The Boer War

I must skip many other experiences of the period between 1897 and 1899 and come straight to the Boer War.

I must skip many other experiences from 1897 to 1899 and go straight to the Boer War.

When the war was declared, my personal sympathies were all with the Boers, but I believed then, that I had yet no right, in such cases, to enforce my individual convictions. I have minutely dealt with the inner struggle regarding this in my history of the Satyagraha in South Africa, and I must not repeat the argument here. I invite the curious to turn to those pages. Suffice it to say, that my loyalty to the British rule drove me to participation with the British in that war. I felt, that if I demanded rights as a British citizen, it was also my duty, as such, to participate in the defence of the British Empire. I held then, that India could achieve her complete emancipation only within and through the British Empire. So I collected together as many comrades as possible, and with very great difficulty got their services accepted as an ambulance corps.

When war was declared, my personal sympathies were entirely with the Boers. But I believed then that, in such cases, I had no right to act on my personal convictions. I have described my inner struggle over this in detail in my history of Satyagraha in South Africa. I will not repeat the argument here. Those who are curious can turn to those pages. It is enough to say that my loyalty to British rule led me to take part in the war on the British side. I felt that if I demanded rights as a British citizen, I also had a duty to help defend the British Empire. I believed then that India could achieve complete freedom only within and through the British Empire. So I gathered as many comrades as I could. With great difficulty, I got the British to accept their services as an ambulance corps.

The average Englishman believed, that the Indian was a coward, incapable of taking risks, or looking beyond his immediate self-interest. Many English friends, therefore, threw cold water on my plan. But Dr. Booth supported it wholeheartedly. He trained us in ambulance work. We secured medical certificates of fitness for service. Mr. Laughton and the late Mr. Escombe enthusiastically supported the plan, and we applied at last for service at the front. The Government thankfully acknowledged our application, but said that our services were not then needed.

The average Englishman believed that Indians were cowards, unable to take risks or look beyond their immediate self-interest. Many English friends therefore discouraged me from carrying out my plan. But Dr. Booth supported it wholeheartedly. He trained us in ambulance work. We obtained medical certificates confirming that we were fit for service. Mr. Laughton and the late Mr. Escombe enthusiastically supported the plan. At last, we applied to serve at the front. The Government acknowledged our application with thanks, but said our services were not needed at that time.

I would not rest satisfied, however, with this refusal. Through the introduction of Dr. Booth, I called on the Bishop of Natal. There were many Christian Indians in our corps. The Bishop was delighted with my proposal, and promised to help us in getting our services accepted.

However, I was not satisfied with this refusal. Dr. Booth introduced me to the Bishop of Natal, and I visited him. There were many Christian Indians in our corps. The Bishop was delighted with my proposal and promised to help us get our offer of service accepted.

Time too was working with us. The Boer had shown more pluck, determination and bravery than had been expected; and our services were ultimately needed.

Time was also working in our favor. The Boers had shown more courage, determination, and bravery than expected, and our services were eventually needed.

Our corps was 1,100 strong, with nearly 40 leaders. About three hundred were free Indians, and the rest indentured. Dr. Booth was also with us. The corps acquitted itself well. Though our work was to be outside the firing line, and though we had the protection of the Red Cross, we were asked at a critical moment to serve within the firing line. The reservation had not been of our seeking. The authorities did not want us to be within the range of fire. The situation however was changed after the repulse at Spion Kop, and General Buller sent the message, that, though we were not bound to take the risk, Government would be thankful, if we would do so, and fetch the wounded from the field. We had no hesitation, and so the action at Spion Kop found us working within the firing line. During these days we had to march from twenty to twenty five miles a day, bearing the wounded on stretchers. Amongst the wounded we had the honour of carrying soldiers like General Woodgate.

Our corps was 1,100 strong, with nearly 40 leaders. About 300 were free Indians, and the rest were indentured. Dr. Booth was also with us. The corps performed well. Our work was supposed to be outside the line of fire, and we had the protection of the Red Cross. Yet at a critical moment, we were asked to serve within the line of fire. We had not asked to be kept out of danger. The authorities did not want us within range of fire. But the situation changed after the defeat at Spion Kop. General Buller sent a message saying that we were not required to take the risk. Still, the Government would be grateful if we would do so and carry the wounded from the field. We did not hesitate, and so we worked within the line of fire during the action at Spion Kop. During those days, we had to march twenty to twenty-five miles a day, carrying the wounded on stretchers. Among the wounded, we had the honour of carrying soldiers such as General Woodgate.

The corps was disbanded after six weeks’ service. After the reverses at Spion Kop and Vaalkranz, the British Commander-in-Chief abandoned the attempt to relieve Ladysmith and other places by summary procedure, and decided to proceed slowly, awaiting reinforcements from England and India.

The corps was disbanded after six weeks of service. After the setbacks at Spion Kop and Vaalkranz, the British Commander-in-Chief gave up trying to relieve Ladysmith and other places quickly. Instead, he decided to proceed slowly and wait for reinforcements from England and India.

Our humble work was, at the moment, much applauded, and the Indians’ prestige was enhanced. The newspapers published laudatory rhymes with the refrain, ‘We are sons of Empire after all.’

Our modest work was widely praised at the time, and Indians gained greater respect. The newspapers published poems of praise with the refrain, ‘We are sons of Empire after all.’

General Buller mentioned with appreciation the work of the corps in his despatch, and the leaders were awarded the War Medal.

General Buller praised the corps’ work in his report, and its leaders were awarded the War Medal.

The Indian community became better organised. I got into closer touch with the indentured Indians. There came a greater awakening amongst them, and the feeling that Hindus, Musalmans, Christians, Tamilians, Gujaratis and Sindhis were all Indians, and children of the same motherland, took deep root amongst them. Every one believed that the Indians’ grievances were now sure to be redressed. At the moment the white man’s attitude seemed to be distinctly changed. The relations formed with the whites during the war were of the sweetest. We had come in contact with thousands of tommies. They were friendly with us, and were thankful to us for being there to serve them.

The Indian community became better organized. I came into closer contact with Indians working under indenture. They became more aware, and a sense of unity took deep root among them. Hindus, Musalmans, Christians, Tamilians, Gujaratis and Sindhis all came to feel that they were Indians, children of the same motherland. Everyone believed that the Indians’ grievances would now surely be addressed. At that moment, the attitude of white people seemed to have changed noticeably. Our relations with them during the war were very warm. We had come into contact with thousands of British soldiers. They were friendly toward us and grateful that we were there to serve them.

I cannot forbear from recording a sweet reminiscence of how human nature shows itself at its best in moments of trial. We were marching towards Chievely Camp where Lieutenant Roberts, the son of Lord Roberts, had received a mortal wound. Our corps had the honour of carrying the body from the field. It was a sultry day,—the day of our march. Every one was thirsting for water. There was a tiny brook on the way where we could slake our thirst. But who was to drink first? We had proposed to come in after the tommies had finished. But they would not begin first, and urged us to do so, and for a while a pleasant competition went on for giving precedence to one another.

I cannot resist recording a sweet memory of human nature at its best in a time of trial. We were marching toward Chievely Camp, where Lieutenant Roberts, the son of Lord Roberts, had been mortally wounded. Our corps had the honor of carrying his body from the field. The day of our march was hot and humid. Everyone was thirsty. Along the way, there was a small brook where we could quench our thirst. But who would drink first? We had proposed to wait until the tommies, the British soldiers, had finished. But they would not drink first and urged us to do so. For a while, we had a pleasant competition, each side trying to let the other go first.