Lives of the First World War

In 1917, the Indian Defence Force (IDF), a part-time group, was formed to undertake garrison duties in India to release professional soldiers for fighting duties. Although the Indian Section was voluntary, the British Section was compulsory. This was the cause of dissatisfaction among many British persons. The IDF was replaced by the Auxiliary Force, India (AFI) in 1920. This saw volunteer service resume, however there was a minimum term of service. The AFI officers and men could be mobilised in the event of war. FURTHER DETAILS During the First World War compulsory service was deemed necessary and the Indian Defence Force Act was passed in 1917. The volunteer corps became units of the IDF and were redesignated. European British men between the ages of 18 and 41 were subject to compulsory service within India. Some corps allowed Indians to join as volunteers. The IDF corps performed local security duties during the war and were not sent to the front. Some officers were transferred to regular Indian Army units. However, a few units were formed comprising volunteers who wanted to fight the war. Indian Volunteers in the Great War East African Campaign gives details of The North-Western Railway Volunteers, the Calcutta Volunteer Battery and the Indian Volunteer Maxim Gun Company in East Africa, although the Commonwealth War Graves Commission classifies them as East African Protectorate units in its records. The North Western Railway Volunteers also served in Mesopotamia The Volunteer Artillery Battery in which the majority of the men came from Burma, served in Mesopotamia, and was captured at the fall of Kut. The Anglo Indian Force, including the Anglo Indian Battery, was raised by the Anglo-Indian Association and served in Mesopotamia. After the War the IDF as an official organization was disbanded. SEE https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Auxiliary_Regiments

https://www.fibis.org/

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