Lead Adventure Forum

Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Plus Four on October 31, 2016, 08:05:49 AM

Title: Sikhs in Africa
Post by: Plus Four on October 31, 2016, 08:05:49 AM

A question for the colonial "gurus" - did the British use Sikhs in Uganda or were they restricted to their Nyasaland campaigns?

Title: Re: Sikhs in Africa
Post by: Plynkes on October 31, 2016, 09:20:49 AM

When the Sudanese troops of the Uganda Rifles mutinied over conditions and arrears of pay, there were Sikhs among the forces sent to deal with them. The post-mutiny reorganised force had Sikh NCOs and 400 other Indians whose ethnic origins I'm unsure of.

I think it would be reasonably accurate to include a smattering of Sikhs wherever your game is set in British East Africa, they weren't confined to British Central Africa. The East African Rifles had 300 Punjabis on their strength at their peak. A photo shows them garrisoning Witu on the coast, and they also garrisoned the Jubaland forts on the northern frontier against Somali attacks.

Prior to the combination of all three forces into the King's African Rifles in 1902, the Indian contingent of the East African Rifles were sent home (I think in 1900). Not sure about their compatriots in the other two, I'd have to go rummaging in my books to find that out.

Title: Re: Sikhs in Africa
Post by: Plus Four on November 03, 2016, 09:02:19 PM

Thanks Plynkes - should have guessed you'd know the answer!

Good to know I can find a use for my models in alternative locations!