Highland Council helps deliver tribute to Indian Contingent at Kingussie
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A permanent stone tribute unveiled in Kingussie today will ensure a place in a Highland memorial garden remains forever India.
The unveiling ceremony took place in the town’s Gynack Gardens to pay tribute to the men of Force K6 (later re-named the Indian Contingent) who served in the AT (Animal Transport) companies of the Royal Indian Army Service Corps (RIASC) in World War II.
The black granite stone (imported from India), which is the UK’s first permanent memorial to all ranks of Force K6, has been engraved and adorned with gold leaf by Inverness monument makers, Andrew Stewart and Son Ltd. Marc Bruce from Aviemore has carefully chosen the Indian sandstone and mixed shades of locally sourced Cairngorm granite.
The Indian Contingent, was a detachment of the Indian Army briefly stationed around the Cairngorms, Golspie, Corgarff and Aberdeenshire during the second World War. Kingussie New Cemetery represents the single largest graveyard in the United Kingdom where Force K6 soldiers are interred. There are also graves in England, Wales, France and Germany.
Royal Indian Army Service Corps (RIASC) provided logistical support to the frontline in World War I and II. They were tasked with transporting supplies over terrain that was inaccessible for the British Expeditionary Force’s (BEF) motorised transport companies.
Kingussie’s Am Fasgadh Regeneration Company (ARC) was awarded £20,706 through Highland Council’s Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) to put towards the match funded Force K6 Memorial Project. The project is led by local facilitator, Mrs Heather Taylor (who is also a Major in HQ Army Scotland and HQ 51st Infantry Brigade).
Mrs Taylor said: “This has been the culmination of six year’s work, building on the previous relationships the Kingussie Community has developed with India. It has been an honour to play a part in bringing this Living Heritage to life in memory of not just these soldiers, but the wider Highland Community and their fond affection for the men of Force K6 during their posting here.”
She added: “The wider aims of the project are to promote and support inclusivity within our Scottish communities both cultural and local, creating enduring friendships and relationships with young people so that the legacy of the soldiers and Isobel lives on through future generations.”
“The triangular design of the memorial represents Faith, Hope and Charity. The slope from the face to the floor sweeps towards the direction of the sea and home. And the circle encapsulates inclusivity and togetherness as one on this earth.”
Chair of Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee, Cllr Bill Lobban, said: “Scotland has been and thankfully still remains a wonderfully diverse country with the South Asian population representing one of the largest ethnic minority groups.
“This year we’re celebrating the 80th anniversary of this Unit arriving in Badenoch and Strathspey during World War II. This memorial serves as a poignant and permanent reminder of their story and recognises their shared sacrifices in war time.
“We are delighted that The Highland Council has helped deliver this fantastic memorial. It reminds us of Force K6’s story and our unique connection them here in Highlands. There is so much division in the world right now, and this story brings people together, highlighting the history and sacrifice we all share.”
On the stone’s inscription tribute is paid to the 14 members (13 Muslim and 1 Hindu) of Force K6 who were stationed and all of whom died in Scotland. The stone also recognises Kingussie-native, 99-year-old Isobel Harling and recipient of the British Empire Medal (BEM), who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service during the war, and who tended their graves for over 70 years. Her brother died after being shot down over Leuven, Belgium during World War II.
Speaking on behalf of her mother at today’s event, Mrs Gaynoll Craig said “Isobel’s care for these young soldiers’ graves, so far from their homeland, has continued steadfastly year in year out for 60 years. In my mum’s words, “It is the right thing to do”. The graves are now under the care of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and are immaculately kept.
Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Inverness (Inverness, Badenoch, Lochaber and Strathspey), Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Young, said: “The memorial is a very fine tribute to these men who came to Scotland in the cause of freedom, and it has been wonderful to see the result of years of work across diverse communities and relationships.”
Force K6 came from across India, including the country that is now known as Pakistan. They arrived in France in 1939 - with their mules - to provide animal transport for the Allies. During Hitler’s infamous ‘Blitzkrieg’ (Lightning War), one company (22 Coy.) was captured in Gerardmer with Warrant Officer Hexley, while the others were evacuated with the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk and other ports. After postings in England and Wales, most of the companies were ultimately arrived in the Highlands. The 51st Highland Division remained with the French 9th Army to attempt to deny and delay Rommel’s advancing troops from further gains.
From June 1942 they had several camps in Badenoch and Strathspey from where they supported winter warfare training in the Cairngorm mountains. The soldiers were popular in the local communities, helping on farms, playing with children, sharing cultural cuisine and demonstrating their flair for horsemanship.
After postings to other locations in the Highlands, they returned to India by early 1944. Fourteen of the Force K6 men died in Scotland, with nine of them buried in the New Cemetery at Kingussie. Some of the soldiers died while training in harsh conditions in the Highlands.
For outstanding duty in France, members of Force K6 received an MBE, an Indian Order of Merit, three Indian Distinguished Service Medals and one Mention in Despatch
The men laid to rest at Kingussie New Cemetery were Ali Bahadur, 38, Bari Sher, 37, Dadan Khan, 22, Fazl Ali, 25, Khan Muhammad, 32, Khushi Muhamm, 35, Muhammad, 29, Muhammad Sadiq, 29, and Mushtaq Ahmad, 21.
Mir Zaman, 22, was buried at Aberdeen's Allenvale Cemetery, and Abdul Rakhman, 37, and Ghulam Nabi, 24, at Proncynain Cemetery in Dornoch. Karam Dad, 29, was buried at Grange Cemetery in Aberdeenshire and Mangli was cremated in Aberdeen
The 14 soldiers buried in Scotland mainly died from accidents on exercise, or illnesses such as tuberculosis. Nine of the 14 men died while they were in the Cairngorms for mountain training.
For more, see Thursday's Strathy
