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Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: tomek917 on 15 December 2014, 11:00:56 PM

Title: Indian regiments in Hong Kong 1941
Post by: tomek917 on 15 December 2014, 11:00:56 PM
I stumbled upon these pictures on Flickr:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/fonglaikuen/8324201691/in/photostream/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/fonglaikuen/8324201691/in/photostream/)
(Linking the pictures directly wouldn't work, hope this is fine)

And since I thought all turbans in the British indian army were khaki I got interested.
Were there turbans in other colours? Were these used in combat or was it just a parade ground turban? What colour would the turbans these soldiers are wearing be in?

As far as I know there were two batallions of indian infantry in Hong Kong in 1941, 5/7th Rajput regiment and 2/14th Punjab regiment, do these belong to any of those regements?
Title: Re: Indian regiments in Hong Kong 1941
Post by: Poiter50 on 16 December 2014, 01:42:38 AM
As they are wearing Sam Browne belts (or similar), it would appear to be something ceremonial.

Interesting shots which I will send on to my sister who currently is teaching in Hong Kong.
Title: Re: Indian regiments in Hong Kong 1941
Post by: georgec on 16 December 2014, 11:53:33 PM
I served in Hong Kong in 94-96 so I had a suspicion who these chaps might be - a quick search has found this site, which explains this picture.

http://gwulo.com/atom/18406

The subjects are members of the Indian Contingent of the Hong Kong Police, hence the Sam Browns for the Service Revolver and the chain worn by the NCO; it has a copper's whistle on the end. 
Title: Re: Indian regiments in Hong Kong 1941
Post by: tomek917 on 17 December 2014, 06:52:46 AM
Nice! Thanks for the info!
Title: Re: Indian regiments in Hong Kong 1941
Post by: carlos marighela on 17 December 2014, 07:39:29 AM
Yup, Hong Kong Police, not Indian Army.