The Indian Contingent

Search the Ranks

This database includes 2238 names of soldiers of Force K6. 65 of these are British, 6 are French and 2167 are Indian. One of the British names is a woman. Out of a total of 4227 men in Force K6/The Indian Contingent, this is over half.

If you find something that you think is wrong, please let us know. If you find something that relates to your family, please let us know. And if you have more information, please let us know.

My thanks are due to my daughters Alex and Hannah for helping me type in long lists, and to Omer Tarin in Abbotabad, who went through the whole list with me one evening, pointing out the likely origin of each soldier from their name.

Notes on the data

The information listed in the database is, in most cases, first name and ‘surname’, ser vice number, rank and unit. In some cases such basic information is missing or unclear. In many cases there is additional information in the ‘notes’ field.

Wherever possible I have given the source of the information.

I have generally assumed that any given soldier only had one service number, given to him at time of enrolment. There are a few examples when it is recorded that a sepoy changed his service number, for example Blacksmith Abdullah of 42nd Company changed his number from 740028 to 798984 (DGIMS 1942/3/4/F/5/42). Sometimes service numbers were mis-typed by the unit clerks (who must have been extremely busy) so you will find two numbers for some sepoys. In one case I found two separate men in the Reinforcement Unit (RU) with the same service number: 176838 – Tailor Abdul Ghani and Bootmaker Abdul Razaq.

My assumption is that numbers which are close together means that those men enlisted at the same time and place. There are long sequences of consecutive numbers on the list, for example 180624 -29 and 780951 – 57.

Search the Ranks

  • Forename(s) Ghulam
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 78?923
    Rank Driver
    Unit Reinforcement Unit
    Notes 25/5/41 Joined 7 coy from RU DGIMS 8/9/3/1941
  • Forename(s) Gohar
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 781041
    Rank Driver
    Unit 42 Company
    Notes 27/7/42 on leave DGIMS 1942/3/4/F/5/42
  • Forename(s) Haider
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 173007
    Rank Driver
    Notes 12/6/43 to RU Maryculter prior to repatriation WO 179/5886
  • Forename(s) Hashmat
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 49869
    Rank Driver
    Unit 22 Company D Troop
  • Forename(s) Hashmat
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 172576
    Rank Farrier
    Unit 32 Company
    Notes 13/1/42 R1 increment = R11/mth DGIMS 8/9/7/41 28/4/42 to IGH, discharged 6/5/42 DGIMS 8/9/7/41 18/6/42 discharged hosp DGIMS 8/9/7/41
  • Forename(s) Hashmat or Hasmat
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 201
    Rank Jemadar (IMD)
    Unit Reinforcement Unit
    Notes 30/10/40 joined IGH from 25 coy WO 177/2262 29/11/40 mention in Wilayet Died Nov 1940, buried Charlestown, not on CWGC list WO 179/5884 Died of uraemia 25/11/40 at Stoke Mil Hosp WO 179/5879 also WO 177/2262 also L/WS/1/355
  • Forename(s) Imdad
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 781931
    Rank Driver
    Unit 42 Company
    Notes 13/8/42 joined 42 coy from RU DGIMS 1942/3/4/F/42
  • Forename(s) Inayat
    Surname Ali
    Rank Risaldar
    Unit 25 Company
    Notes Dec 42 on list for repat to India WO 179/5881 pic 6213
  • Forename(s) Inayat
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 180396
    Rank Driver
    Unit 22 Company A Troop
    Notes dec 41 still listed as missing FO 916/52
  • Forename(s) Jafar
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 58463
    Rank Blacksmith
    Unit 29 Company
    Notes 2/6/40 'unable to stand a second winter in this country' Old, has cateract in left eye L/WS/1/355 f 139
  • Forename(s) Karam
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 780748
    Rank Driver
    Unit 42 Company
    Notes 3/8/42 on leave DGIMS 1942/3/4/F/5/42
  • Forename(s) Karamat
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 781362
    Rank Driver
    Unit 3 Company
  • Forename(s) Kasam
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 783329
    Rank Driver
    Unit 32 Company
    Notes 18/9/42 to IGH, discharged 5/10 DGIMS 8/9/7/41
  • Forename(s) Kasham
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 29511
    Rank Lance Naik
    Unit Reinforcement Unit
    Notes 31/12/39 posted from RU to 25 coy WO 167/1435
  • Forename(s) Khatab
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 20591
    Rank Farrier
    Unit 29 Company
    Notes 25/11/41 to IGH DGIMS 8/9/6/41
  • Forename(s) Mardan
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 781210
    Rank Driver
    Unit 7 Company
    Notes 14/9/42 on leave DGIMS 8/9/3/1941
  • Forename(s) Maw
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 11743
    Rank Ward servant
    Unit 3 Company
    Notes 18/11/41 3rd class English cert DGIMS 8/9/2/1941 15/7/42 reclassified as N/Sepoy DGIMS 8/9/2/1941
  • Forename(s) Meharban
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 29879
    Rank Naik
    Unit 32 Company
    Address Rawalpindi
    Notes Dec 1940 Attended MT training course at Perham Down L/WS/1/355 folio 21-22-23 Admitted hosp 24/2/41, died 1/9/42 of TB Empey p26, also WO 177/2262 From Rawalpindi, died 1/9/41 age 31, buried Brecon CWGC
  • Forename(s) Mohd
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 65660
    Rank Lance Naik
    Unit 29 Company
    Notes 17/6/41 to IGH DGIMS 8/9/6/41 2/12/41 to 25 coy from 29 coy DGIMS 8/9/6/41
  • Forename(s) Mohd
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 173694
    Rank Driver
    Unit 22 Company A Troop
    Notes 2/6/40 'unable to stand a second winter in this country' 'Age 24. Pneumonia twice since leaving India' L/WS/1/355 f 137
  • Forename(s) Mohd
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 177864
    Rank Driver
    Unit 25 Company
    Notes 3/11/41 on leave DGIMS 8/9/5/41
  • Forename(s) Mohd
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 180848
    Rank Driver
    Unit HQ att 25 company
    Notes 1/4/41 given proficiency pay of 2 Rupees 8 annas /mth DGIMS 8/9/5/41
  • Forename(s) Mohd
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 780801
    Rank Driver
    Unit 7 Company
    Address Badala Pukhta, Nanda Chaur, Hoshiapore
    Notes May 44 Deserted from 7 coy at Jullundur Misc 3137
  • Forename(s) Mohd
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 780941
    Rank Driver
    Unit 42 Company
    Notes 28/3/43 & 25/4/43 asked questions at 42 coy Durbar WO 179/5920
  • Forename(s) Mohd
    Surname Ali
    Service Number S 736037
    Rank Paulin maker
    Unit 47 SDS
    Notes 2/6/40 'unable to stand a second winter in this country' Old and weak L/WS/1/355 f 139 10/12/41 joined 32 coy from 47 SDS and reclassified as tailor class III DGIMS 8/9/7/41 19/12/42 on leave DGIMS 8/9/7/41
  • Forename(s) Muhammad
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 181389
    Rank Driver
    Unit 7 Company
    Address Hoshiarpur
    Notes From Hoshiarpur, died 10/6/42 age 22, buried Brecon CWGC 18/10/41 on leave DGIMS 8/9/3/1941
  • Forename(s) Nadir
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 175272
    Rank Driver
    Unit 32 Company
    Notes 28/8/42 made A/U/L/Nk DGIMS 8/9/7/41
  • Forename(s) Nawab
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 767064
    Rank Lance Naik
    Unit 47 SDS
    Notes 9/9/42 Attended 4 week “1st English Instructors Refresher Course’ at Aviemore WO 179/5881
  • Forename(s) Nawazish
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 52778
    Rank QMD
    Unit 42 Company
    Address Bhalesar, Gujar Khan, Rawalpindi
    Notes 16/9/41 discharged from hospital WO 179/5918 11/5/42 promoted to Commission WO 179/5919 June 42 comm from home - mother not well. Home village is Bhalesar, Gujar Khan, Rawalpindi WO 179/5881 pic 6146 Article in WAH WAH 8198
  • Forename(s) Niaz
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 180517
    Rank Driver
    Unit 32 Company
    Notes 25/2/42 3rd class English cert DGIMS 8/9/7/41
  • Forename(s) Niaz
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 781942
    Rank Driver
    Unit 42 Company
    Notes summer 42 to IGH DGIMS 1942/3/4/F/5
  • Forename(s) Niaz
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 175572 or 175172
    Rank Cook
    Unit Reinforcement Unit
    Notes 2/5/41 with advance party from RU to Hereford WO 179/5884 12/6/43 to RU Maryculter prior to repatriation WO 179/5886
  • Forename(s) Niaz
    Surname Ali
    Rank Jemadar
    Unit 7 Company
    Notes 01/07/1944 running Josh group Misc 3137/H was he in UK?
  • Forename(s) Qasim
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 175387
    Rank Driver
    Unit 3 Company
  • Forename(s) Qasim
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 177141
    Rank Driver
    Unit 3 Company
    Notes 17/6/41 joined 29 coy from HQ DGIMS 8/9/6/41 8/10/41 to RU from 29 coy DGIMS 8/9/6/41 On leave 6/7/42 (also service no) DGIMS 8/9/2/1941
  • Forename(s) Qurban
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 780337
    Rank Lance Naik
    Unit 42 Company
    Notes 5/8/42 to 5th NCOs English course DGIMS 1942/3/4/F/42
  • Forename(s) Raham
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 51161
    Rank Driver
    Unit 7 Company
    Notes July 42 on leave DGIMS 8/9/3/1941
  • Forename(s) Rahim
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 180813
    Rank Carpenter
    Unit 22 Company
    Notes 10/7/40 ill in UK, not in POW camp L/MIL/14/4661-0140 Sept/Oct 1940 -‘return to the unit requested’ WO 179/5883 Feb 41 repat to India 'Raynaud's Disease' WO 179/5880
  • Forename(s) Rahm or Rahim or Reham
    Surname Ali
    Service Number TB 24533
    Rank Saddler
    Unit 22 Company
    Notes 2/6/40 'unable to stand a second winter in this country' Age 52. Rheumatic pains. Dental condition not good' L/WS/1/355 f 138
  • Forename(s) Rahmat
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 41376
    Rank Farrier
    Unit Reinforcement Unit
    Notes 2/6/40 'unable to stand a second winter in this country' Age 49. Has chronic bronchitis L/WS/1/355 f 139
  • Forename(s) Rahmat
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 173772
    Rank Naik
    Unit 7 Company
    Notes 31/7/42 passed 3rd class English cert DGIMS 8/9/3/1941 July 1943 – attended instructors course at RU WO 179/5886
  • Forename(s) Rahmat
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 766404
    Rank S/CD or Driver
    Unit 29 Company
    Notes 16/8/41 to 25 coy from 29 coy DGIMS 8/9/5/41 26/10/41 to HQ from 25 coy
  • Forename(s) Ramzan
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 175435
    Rank Driver
    Unit 7 Company
    Notes July 42 on leave DGIMS 8/9/3/1941
  • Forename(s) Rehaa ?
    Surname Ali
    Service Number TB 180813
    Rank Carpenter
    Unit 22 Company
  • Forename(s) Rehmat
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 173272
    Rank Lance Naik
    Unit 7 Company
    Notes 13/6/42 attended 4 weeks NCOs’ English course at Llangattack WO 179/5881
  • Forename(s) Rehmat
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 180711
    Rank Saddler
    Unit 3 Company
    Notes 22/7/42 qual gde I, increase pay R0/13 per diem DGIMS 8/9/2/1941
  • Forename(s) Safdar
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 172873
    Rank Naik
    Unit 7 Company
    Notes 30/1/42 to 32 mule coy for pack tpt duties DGIMS 8/9/3/1941 4/3/42 on 4 weeks NCOs’ English course at Llagattack WO 179/5881
  • Forename(s) Said
    Surname Ali
    Service Number TB 177497 or 177479
    Rank Groom
    Unit 22 Company
    Notes Sept 42 sent Letter as POW Stalag 54 IVD WO 179/5881
  • Forename(s) Said
    Surname Ali
    Rank Jemadar
    Unit Reinforcement Unit
    Notes Dec 39 on board the HT Talamba IWM 18798 Dec 39 i/c Decks on Talamba WO 167/1435 2/6/40 'unable to stand a second winter in this country' 'Age 43. Rheumatic pains…' as Risaldar L/WS/1/355 f 137
  • Forename(s) Saif
    Surname Ali
    Service Number 29992
    Rank Naik
    Unit 25 Company
    Notes 4/3/42 on 4 weeks NCOs’ English course at Llagattack WO 179/5881
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An incredible and important story, finally being told.

- Mishal Husain

The author

Ghee Bowman

Ghee Bowman was born in England in 1961. After careers in the theatre, education and the voluntary sector, he returned to university in 2014. He is married with two grown-up daughters, and lives in Exeter.

‘The Indian Contingent’ is his first book. His father WE Bowman wrote the noted spoof climbing book ‘The Ascent of Rum Doodle’.

Ghee is a story-teller, Quaker and a leader in the Woodcraft Folk, a voluntary youth movement for children and young people.

Acknowledgements

reproduced from the book ‘The Indian Contingent’

This book grew from my PhD at Exeter University, so I should first thank the South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership who funded me. My supervisors Gajendra Singh and Padma Anagol gave first-class guidance and advice. Nicola Thomas has been a great encourager. My fellow PhD students have been wonderful: especial mention to Sonia Wigh, Cristina Corti for the maps and Sophy Antrobus for reading my drafts and being a chum. The University Pakistani Society were great for networking and the Digital Humanities Lab helped with digitisation of photos. This book was written on the top floor of the University Library, and all the library staff deserve medals.

I have built this story on the work of archivists and librarians in five countries, who provided access to my bread and butter (original documents) and have been friendly, helpful and supportive. Thanks to all of them, with a special mention to Jo Meacock at the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow.

The Indian Military History Society, through its journal Durbar, was a great source of contacts, and Chris Kempton provided useful input. The ‘Indian Armies of WW2’ Facebook group has answered many questions.

Around the UK I have listened to many stories about the boys of K6. Paritosh Shapland’s story is in many ways at the centre of this book, and he has been very generous with his time and his resources. Yaqub Mirza’s family gave me a great lift right at the end. Betty Cresswell told me of her family’s relationship with Uncle Gian, and kindly shared her photo album with me. The late Giovanna Bloor shared everything she knew. I will cherish the memory of a day spent in her cottage under the Cnicht mountain. Paul Watkins, Mark Ashdown, Geoff Sykes and Trilby Shaw helped me along the way. Hamish Johnston drove me around the Highlands and was a great source of information. Colin Hexley was very generous with material about his father, and Shirley Sutherland introduced me to him and others in Golspie. John Barnes and Peter Wilde in Dornoch, Joan Leed, Donny MacDonald and Marlyn Price in Lairg, Marion Smith, Catriona Spence, David & Sheena Macdougall in Kinlochleven, Stewart Mackenzie, George Milne and Donald Matheson in Loch Ewe were all very helpful and welcoming. In Glasgow, Nadeem Bhatti introduced me to the Colourful Heritage project and its staff Saqib Razzaq, Shazia Durrani and Omar Shaikh. In Woking, Mohammad Zubair gave me one of the best interviews ever, Zafar Iqbal aided my networking, the mosque was very welcoming and Rabyah Khan helped get me started. Katherine Douglass introduced me to the lovely people and the extraordinary story of Etobon.

I stand on the shoulders of giants. Rozina Visram is one such – anyone writing on the South Asian presence in Britain is in her debt. I shared beers and laughs with Lloyd Price, and treasure the friendship we developed in India. Many thanks to Yasmin Khan for writing the foreword.

I am a white British man writing a story about South Asians, which throws open many possibilities of cultural misunderstandings and errors. I am grateful to Sandhya Dave, Nazima Khan and colleagues at the Global Centre in Exeter for giving me confidence and helping me learn to step around a thorny area.

My time in Pakistan would have been fruitless without Major General Shahid Ali Hamid. He offered warmth, hospitality and boundless contacts. I am forever in his debt. My friend Omer Salim Khan (Omer Tarin) was supremely hospitable and generous during my visit to Abbottabad, and even more so afterwards, commenting on the draft manuscript. Jawad Sarwana drove me round Karachi and introduced me to the wide and warm family of General Akbar, and Imran and his daughter Mahin were particularly generous with time and photos. Zeenut Ziad gave me two interviews, when her parrot would let her. Khizar Jawad was incredibly helpful in Lahore. Brigadier Asim Iqbal of the Army Service Corps gave a late rush of help. Above all, Jenny, Marcel and Luqman ensured I had a safe secure base in Islamabad, Sabur was a wonderful fixer who seemed to know everyone in the Potohari villages, Waheed drove us round those villages and Waqar Seyal was a fantastic translator and interpreter. In India, Shachi and Naveen made me welcome and helped me with my first steps in Hindi/Urdu and Rana Chhina at the United Services Institute in Delhi was extremely helpful.

For permission to use quotes, thanks to Hackett Publishing Company for the quotation from Philip Ivanhoe’s translation of Daodejing of Laozi, and to HarperCollins India for the two quotations from Raghu Karnad’s Farthest Field.

I appreciate that I haven’t included all the great stories that I heard during my research. If I’ve missed yours out, apologies. If I haven’t heard it yet, please get in touch. All errors in memory or interpretation are entirely mine.

Three people helped and inspired this writing process. My father Bill Bowman showed the way. Clare Grist Taylor believed in me and this story and gave many practical tips. My editor at The History Press, Simon Wright, was always encouraging, constructive but firm.

Three other people made it possible. My daughters Alex and Hannah helped enter hundreds of names in the database, encouraged me and (in Hannah’s case) did translations from French. Above all, my thanks and love go to my wife Rebecca. She has supported me and fed me all the way through. A wiser partner would be impossible to find.

{

This book needs to be on the national curriculum. The kind of story that brings us together. It would be the perfect tribute to those who fought for our freedom.

- Adil Ray, actor, writer and broadcaster

Force K6

Website credits

Technical consultant
Alex Michel-Bowman

Urdu translation
Waqar Ahmed Seyal

Hindi translation
Sonia Wigh