Indian soldiers’ sacrifices in liberating Haifa remembered

HAIFA - A moving ceremony to remember some 900 Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in liberating this Israeli port city during World War I was held for the first time at the Haifa Cemetery.

Indian Ambassador Navtej Sarna and representatives from the Haifa City Council, the Israeli defence ministry, the Haifa Historical Society and the Commonwealth Graves Commission, as also defence attaches from several countries and a host of other dignitaries were present during the ceremony Sep 23 to honour the Indian bravehearts.

This is the first time such a ceremony was held to commemorate the memory of fallen Indian soldiers, apart from the ceremonies normally held by the Commonwealth Graves Commission.

The event was marked by a wreath laying ceremony by Sarna and other dignitaries. Speaking at the ceremony, Sarna underlined the important role played by the Indian soldiers during World War I and the valour shown by them in this theatre of operations.

He thanked the Haifa Historical Society for its untiring efforts to document India’s role in this important phase of history which, unfortunately, is not known to many.

A large number of Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives in this region during the war and nearly 900 are cremated/buried in cemeteries across Israel.

Every year on Sep 23, the Indian Army commemorates “Haifa Day” on which two brave Indian cavalry regiments helped liberate the city in 1918 following dashing cavalry action by the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade.

In the autumn of 1918, the brigade was a part of the allied forces sweeping northwards through Palestine in the last great cavalry campaign in history.

During the battle for Haifa in September 1918, the Indian troops exhibited exemplary cavalry skills and bravery in a successful cavalry charge which finally culminated in the liberation of Haifa.

Captain Aman Singh Bahadur and Dafadar Jor Singh were awarded the Indian Order of Merit and Captain Anop Singh and Second Lt. Sagat Singh were awarded the Military Cross in recognition of their bravery in this battle. Major Dalpat Singh, who received the Military Cross, is known in the annals of history a“ the “Hero of”Haifa” for his critical role in the battle.

The action of the Indian troops has been vividly recorded in the Official History of the War - Military operation Egypt and Palestine (volume 2):

“No more remarkable cavalry action of its scale was fought in the whole course of the campaign.

Machinegun bullets over and over again failed to stop the galloping horses even though many of them succumbed afterwards to their injuries”.

A two-member Indian Army delegation led by Col. M.S. Jodha, grandson of Captain Aman Singh Bahadur, had especially come here to attend the ceremony.