The 1918 Battle of Haifa was a pivotal moment that shattered British myths about Indian soldiers, influenced the Indian Army’s evolution, and played a role in India’s defense of Kashmir post-independence.
If there’s a battle Indian soldiers fought that has had a lasting impact on the Army, particularly just after independence, it’s the one in faraway Haifa, in 1918. Haifa? Yes, said lieutenant general Raja Subramani, vice chief of the army. “It shattered the myth”, perpetrated by the imperial British that Indian soldiers lacked initiative and needed supervision. Gradually, the British began allowing Indians to join Sandhurst and become officers of the British Indian Army. These Indian officers, battle hardened during the Second World War, including in Myanmar as part of General Bill Slim’s “Forgotten Army” helped India “to hold onto Kashmir” despite the “treachery” of British officers who sided with Pakistan during the war of 1947-48. And for the Indian army, the performance of the cavalrymen of Jodhpur and Mysore in Haifa, said the vice-chief, was the turning point.
Even today, the performance of the Indian cavalrymen, part of the British Indian army, against Ottoman Turk soldiers, dug in and well armed, can motivate Indian soldiers today, the vice chief, speaking at a discussion on the Haifa battle, added. Besides, the defeat was the beginning of the end of the Ottoman Empire and it helped to free Abdul Baha, the Baha’i religious leader, who was the voice of tolerance, the vice chief said.
Beginning the discussions, chaired by KN Srivastava, Director, India International Centre, Colonel DPK Pillai (Retd.) said the attack was one of the last cavalry charges in history, overwhelmed the Ottoman Turks, supported by some of the Kaiser’s troops, inflicting heavy casualties and taking 1,350 prisoners. Importantly, the success helped in breaking racial barriers.
Brigadier MS Jodha, descendant of an officer who fought at Haifa — Captain (later Colonel) Aman Singh, spoke of how impressed the British commander, General Edmund Allenby, was, adding that it was the first time in history that cavalry units captured a fortified town. He also called for Haifa, Jodhpur and Mysore to be sister cities.
