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irisblue

(34,411 posts)
2. Cause I find the idea that guys from India fighting for the Brits
Mon Dec 14, 2020, 03:52 PM
Dec 2020

At the same time of the Bengal famine, which Churchill was in part responsible for, in Italy a social/ cultural paradox.

Also I enjoyed their facial expressions Peggy, why did you ask?

CaliforniaPeggy

(152,443 posts)
5. I appreciate your answer, which expanded my knowledge of the incident.
Mon Dec 14, 2020, 04:39 PM
Dec 2020

Mainly I asked because I'm curious.

I enjoyed their facial expressions too.

irisblue

(34,411 posts)
8. Did you know about the Bengal Famine of 1943?
Mon Dec 14, 2020, 05:46 PM
Dec 2020

It's wiki...."An estimated 2.1–3 million,[A] out of a population of 60.3 million, died of starvation, malaria, and other diseases aggravated by malnutrition, population displacement, unsanitary conditions and lack of health care. Millions were impoverished as the crisis overwhelmed large segments of the economy and catastrophically disrupted the social fabric. Eventually, families disintegrated; men sold their small farms and left home to look for work or to join the British Indian Army, and women and children became homeless migrants, often travelling to Calcutta or other large cities in search of organised relief.[8] Historians usually characterise the famine as anthropogenic (man-made),[9] asserting that wartime colonial policies created and then exacerbated the crisis. A minority view exists, however, that holds that the famine was the result of natural causes.[10]"

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/4/1/churchills-policies-to-blame-for-1943-bengal-famine-study

Snip-"The study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, provided scientific backing for arguments that Churchill’s policies played a significant role in contributing to the 1943 catastrophe.



To be honest I have no memory of learning about it in high school or in college. My formal education was very American & Eurocentric. I started looking up to learn more about Churchill after the movie 'Darkest Hour' in 2017. I was astounded in learning more about his actions.
We so often here in the US only see & know his Boer war history, and his WW2 in Europe and bits of the British Navy in the Pacific theater.

Many of my heroes have feet of clay.



Karadeniz

(23,543 posts)
6. These may be the Gerkas. The British are intensely proud of them and they're proud of themselves!
Mon Dec 14, 2020, 04:52 PM
Dec 2020

COLGATE4

(14,840 posts)
11. There's a saying in the British Army
Mon Dec 14, 2020, 06:27 PM
Dec 2020

that a man who tells you he's not afraid of death is either a liar or a Gurka. These troops are totally fearless. A Gurka recipient of the Victoria Cross (equivalent to the Congressional Medal of Honor) fought Japanese troops alone for more than 26 hours, most of that time shooting them with his bolt action Lee Enfield rifle with one of his arms blown off. He said that when he ran out of ammunition he just used his Kukri knife (for which they are famous). When he was finally relieved they found he had killed 43 Japanese soldiers.

appalachiablue

(43,090 posts)
12. Their reputation as fighters is well deserved. The WWII Gurkha
Mon Dec 14, 2020, 06:50 PM
Dec 2020

who fought the Japanese was exceptionally strong, what a record of action.

ShazzieB

(18,925 posts)
4. I was looking for a ship (aircraft carrier) myself! 😆
Mon Dec 14, 2020, 04:26 PM
Dec 2020

It is an interesting pic, though, no question.

appalachiablue

(43,090 posts)
9. The turbaned troops are Sikhs and the tank is labeled 'Punjab.'
Mon Dec 14, 2020, 05:46 PM
Dec 2020

Cool photo, thanks for posting.

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