldiers for fighting duties. Although the Indian Section was voluntary, the British Section was compulsory. This was the cause of dissatisfaction among many British persons.
The IDF was replaced by the Auxiliary Force, India (AFI) in 1920. This saw volunteer service resume, however there was a minimum term of service. The AFI officers and men could be mobilised in the event of war.
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
The Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry was a volunteer force raised in July 1857 after the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny and disbanded in 1859.
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, more on which can be found in the Railway Regiments article.
The volunteer corps were open to Europeans and Eurasians and (with the exception of an adjutant and others such as sergeant instructors) consisted mainly of volunteers. However, in railway employment, it was virtually compulsory for all employees, both European and Eurasian, to enlist in the Railway Volunteer Regiments.
For men who were employed by the Army (non-volunteers), it may be possible to find them in the army records. Usually these men may be found on the Unattached List.
Officers of the Indian Volunteer Corps from Military periodicals online-New Army List [British Army]
*Lists of Officers of the Indian Defence Force were published in the Indian Army Lists. See Indian Army List online
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 within India. 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.
However, a few units were formed comprising volunteers who wanted to fight the war. "Indian Volunteers in the Great War East African Campaign" by Harry Fecitt, now an archived webpage, gives details of The North-Western Railway Volunteers, the Calcutta Volunteer Battery and the Indian Volunteer Maxim Gun Company in East Africa, although the Commonwealth War Graves Commission classifies them as East African Protectorate units in its records. Elsewhere, there is a brief mention of the Nagpur Volunteer Machine Gun Company in German East Africa.[1], however this appears to be the Indian Volunteer Maxim Gun Company, whose membership included some from the Nagpur Volunteer Rifles.[2] At least one member of the North Western Railway Volunteers also served in Mesopotamia,[3] but it is possible this may have been an individual appointment for an existing member of the Volunteers.
The Volunteer Artillery Battery in which the majority of the men came from Burma, served in Mesopotamia, and was captured at the fall of Kut.
The Anglo Indian Force, including the Anglo Indian Battery, was raised by the Anglo-Indian Association and served in Mesopotamia. Refer First World War - Anglo-Indians.
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.
Auxiliary Force Burma
- See Burma Volunteer Corps
- Burma Auxiliary Force following separation of Burma from India in April 1937 rothwell.force9.co.uk
FIBIS resources
- "William Garnett, the Volunteering Major" by Michael Garnett FIBIS Journal Number 26 Autumn 2011, pages 26-30. For details of how to access this article, see FIBIS Journals
- He played a major role in the establishment of the Cawnpore Light Horse and on retirement to England in 1919 held the rank of Company Sergeant Major. This article contains much information about the Cawnpore Light Horse and about Volunteer Regiments generally.
Medals
In 1894 the grant of the Volunteer Officers’ Decoration was extended to India and the Colonies, followed in 1896 by the Volunteer Long Service Medal for Indian and Colonial Forces.[4] The qualifying period for the former was eighteen years[5] and recipients were entitled to use the initials V.D. after their name.[6]
For the latter medal, it is likely the conditions were the same as applied in Australia where "The medal will be granted to all volunteers (including volunteers who have retired, and officers who have served in the ranks but have not qualified for the Volunteer Officers' Decoration) on completion of 20 years' service in the volunteer forces provided that they are recommended by their present, or former, commanding officers".[7] The Volunteer Long Service Medal was replaced in 1930 by the Efficiency Medal “to reward the long and meritorious service of warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men”, and it applied after twelve years of service.[8]
It seems likely that the names of the medal recipients for the Indian Volunteer Forces Officers’ Decoration were gazetted in the Gazette of India, as they do not appear to be in the London Gazette. Some volumes of the Gazette of India are available online, refer Newspapers and journals online. At least some names of the Volunteer Force Long Service Medal recipients were published in Indian Army Orders, some of which are available online, refer Military periodicals online - Indian Army Orders/Instructions.
In January 2016, findmypast introduced the dataset "British Army, Indian Volunteer Force Medal Awards 1915-1939", now incorporated into the larger dataset "Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards", located under Armed forces & conflict/Medal rolls and honours. The information for each transcript was extracted from the Indian Army Orders by Kevin Asplin. This dataset appears to inaccurately titled, as it relates to the Indian Army.
- Volunteer Officers’ Decoration 1892 with VR Cypher northeastmedals.co.uk
- Photograph: Indian Volunteer Officers’ Decoration George V omsa.org. now archived.
Books
Refer British Library holdings below
Individuals
- Medals of Second Lieutenant J. E. Aird, Surma Valley Light Horse 1867-1928. A Tea Planter and Manager of the Deundi Estate, Sylhet. dnw.co.uk, archived.
- Major Henry Francis Hallifax, Nagpur Volunteer Rifles dnw.co.uk, archived.
- Surgeon Charles Arthur Owen, Indian Subordinate Medical Department and Punjab Volunteer Rifles dnw.co.uk, archived.
British Library holdings
India Office records:
- Collection 108 Volunteer Corps in India IOR/L/MIL/7/4876-4945 1863-1919
- Collection 108/15 Volunteer officers' decoration. IOR/L/MIL/7/4891 1892-1894
- Collection 108/20 Volunteer officers' decoration: supply of and publication of rules. IOR/L/MIL/7/4896 1894-1908
- Collection 108/27 Volunteers' Long Service Medal: rules. IOR/L/MIL/7/4903 1896-1913
- Government Gazettes IOR/V/11 1831-1947
Books:
- The Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration ; The Indian Volunteer Forces Officers’ Decoration by J.M.A. Tamplin. (Spink medal booklets ; no.6) c 1981. UIN: BLL01011834952
- This volume is part of a series of 12 by JMA Tamplin, published between 1978 and 1992 by the medal company Spink & Son of London. At least some of the books in this series appear to be sourced from records in The National Archives series WO 102. The series also includes Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal by J.M.A. Tamplin. (Spink medal booklets ; no.8) 1984. UIN: BLL01011188375. This book is available as a reprint from Savannah Publications It seems likely, but has not been confirmed, that this book does not include information about India, as there was a separately named medal "Volunteer Long Service Medal for India and the Colonies".
- Information about the volunteer movement and the Auxiliary Force (India) Cavalry are included in the book Izzat: Historical Records and Iconography of Indian Cavalry Regiments 1750-2007 by Ashok Nath 2009, published by the United Service Institution of India. UIN: BLL01015325022 . Read about the book here usiofindia.org. It includes information about badges and emblems. These two reviews give further details about the book: Tribune India review. SASNET review Swedish South Asian Studies Network, now archived.
External links
- Indian Defence Force Wikipedia
- List of regiments of the Indian Army (1922) includes Auxiliary Force. Wikipedia.
- Volunteer Long Service Medal for India and the Colonies Established 1896. Replaced in 1930 by
- Efficiency Medal Wikipedia.
- The Auxiliary Force, India (AFI) on 3 September 1939 from Patriotfiles.com
- Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Volume 61.no 247, Autumn 1983 pages 160-185. "The Auxiliary Force (India)" by A. A. Mains. An article about the European Volunteer Movement in India. jstor.org. Read online for free on the website Jstor.org, subject to registration with Jstor.org, and restrictions apply. For more details about Jstor, and the restrictions, see the page Miscellaneous tips. Alternatively you may be able to log in with a Library card.
Historical books online
- The Volunteer Force of India its Present and Future by Major E H H Collen, published Simla c 1883. Archive.org, mirror from Digital Library of India.
- "The Volunteer Forces of India" by Edwin Collen page 221 The Empire Review. Volume V, No 27 April 1903. Archive.org
- "The Auxiliary Forces in India", pages 31-42 The Calcutta Review Volume 89, July 1889. Archive.org
- Army Regulations India Vol IX : Regulations For The Volunteer Force 1913 (catalogued as Army Regulations India For The Volunteer Force Vol IX). Archive.org, mirror from Digital Library of India.
- Regulations for the Auxiliary Force India 1921. Archive.org, mirror from Digital Library of India.
- Report of the Auxiliary and Territorial Forces Committee, dated 23rd January 1925 Volume I, and Volume II Archive.org, mirrors from Digital Library of India.
- "War Services of Officers of the Auxiliary Force (India)" page 284, Supplement to the Indian Army List January 1937 Archive.org, Digital Library of India Collection.
- Also see Indian Army List online
Notes
- ↑ Page 4 Supplement To The Quarterly Civil List For The Central Provinces And Berar Up to 1st Jan 1938. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the entry for E H Milner, Public Works Department. Archive.org
- ↑ bushfighter. Graves of the Indian Volunteer Maxim Gun Company in Kenya Great War Forum 16 February , 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- ↑ Wilton-Davies, Colin Railway Regiments Rootsweb India Mailing List 18 January 2000, archived.
- ↑ Medals and Decorations of the British Army and Navy - Vol. I, page 37 by John Horsley Mayo
- ↑ Volunteer Officer’s Decoration from The Guide to British War Medals from North East Medals.
- ↑ Volunteer Decoration Wikipedia
- ↑ The West Australian (Perth), Monday 19 November 1894, page 6 Australian Newspapers, National Library of Australia
- ↑ The Efficiency Medal from New Zealand Legislation, a New Zealand Government website
Cavalry
This list is currently being reorganized
- 1st United Provinces Horse
- 7th (Southern Regiment) United Provinces Horse
- Allahabad Light Horse
- Allahabad Troop Light Horse
- Assam Valley Light Horse
- Assam Valley Mounted Rifles
- Bihar Light Horse
- Bihar Mounted Rifles
- Bombay Light Horse
- Bombay Light Motor Patrols
- Bombay Light Patrol
- Cachar and Sylhet Mounted Rifles
- Calcutta Light Horse
- Calcutta Mounted Volunteer Rifles
- Calcutta Mounted Rifles
- Calcutta Volunteer Lancers
- Cawnpore Light Horse
- Central Bengal Light Horse
- Chota Nagpur Light Horse
- Chota Nagpur Mounted Rifles
- Darrang Mounted Infantry
- Darrang Mounted Rifles
- Dehra Dun Mounted Rifles
- Ghazipur Light Horse
- Gorakhpur Light Horse
- Lakhimpur Mounted Rifles
- Lumsden's Horse
- Northern Bengal Mounted Rifles
- Nowgong Mounted Rifles
- Oudh Light Horse
- Punjab Light Horse
- Rangoon Volunteer Rifles
- Sibsagar Mounted Infantry
- Sibsagar Mounted Rifles
- Southern Provinces Mounted Rifles
- Surma Valley Light Horse
- United Provinces Horse (Southern Regiment)
- United Provinces Light Horse
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
- Agra Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Allahabad Rifles
- Allahabad Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Assam-Bengal Railway Volunteer Rifles
- Bangalore Rifle Volunteers
- Bareilly Contingent
- Bellary Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Bengal and North-Western Railway Volunteer Corps
- Bengal Nagpur Railway Battalion
- Bengal Nagpur Railway Regiment
- 36th Bengal Nagpur Railway Regiment
- Bengal Nagpur Railway Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Berar Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Bhusawal Company
- Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway Volunteer Corps
- Bombay Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Burma Railways Volunteer Corps
- Calcutta Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Calcutta Scottish
- Calicut and Tellicherry Volunteer Corps
- Cawnpore Rifles
- Cawnpore Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Chittagong Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Coimbatore Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Coorg and Mysore Rifle Corps
- Dacca Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Darjeeling Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Dehra Dun Contingent
- Delhi Contingent
- East Coast Rifle Volunteer Corps
- Eastern Bengal Railway Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Eastern Bengal State Railway Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Eastern Bengal Volunteer Rifle Corps
- East Indian Railway Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Gauhati Rifles
- Ghadeshi Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Ghazipur Volunteer Rifle Battalion
- Ghazipur Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Godavari Rifle Volunteer Corps
- Great Indian Peninsula Railway Volunteer Corps
- Hyderabad Rifles
- Kolar Gold Fields Rifle Volunteers
- Lakhimpur Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Lucknow Rifles
- Lucknow Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway Rifles
- Madras Guards
- Madras Railway Volunteers
- Malabar Volunteer Rifles
- Midland Railway Volunteer Corps
- Moulmein Volunteer Rifles
- Nagpur Volunteer Rifles
- Naini Tal Volunteer Rifles
- Nilgiri Volunteer Rifles
- Northern Bengal Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Northern Bengal State Railway Volunteer Rifle Corps
- North-Western Railway Volunteer Rifles
- Orissa Volunteer Rifles
- Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Oudh Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Poona Rifles
- Punjab Light Horse (Volunteers)
- Punjab Rifles
- 1st Punjab Volunteer Rifle Corps
- 2nd Punjab (Simla) Volunteer Rifle Corps
- 3rd Punjab (North-Western Railway) Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Rajputana-Malwa Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Rohilkhand Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Shillong Volunteer Rifles
- Sibpore College Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Simla Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Sind, Punjab and Indus Valley Railways Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Sind Rifles
- South Andaman Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Southern Mahratta Railway Rifle Corps
- South Indian Railway Volunteer Rifle Corps
- St Michael's School Cadet Corps
- Sylhet Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Tirhoot State Railway Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Upper Burma Volunteer Rifle Corps
- Vizagapatam Rifle Volunteer Corps
- Yarcaud Company
1917 redesignations
Corps redesignated as numbered battalions on the 1st April 1917 on formation of the Indian Defence Force:
- 2nd Nagpur Rifles
- 3rd Punjab Rifles
- 4th Simla Rifles
- 5th Calcutta Battalion
- 6th Bangalore, Coorg and Mysore Battalion
- 7th East Indian Railway Battalion
- 12th Eastern Bengal Railway Battalion
- 13th Great Indian Peninsula Railway Battalion
- 16th Bombay Battalion
- 17th Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway Battalion
- 20th Nilgiri Malabar Battalion
- 22nd Bengal and North Western Railway Battalion
- 24th North-Western Railway Battalion
- 25th Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway Battalion
- 29th South Indian Railway Battalion
- 32nd Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway Rifles
- 37th Calcutta Presidency Battalion
- 41st Eastern Bengal Company
- 42nd Assam Bengal Railway Battalion
- 43rd Kolar Gold Fields Battalion
1918:
1920 redesignations
Battalions and regiments redesignated on the 1st October 1920 on formation of the AFI:
- Assam Bengal Railway Battalion
- Bangalore Battalion
- Bengal and North Western Railway Battalion
- Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway Regiment
- Bombay Battalion
- Calcutta Battalion
- Calcutta Presidency Battalion
- Eastern Bengal Company
- Eastern Bengal Railway Battalion
- East Indian Railway Regiment
- Great Indian Peninsula Railway Regiment
- Kolar Gold Fields Battalion
- Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway Rifles
- Nilgiri Malabar Battalion
- North-Western Railway Regiment
- Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway Battalion
- Simla Rifles
- South Indian Railway Battalion
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
- No. 1 (Calcutta) Field Company
- No. 3 (Bombay) Field Company
- No. 4 (Karachi) Field Company
- No. 1 (Calcutta) Fortress Company
- No. 3 (Bombay) Fortress Company
- No. 4 (Karachi) Fortress Company
- No. 1 Electrical Engineer Company
- No. 3 Electrical Engineer Company
- No. 4 (Karachi) Electrical and Mechanical Company
- No. 4 (Searchlight) Company
- Calcutta Port Defence Volunteers
Corps Of Signals
Machine Gun Corps
- 2nd (Karachi) Brigade Mobile Artillery
- No. 2 (Karachi) Company
- No. 5 (Agra) Company
- No. 5 (Agra) Company, Machine Gun Corps
- No. 14 (Bangalore) Field Battery, Royal Artillery
- Karachi Artillery Volunteers
- The Bangalore Armoured Car Company