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#1
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Indian State Forces
In an attempt to mark the Partition and the establishment of the nations of Indian and Pakistan on 15 August 1947, here, 70 years later, is what is probably a unique collection of signs from the Indian Sub-Continent. With the exception of the sign worn by the Indian Contingent in the UK (aka Force K-6) at top, centre, all are signs worn by Indian State Forces (ISF) in and/or immediately after the Second World War. The ISF varied considerably in size, make-up and capability but all played their part in the active defence of India. Various elements of the ISF served overseas in, for example, Sicily, Hong Kong (post-Liberation), Persia and Iraq (Paiforce), Assam, Burma, Eritrea, Egypt, Palestine, Tunisia, Cyprus, Italy, Malaya, Java and Sumatra (1946). Two enlargements show the varying qualities of manufacture. The signs were part of a collection of 240 British, East and West African and British-Indian formation signs put together by a British Army Sergeant serving in India 1945-47. His daughter disposed of the complete collection at a car boot sale in 2002. She wished to be assured that they would go to a good home. In the event, they did! Mike
Indian State Forces.01.jpgIndian Sate Forces.03.jpgIndian State Forces.04.jpg |
#2
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Hi Mike,
Thanks for sharing this display. A wonderful idea and lovely to see all this together like this. Some interesting examples shown. Cheerio, Roy
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Collecting: Despatch Rider Insignia & Photographs. Author/Dealer in the Fairbairn Sykes Fighting Knife My website: www.fsknife.com |
#3
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Mike,
Many thank's for showing and congratulations on a remarkable 'boot sale' find of a group of distinctive but extremely rare formation signs from a vanished part of the Forces of the Empire. Tim
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"Manui dat cognitio vires - Knowledge gives strength to the arm" "Better to know it but not need it than to need it and not know it!" "Have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest." Last edited by grey_green_acorn; 16-08-17 at 11:13 AM. |
#4
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Thanks Tim. As a reward for those kind words here are two I failed to enclose yesterday - The upper sign is that worn by the Military Adviser (and staff) to the Indian State Forces and the lower one remains unidentified. Both came from the same source as those previously illustrated. Any ideas about the white axe (?) would be welcome. Mike
Indian State Forces.05.jpg |
#5
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Lovely! Always nice to see SF insignia - far rarer than the usual run of IA - and especially formation signs. Thanks for sharing.
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#6
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As an aid to identification (full IDs were published in the Formation Sign 15 + years ago), here are the reverses of most of the signs. The remainder will follow. Mike
Indian State Forces.Reverse.06.jpg |
#7
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Thank you for sharing these images. A full run of these formation signs has also been published in the book 'The Maharaja's Paltans: The History of the Indian State Forces' by Richard Head and Tony McClenaghan. They have noted the existance of the sign with a white axe on a red rectangle, but unfortunately mark it as 'unidentified'.
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