Glass ceiling for Indian officers in the British military

[briantk]

I am curious of how far an Indian officer can climb military hierarchy in the British military before Indian Independence in 1947. Thanks in advance.

[Ordie]

The British Indian Army or British Army?

[Royal]

What he said ^^^

Also, what do you mean by "Indian officer"?

[DPM_Sheep]

And not forgetting that there were multiple types of Commission an officer might have....

[Ordie]

There was also the Army in India (British Army & Indian Army)

Let's not forget that the Princley States had armies of their own.

[briantk]

All of the above, and when I mean Indian officer, I mean those of not European background.

[happyslapper]

All of the above, and when I mean Indian officer, I mean those of not European background.

At what time? The British Army (and the British Indian Army... and the army of the East India Company) was not always meritocratic. Even now, but due to more practical reasons, it's not entirley meritocratic.
For most of the British Army's history, it was possible to purchase a commission, and purchase command of a unit.

I don't think there's a simple answer to your question.

[Royal]

All of the above, and when I mean Indian officer, I mean those of not European background.

Again, what do you mean by that?

Many 'white' families had 4, 5 or even 6 generations born in the subcontinent.

[Ordie]

At what time? The British Army (and the British Indian Army... and the army of the East India Company) was not always meritocratic. Even now, but due to more practical reasons, it's not entirley meritocratic.
For most of the British Army's history, it was possible to purchase a commission, and purchase command of a unit.

I don't think there's a simple answer to your question.

I think he's referring at the time of Partition and Indpendence. (1945-47)
A confusing period none the less. As entire units were split between Muslims and non-Muslims. I've read some regiments gave farewell banquets and parties for soldiers leaving for India and Pakistan respectively. Some were presented pieces of regimental silverware and trophies as mementos. Some were allow to carry arms to fend off the rioting mobs attacking the trains. Sad event given that many have fought together in North Africa, Europe and Burma.

[TheKiwi]

I'll add to the "please clarify" comments above and mention Bill Slim as an example of how high you can climb.

[BLUE THOR]

To PC faggotise the topic, are you wondering about "indigenous Indians who are not of European descent"?

[baboon6]

Well for much of the (British) Indian Army's existence Indian personnel were restricted to being Viceroy's Commissioned Officers. These were generally ex-WOs/NCOs and mainly employed as platoon commanders, company 2ICs and the equivalent in other arms. The equivalent of VCOs in today's Indian Army are JCOs.

Starting just after WW1 IIRC a few qualified Indians (originally about 10 a year but later raised to 25) were sent to Sandhurst every year and those who passed out became King's Commissioned Indian Officers (KCIOs) who were equal to British officers in every way. In the early '30s or thereabouts the Indian Military Academy at Dehra Dun was formed and the process of Indianisation of the officer corps really began. Those men who passed out from Dehra Dun (about 60 a year) were known as Indian Comissioned Officers. They held the same ranks as KCIOs or British officers and were in fact originally meant to replace VCOs in certain units though the coming of WW2 changed this. At this stage about 120 British officers a year were coming to the Indian Army from Sandhurst. More commissions ( mainly emergency or temporary ones from Officers Training Schools) were granted to Indians during WW2- by the end of the war the percentage of Indian officers (not counting VCOs) had risen from about 10% to about 20%.

There is a lot of info in this book:

http://books.google.co.za/books?id=KHAWlzQdxxcC&pg=PA202&lpg=PA202&dq=Viceroy%27s+Commissioned+Officers&source=bl&ots=XhPPAu3lRK&sig=BVI1g7Zd6sEX_EU76bWlxFwMPsY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=gR6oT_3QKsuHhQfMkt3dAg&ved=0CFkQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=Viceroy%27s%20Commissioned%20Officers&f=false

WW2 also brought much promotion to Indian officers though it was still often biased in favour of British officers. By January 1943 there were a total of 97 Indian Lt-Cols in the Indian Army but the majority were medical or service corps officers; only 6 were commanding infantry or armoured units. Two Indians had risen to the rank of Brigadier by 1943, both of them as staff officers. By early 1946 there were far more Indian COs of combat units-54 of them, and there were now four Brigadiers.

EDITED TO ADD:
Check out this article too:

http://www.wichaar.com/news/315/ARTICLE/28149/2012-03-06.html

[pg_ord]

Sir Mark Tully presents a unique testimony of the Indian Army. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/standateast.shtml)