WW2 British Unit

oneshooter · Post by **oneshooter** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 6:28 pm

I am having a brain fart and need some help. Several years ago I read an article in a military history magazine. It was about a British Army unit that consisted of one company of each, Hindu, Muslim, Siek(sp), Gurka, and one other. British officers, and they fought mainly in the Italian and Greek fronts. They used old French 75's mounted on M5 Halftracks as arty support. The Muslims, Sieks(sp) and Gurkas were the assult troops, the Hindus were support and followup troops.

Can't for the life of me remember the name of this unit! I would like to do some research on them as I have never heard of a more diverse group working together!

Oneshooter

Livin in Texas

TaosBob101 · Post by **TaosBob101** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:31 pm

Sounds like one of the Unit's fighting at Monte Cassino...

Aughnanure · Post by **Aughnanure** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:47 pm

Can't help.

Maybe some members of the 1st Royal Pundits would know?

24626151 · Post by **24626151** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:21 am

It does sound odd in an Indian Army unit to have segregated companies, Regiments would be regionally and ethnically recruited butthat still wouldnt bar service. An example would be 12th Rajputs in Burma as a MMG Bn providing a fire support platoon to a column consisting of Gurkha Infantry with Hindu transport drivers. It would only be local expediency in the same way that in battle we form armoured battle groups of sqns from a tank regt with a mounted mech company from an inf Bn and a troop of Armoured Engineers! You end up deployed with one BG and during the fighting real or exercise you can end up being attached to or detached from as needsmust. We have done this since 1919 I believe!

oneshooter · Post by **oneshooter** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 6:38 pm

I FOUND IT!!!!!

While going throughsome back issues of "World War II " magazine I found the article. "On Campaign with the BENGAL LANCERS" the unit was the 6th Lancers (6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers) and consisted of

"A" Squadron, Jat (Hindu)

"B" Squadron, Sikh

"C" Squadron, Muslim

5 Troops per Squadron, and one as Headquarters Squadron

Equipment (1944)

Humber Armoured cars

Greyhound Armoured cars

Bren gun carriers

White Halftracks w/ 75mm guns (guns were WW1 French)

Fought in the Italian Campaign

Oneshooter

Livin in Texas

Post by **DuncaninFrance** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 3:47 am

Thought you had ability all along my friend! Interesting. I doubt they would work together these days!!

WW2 British Unit

WW2 British Unit

WELL DONE THAT MAN!