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) Mir
    Surname Afzal
    Service Number 20288
    Rank Nursing sepoy
    Unit 32 Company
    Notes 10/10/41 to RU for special duty WO 177/1262 pic 9158 22/12/42 joined 32 coy from IGH DGIMS 8/9/7/41
  • Forename(s) Mohd
    Surname Afzal
    Service Number 740638
    Rank Farrier
    Unit 29 Company
    Notes 1/8/41 re-enrolled as farrier with combatant status DGIMS 8/9/6/41
  • Forename(s) Mohd
    Surname Afzal
    Service Number 780900
    Rank Driver
    Unit 7 Company
    Notes 20/7/42 joined 7 coy from RU DGIMS 8/9/3/1941
  • Forename(s) Mohd
    Surname Afzal
    Service Number V 2571
    Rank Sowar
    Unit 22 Company
  • Forename(s) Mohd
    Surname Afzal
    Rank Naik
    Unit Advanced Remount Depot
    Notes 2/6/40 'unable to stand a second winter in this country' Considered unfit by unit permanent commander L/WS/1/355 f 140
  • Forename(s) Bashir
    Surname Ahmad
    Service Number 178687
    Rank Driver
    Unit 29 Company
    Notes 25/11/41 to IGH DGIMS 8/9/6/41
  • Forename(s) Bashir
    Surname Ahmad
    Rank Hav Clerk
    Notes March 43 rec'd letter from POW Jem Sadiq Ahmad WO 179/5882
  • Forename(s) Bashir-ud-Din
    Surname Ahmad
    Service Number 1/N/1401
    Rank Nursing sepoy
    Unit IHC
    Notes Jan 40 IGH 'excellent' work WO 177/2262 pic 9120 2/6/40 transferred to 22 coy Rennes, Dec 42 WO 373/64 Escaped, MiD WO 373/64
  • Forename(s) Fazal
    Surname Ahmad
    Service Number 30065
    Rank Driver
    Unit 3 Company
  • Forename(s) Fazal
    Surname Ahmad
    Service Number 50390
    Rank Driver
    Unit 3 Company
    Notes 12/2/42 joined 3 coy from RU DGIMS 8/9/2/1941
  • Forename(s) Fazal
    Surname Ahmad
    Service Number 52614
    Rank Driver
    Unit 22 Company B Troop
    Notes 18/1/45 exchanged by Germany as sick WO 28/802
  • Forename(s) Fazal
    Surname Ahmad
    Service Number 173876
    Rank Saddler
    Unit 29 Company
    Notes 2/6/40 'unable to stand a second winter in this country' asthma L/WS/1/355 f 138
  • Forename(s) Fazal
    Surname Ahmad
    Service Number 780345
    Rank Driver
    Unit 25 Company
    Notes 11/7/41 to IGH DGIMS 8/9/5/41 9/6/42 discharged hosp to 32 coy DGIMS 8/9/7/41
  • Forename(s) Mushtaq
    Surname Ahmad
    Service Number 780335
    Rank Driver
    Unit 7 Company
    Address Jhelum
    Notes From Jhelum, died 19/10/42 age 21, buried Kingussie CWGC
  • Forename(s) Nabi
    Surname Ahmad
    Service Number 781374
    Rank Driver
    Unit 3 Company
    Notes 12/2/42 joined 3 coy from RU DGIMS 8/9/2/1941
  • Forename(s) Nazir
    Surname Ahmad
    Service Number 179922
    Rank Driver
    Unit 3 Company
    Notes 21/7/42 joined 3 coy from RU DGIMS 8/9/2/1941
  • Forename(s) Nazir
    Surname Ahmad
    Rank Jemadar
    Unit 47 SDS
    Notes Dec 39 on board the HT Talamba (as Nazir Mohamed) IWM 18798 06/12/1941 WO 179/5892 Dec 42 wrote letter to POW Jem Akbar Khan WO 179/5881 pic 6206 same as on film on return? MWY92 June 43 now subedar, i/c 47 SDS WO 179/5894 June 1943 writing unit war diary WO 179/5894
  • Forename(s) Nur
    Surname Ahmad
    Service Number 62737
    Rank Naik
    Unit 42 Company
    Notes 6/2/43 joined 4-weeks English course for Naiks, WO 179/5881 pic 6212
  • Forename(s) Nur
    Surname Ahmad
    Service Number 780069
    Rank Bellows boy
    Unit 7 Company
    Notes July 42 posted to RU after 21 days hospital DGIMS 8/9/3/1941
  • Forename(s) Nur
    Surname Ahmad
    Rank Jemadar
    Unit 25 Company
    Notes 27/10/41 commenced English course for VCOs WO 179/5880 16/12/41 to London for OS league ent WO 179/5907 17/7/42 repat unfit? WO 179/5881
  • Forename(s) Nur
    Surname Ahmad
    Rank Jemadar
    Unit 3 Company
  • Forename(s) Said
    Surname Ahmad
    Service Number 63112
    Rank Driver
    Unit 29 Company
    Notes 18/8/41 to Whitchurch hosp Cardiff WO 177/2262 28/12/41 joined 29 coy from RU DGIMS 8/9/6/41
  • Forename(s) Sher
    Surname Ahmad
    Service Number 65083
    Rank Driver
    Unit 3 Company
    Notes 2/8/42 to 42 coy from 3 coy DGIMS 8/9/2/1941 2/8/42 joined 42 coy from RU
  • Forename(s) Sher
    Surname Ahmad
    Service Number 179180
    Rank Driver
    Unit 22 Company A Troop
    Notes Sept 42 sent letter WO 179/5881 Stalag 54 IVD WO 179/5881
  • Forename(s) Siddiq
    Surname Ahmad
    Service Number 2458
    Rank WO
    Unit IMD
    Address Santhawari, Nagina, Gurgaon, Delhi
    Notes Dec 39 on board the HT Talamba as WO IWM 18798 2/6/40 transferred to 22 coy. Father Sharfuddin-Ahmed, Village Santhawari, PO Nagina, Gurgaon via Delhi FO 916/19 service no, also family news FO 916/52 Oct 41 doctor at Stalag IX C FO 916/52 12/7/42 letter from Oflag IXA/H WO 208/802 Dec 42 Sent Xmas card to Hills, also photo from Belfort (later published in FA) WO 179/5881 Jan 43 sent letter to HQ WO 179/5882 16/5/43 at Gibraltar, haivng escaped WO 208/808
  • Forename(s) Sultan
    Surname Ahmad
    Service Number 177970
    Rank Driver
    Unit 7 Company
    Notes July 42 on leave DGIMS 8/9/3/1941
  • Forename(s) Ali
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 170339
    Rank Naik
    Unit 22 Company B Troop
  • Forename(s) Amir
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 7822
    Rank Risaldar
    Unit 22 Company
    Notes 10/7/40 in UK, not in POW camp L/MIL/14/4661-0140
  • Forename(s) Bashir
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 178783
    Rank Driver
    Notes 12/6/43 to RU Maryculter prior to repatriation WO 179/5886
  • Forename(s) Bashir
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 780343
    Rank Driver
    Unit 7 Company
    Notes July 42 discharged IGH DGIMS 8/9/3/1941
  • Forename(s) Faiz
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 61049
    Rank Blacksmith
    Unit 7 Company
    Notes July 42 on leave DGIMS 8/9/3/1941
  • Forename(s) Fazal
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 58458
    Rank Farrier
    Unit Reinforcement Unit
    Notes Sept/Oct 1940 -‘return to the unit requested’ WO 179/5883
  • Forename(s) Fazal
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 65334
    Rank Driver
    Unit 29 Company
    Notes 9/3/42 leave DGIMS 8/9/6/41
  • Forename(s) Fazal
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 170994
    Rank Groom
    Unit 32 Company
    Notes 27/4/41 R1 increment to R11/mth DGIMS 8/9/7/41
  • Forename(s) Fazal
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 780362
    Rank Driver
    Unit Reinforcement Unit
    Notes 4/8/41 joined 29 coy from RU DGIMS 8/9/6/41 15/8/41 to IGH from 29 coy DGIMS 8/9/6/41 6/2/43 joined 3 week 3rd English Instructors refresher course at Grantown on Spey from 42 coy WO 179/5881 pic 6203
  • Forename(s) Fazal
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 53458 or 58458
    Rank Saddler
    Unit 29 Company
    Notes 20/7/40 Reported missing L/WS/1/131 f216 Feb 41 repat to India 'Bronchitis Chronic' WO 179/5880
  • Forename(s) Ghulam
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 172853
    Rank Lance Naik
    Unit 22 Company A Troop
    Notes on list of suspect POWs, March 45 L/WS/1/1516
  • Forename(s) Ghulam
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 783843
    Rank Driver
    Unit 7 Company
    Notes July 42 to IGH DGIMS 8/9/3/1941 Aug 42 posted to RU after 21 days in hosp DGIMS 8/9/3/1941 26/8/42 joined 7 coy from RU DGIMS 8/9/3/1941
  • Forename(s) Ghulam
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number V 199
    Rank Risaldar
    Unit 42 Company
    Notes 26/7/42 repat to india DGIMS 1942/3/4/F/5
  • Forename(s) Ghulam
    Surname Ahmed
    Rank Subedar-Major
    Notes jan 44 interviewed on return MWY 92
  • Forename(s) Gul
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 29071
    Rank Naik
    Unit Reinforcement Unit
    Notes 27/02/1940 admitted BMH Marseille from RU WO 167/1435 2/6/40 'unable to stand a second winter in this country' 'Age 31. Chronic laryngitis; pain on swallowing' L/WS/1/355 f 137
  • Forename(s) Haji
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 64941
    Rank Hammerman
    Unit 29 Company
    Notes Feb 41 repat to India 'Hysteria' WO 179/5880
  • Forename(s) Haji
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 736819
    Rank Cook
    Unit 3 Company
  • Forename(s) Iftikhar
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number V 255
    Rank Jemadar, WO
    Unit 3 Company
    Notes 5/5/42 on 4 days leave DGIMS 8/9/2/1941 7/8/42 to 25 coy from 3 coy DGIMS 8/9/2/1941
  • Forename(s) Ishtiaq
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number AC 293
    Rank Jemadar
    Unit 29 Company
    Address Allahabad
    Notes 6/9/41 'difficulty to understand war restrictions' WO 179/5880 5/12/42 recorded Xmas broadcast ‘on behalf of the parents of the Contingent to their children in INDIA’ WO 179/5881
  • Forename(s) Munshi
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 180625
    Rank Driver
    Unit 22 Company D Troop
  • Forename(s) Munshi
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 781330
    Rank Driver
    Unit 3 Company
  • Forename(s) Mustaq
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 781745
    Rank Driver
    Unit 7 Company
    Notes July 42 discharged IGH DGIMS 8/9/3/1941
  • Forename(s) Nasir
    Surname Ahmed
    Rank Subedar
  • Forename(s) Nazir
    Surname Ahmed
    Service Number 793319
    Rank Driver
    Unit 32 Company
    Notes 5/10/42 to IGH DGIMS 8/9/7/41
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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.

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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