The Reincarnation of the Calcutta Light Horse, A.F.(I.)

Having retired after the nominal twenty years plus in the U.S. Naval Reserve, a group of us who had become close friends over the years, decided to have small reunions on a fairly regular basis. In order to provide some identity to the group, and after a reasonable amount of research, we decided to commemorate and reincarnate in obviously smaller numbers, the Calcutta Light Horse, an Auxiliary Force (India) regiment of the British Indian Army.

Several of us remembered having seen a 1980 movie, ‘Sea Wolves (the Last Charge of the Calcutta Light Horse)’ starring Gregory Peck, David Niven and Roger Moore, with Trevor Howard and Patrick MacNee. Since last having members serve in the Boer War and World War I, the regiment had been more analogous to a British gentlemen’s private club than an active military unit. As an adjunct for movie buffs the following is a correlation of the actual personnel from the regiment participating in the action, and the cast of the movie.

Although there were weekly meetings and annual exercises, it wasn’t until well after the start of World War II that this group of middle-aged jute merchants, accountants, solicitors, engineers and stock brokers were able to prove their mettle, and uphold the finest traditions of the regiment in a highly classified combat engagement. Their clandestine action occurred under the command and planning of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE).

In the original regimental history, ‘CALCUTTA LIGHT HORSE A.F.(I.) 1759 –1881 – 1947, published in 1957 by a committee of the Regiment, there appears‘The Unwritten Chapter’. As part of my personal research the following is an addendum to that chapter:

The field service solar topee of the Calcutta Light Horse
between a South African Forces solar topee and a replica
of the full dress turban of the 2nd Punjab Regiment 

Those with the knowledge and sharp eye of a regimental sergeant-major will pick-up on a detail, which until very recently I was not aware of. The regimental pagri badge should be on the other side of the topee, and have the red stripe forward. Needless to say it has already been corrected. Am extremely envious of the purchaser of the following regimental pith helmet, that was recently for sale for a very short time on a militaria site on the Internet.

The ships involved in the action by Creek Force are shown in the following contemporary photographs.

With the partition of India in 1947 the disbandment of the entire Auxiliary Force, including the regiment, took place. Here is one of the last known photographs of the Officers of the Regiment and of Colonel W. H. Grice, ADC, ED., the last Commanding Officer.

The Officers of the Regiment approximately a year after the
highly successful clandestine attack on German ships in
Marmagoa, Goa harbor in March 1943

Colonel William H. Grice, ADC, ED, Commanding Officer,
Calcutta Light Horse, who directly participated in the attack

Following is a recently published photograph of a contingent of the Calcutta Light Horse on training exercise in Belgaum in 1940, with acknowledgement and gratitude to FIBIS (Families in British India Society). By sheer "coincidence", perhaps? Belgaum is near the west coast of India, strategically located near then Portuguese Goa, and was a major British Army Training Center and cantonment. It continues in use today by the Indian Armed Forces.

Our ranks were very similar in civilian professions to that of the ranks of the Calcutta Light Horse, with the exception of not having any jute merchants. In addition we had a few classified missions to our credit, albeit non-combat in nature. Suffices to say that even our correct regimental ties and blue blazers with regimental crest, were still no match to the colonel’s resplendent full dress uniform. Unfortunately, like our hair, the ranks are thinning, since the following photograph was taken we have lost six members. 

Current members of the Calcutta Light Horse in regimental
mufti with faces obscured SAS fashion for "security reasons"

Officer's Cap Badge of the Calcutta Light Horse as can be
seen on Col. Grice's full dress solar helmet above

Reverse of same cap badge

Calcutta Light Horse regimental blazer badge

Regimental tie of the Calcutta Light Horse A.F.(I.)

In order to provide some semblance of legitimacy to our organization, all members were presented with an honorary commission. Intentionally undersized, when compared with the genuine article, but in all other aspects it was an authentic facsimile, including the signature of the King (Edward VIII), and countersigned for the Imperial General Staff by then Colonel (Later Field Marshal) William J. Slim.

Intentionally undersized facsimile honorary commission
as a Colonel in the Calcutta Light Horse

The following photograph is of The “Hollywood” Light Horse. Male members of the cast of “Sea Wolves” (The Last Charge of the Calcutta Light Horse) on location in either Goa or India. In the front row (third in from left) Trevor Howard, then starting (fifth in from left), David Niven, Roger Moore and Gregory Peck. In the second row (second in from left) Patrick MacNee.

The following are a few excerpts from the movie, The Sea Wolves (The Last Charge of the Calcutta Light Horse), released in 1980, two years after their WWII mission had been declassified in 1978 under the provisions of the British Official Secrets Act.

  

There is a very interesting coincidence (limited research indicates only that) which has recently come to this author's attention regarding the Calcutta Light Horse. One of the commanding officers of the regiment was LCol Archie Pugh CBE (1871 - 1923) during the period from 1912 -1923. As the reader may recall it was LCol Lewis Pugh (later MGen Lewis H. O. Pugh CB, CBE, DSO(w 2 bars) 1907-1981) who conceived of the operation, and was present in its execution.

LCol Archie Pugh CBE, OC,
Calcutta Light Horse, 1912 -1923

MGen Lewis H.O. Pugh CB, CBE, DSO
w/2 bars