WW2 Indian Soldiers on Dartmoor

An interesting talk by Ghee Bowman about Indian Soldiers stationed on Dartmoor and Devon is to be given this Monday.

The talk hosted by Devon Rural Archive called ‘Crossing the Imperial Colour Bar: Muslim Indian Soldiers in Devon in World War Two’ is being co-hosted by the Devon History Society.

Ghee Bowman, a PhD student at Exeter University, will give an
Illustrated talk about the story of a wartime journey from the Punjab to Plymouth, using photographs and eyewitness accounts. It will tell of how between 1940 and 1942 soldiers from the Indian Army Service Corp were stationed across Devon.

The soldiers were stationed at Teignmouth, Ivybridge, Shaldon, Woodbarton and Plymouth, where they were bombed out so moved their base to Dartmoor. One of the Indian soldiers was injured and was treated at Moretonhampstead Hospital for a period during 1942.

Ghee Bowman will explain what they were doing and why the story of these soldiers with their mules and turbans seems to have been forgotten. Mr Bowman would be interested in seeing any photographs or memories of the troops. The lecture takes place at 7pm at the Devon Rural Archive, Shilstone, near Modbury on Monday 25th September. For more information call Abi on 01548 830832 or email abi@dra.uk.net

Pictures show Queen Elizibeth reviewing Indian troops during the war. Western Times’ coverage of Indian troops in Exeter.