Book Worm
At War on the Gothic Line by Christian Jennings
Publishing on 30th September 2016.
Even after 70 years, war front reports and writings are fascinating. The author, Christian Jennings has devoted ample space to the Marathas, Sikhs, Gurkhas, and other Indian soldiers in a very interesting volume. There is a vivid description of Indian soldiers on the road to Florence.
The author describes, "the fighting skills and valour of the Maratha soldiers and especially the sensitivities of the soldiers of the Maratha Light Infantry. The Maratha Light Infantry was formed in 1768; it had fought for and against the British in India (and overseas). This unit was one of the oldest and most prestigious of the Indian Army. Thirty battalions of the Maratha Light Infantry were formed in World War Two. Services to the Crown and to the Empire and especially to their long-dead Emperor Shivaji were their guiding principles. They charged into battle with the cry ‘Bol Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai’ (Cry Victory to Emperor Shivaji). They and the Gurkhas, in particular, terrified the Germans. They came out of the dark, they said, you couldn't see them, and they were completely unafraid."