Books on British soldiers in India

[Curtis E. Bear]

I was wondering if anyone would be able to recommend some good books about British soldiers in India. Ones that detail Famous battles, the Indian Rebellion of 1857 etc. Both fiction and non fiction.

I've just started reading Sahib: The British Soldier in India 1750-1914 by Richard Holmes and am throughly interested in this subject. So yeah, any recommendations or help would be appreciated.

[apasc08]

several of the Sharpe's Series of books takes place in India. Dealing with Wellington and such. A good read. I recommend Sharpe's Tiger.

[James]

Rudyard Kipling.

[London Boy]

Allan Mallinson has written some books with the 6th Lancers in India.

[nemowork]

Try the Flashman books by George McDonald Fraser

Flashman (Afghanistan )
Flashman and the mountain of light (Sikh war of 1845)
Flashman in the Great game (Indian mutiny 1856-58)

Very un-PC but brilliantly researched and good descriptions of some of the real commanders like Napier, Gough and so on and the historical notes at the end are an education in themselves.

Allan Mallinson is a bit more staid and regimental (then again he reached Brigadier, Fraser only reached Corporal) but Sabres edge and the Nizams daughter are good reads.

[Royal]

Allan Mallinson is a bit more staid and regimental (then again he reached Brigadier, Fraser only reached Corporal) but Sabres edge and the Nizams daughter are good reads.

MacDonald Fraser left the Gordon Highlanders as a captain. Try his 'Macauslan' books for a (very funny) but largely true description of a young officer in the Middle East and Scotland in the years just after WWII (he served as a sniper in Burma during WWII - 'Quartered safe out here' covers that).

Can't help but repeat James's suggestion. Not read Sahib, but if 'Redcoat' and 'Tommy' are anything to go by it will be excellent.

[nemowork]

Your very right, the sound you'll hear next is me slapping myself round the head :oops:

I was reading the obituaries a few weeks back and got this bit stuck in my head


Born to Scottish parents in Carlisle, England, Fraser grew up and was educated in Scotland. In 1943, during World War II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II), he enlisted in the The Border Regiment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Border_Regiment). He was assigned to 9 Section, B Company, 9th Battalion (Bn) The Border Regiment in the Indian 17th Infantry Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_17th_Infantry_Division) in India, known as The Black Cat Division for the flashes worn by the troops. Fraser was made a Lance-Corporal four times, but was reduced to Private three times for minor offences, one of them losing a tea urn. He finally kept the rank and held it until he went to the war office Selection Board (WOSB) for a commission. He detailed his active service with the Border Regiment in his autobiographical book, Quartered Safe Out Here.

and forgot about the McAuslans and his post war stuff.

[a_very_ex_STAB]

'Sahib' by Richard Holmes is a very interesting read

[baboon6]

Bugles & A Tiger by John Masters is an excellent memoir of a young Gurkha officer's service in India (including the North-West Frontier) in the 1930s. The sequel The Road Past Mandalay covers Masters' WW2 service in India, Iraq and Burma. Masters also wrote several novels set in India, such as The Nightrunners of Bengal.

[Curtis E. Bear]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I'll definitely check out most of these.

On a side note - I've been wanting to get my hands on a Flashman book for some time now. They're so bloody hard to find in Aus.

[Toddy]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I'll definitely check out most of these.

On a side note - I've been wanting to get my hands on a Flashman book for some time now. They're so bloody hard to find in Aus.

Here you go mate http://www.abbeys.com.au/search.asp

[oldsoak]

Bugles & A Tiger by John Masters is an excellent memoir of a young Gurkha officer's service in India (including the North-West Frontier) in the 1930s. The sequel The Road Past Mandalay covers Masters' WW2 service in India, Iraq and Burma. Masters also wrote several novels set in India, such as The Nightrunners of Bengal.

- he also wrote the Ravi Lancers - a novel set in WW1 - which I was banned from reading until I was 18...ahem... :lol: Fairly descriptive in parts shall we say.

[INCONEL]

I know I have it, I searched 2 no avail...but found it on ebay. A very good read;

http://cgi.ebay.com/FROM-RECRUIT-TO-STAFF-SERGEANT-Bengal-Horse-Artillery_W0QQitemZ380006130997QQihZ025QQcategoryZ378QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[London Boy]

Try the Flashman books by George McDonald Fraser

Allan Mallinson is a bit more staid and regimental

I disagree entirely. I found McDonald Fraser's writing too laced with fantasy and unlikelihoods. Whereas Mallinson sticks to what could have happened.