When Indian and Chinese troops saved Hong Kong from Japan

[SpArK]

When Indian and Chinese troops saved Hong Kong from Japan



On a trail to discover the footprints of Indian troops in China in the last two centuries, a senior Indian military official has stumbled upon many instances when Indian sepoys fought alongside the Chinese against foreign invasion.

The presence of Indian troops in China under Portuguese and British had a fascinating history which was well catalogued and preserved in Chinese museums, Col G Jaishankar, defence attaché, Indian Embassy, said while making a presentation on 'Indian Troops In China' at the Indian Cultural Centre in Beijing on Wednesday.

In his research, the first by an Indian official about presence of Indian troops in China, Col Jaishankar found out how the Indian and Chinese troops fought together to stave off Japanese invasion of Hong Kong, contrary to the tense stand-off that followed after the 1962 India-China war.

The attack by Japan took place on December 8, 1941, a day after Pearl Harbour bombing in the Second World War. Scores from the Sikh and Rajput regiments died while defending Hong Kong, he said.

The Commonwealth War Grave Commission has identified 585 Indian troops who perished in the battle.

In his voluntary research, Col Jaishankar came across a host of interesting details about how the Indian Sikh regiment came to the rescue of officials of 11 countries who were surrounded in Peking, (then Beijing) during 1898 Boxer uprising.

Few Indians and Defence Attaches of different embassies here were invited for his presentation. Indian Ambassador to Beijing S Jaishankar also attended the event.

When Indian and Chinese troops saved Hong Kong from Japan - India - DNA

 

[jamesbond000111]

off topic
hey thanks sparks...... i was not aware that there is also a IDF

 

[IND151]

Chinese members must visit this thread. good work Benny

 

[blackops]

Wow never heard of it its sad to see that how we indians and chinese fight like cats and dogs

 

[IND151]

you forgot to mention DR kotanis , Benny.

 

[Juice]

Not the most familiar with area history...but pretty sure mention of Indian troops in those days would also translate to Pakistani today. (as in both, no divide then)

 

[WHF]

Not the most familiar with area history...but pretty sure mention of Indian troops in those days would also translate to Pakistani today. (as in both, no divide then)

if it were sikh and rajput regiments then it would be very difficult to find any trace of present day pakistan in those regiments fighting to save china..

 

[Abingdonboy]

It is sad in the West children are taught about WWII but very little mention is made of non-White contribution. Despite the fact that many historians would agree that after the British's defeat at Dunkirk the Indian Army was the last remaining professional army they had and there employment saved them from defeat. Or that Sikh pilots flew hurricanes and Spitfires in the BoB. And in fact there was a war beyond Europe and Germany in the Pacific (except for US nuclear bomb reference). 20-20, imperial, bigoted retro-vision at it's best. And the best of it is when my grandparents and millions of other ex-colonial subjects emigrated to UK to find jobs thy were met with signs in the windows of shops saying -"no dog, Irish or blacks". And some British people would say (in pure ignorance that remains today) "what did my dad/grandfather fight for? To keep you out! And you just stroll in here?"

A true and utter shame and a disgrace to those memories of those brave men.

 

[Juice]

Well aware that Asian, along with S African troops were in N Africa (all commonwealth) , know about Imphal Kohima etc.

 

[BRICS]

if it were sikh and rajput regiments then it would be very difficult to find any trace of present day pakistan in those regiments fighting to save china..

Hong Kong War Diary

This link says Rajput & Punjab Regiments! It also lists the names of soldiers that fought in Hong Kong (Singhs, Khans, etc), rank & regiment. Using this, I don't think it would be too difficult to trace which part of the Indian sub continent the soldiers came from!

 

[tvsram1992]

But India couldnt save some parts...

 

[Vibs]

But India couldnt save some parts...

Irony here is that the Indian soldiers captured by the Japanese then formed the Indian national Army In Japan under Subhash Chandra Bose and advanced through Burma to fight the British in India.

 

[tvsram1992]

Irony here is that the Indian soldiers captured by the Japanese then formed the Indian national Army In Japan under Subhash Chandra Bose and advanced through Burma to fight the British in India.

But US gave a sudden twist by Nuking Japan that changed the polarities of world.