A Military Legend Commemorated
The Indian Army commemorates September 23rd every year as Haifa Day to pay its respects to the brave Indian Cavalry Regiments that helped liberate the city of Haifa from Ottoman rule following a thrilling cavalry action in The Battle of Haifa on 23rd September 1918. The year 2018 marked the centenary celebration of this legendary battle which was celebrated in Jaipur, India. It was for the first time that the 61st cavalry prepared a night show to showcase their military tactics by adorning especially lit dresses which made the event conjure a truly exceptional experience.
The Battle of Haifa is one of the most legendary achievements of India’s Military exploits. The story goes back to exactly two months before the World War I would come to an end. The Israeli city of Haifa was under the control of Ottoman empire for the last 400 years. But the Ottoman empire decided to join the Central Powers (Germany) during the the WWI, it consequently embroiled Haifa in a confrontation against the armies of the allied powers of Britain, France and Russia.
Britain as usual handpicked an invincible army from the Indian princely states to be sent over to capture the city of Haifa. The 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade was thus born by merging the soldiers from the three princely states, namely Hyderabad, Mysore and Jodhpur. It is said that the Mysore lancers were the remnant soldiers from the army of Tipu Sultan. While the Mysore Lancers were officially disbanded on November 15, 1953, they are now represented by the 61st Cavalry Regiment in the Indian Army the only extant cavalry regiment in India now.
On The Day of Action
On 23rd September 1918, 400 brave soldiers riding on the horseback with just spears and lances faced head on a massively deployed army of 1500 people well supplied with machine guns and heavy artillery. Because the city of Haifa was fortified, the Indian troops had to clear the way before gaining entry in the town. Soldiers from Jodhpur and Mysore lancers were able to climb up the steep slope of mount Carmel unflinchingly facing the shower of bullets from their opponents. But Indian troops successfully took over the Ottoman forces guarding the gates of the forts and held them prisoners by seizing their machine guns. And once the city gates were flung open, the Indian troops took no time in taking the 1350 German and Ottoman Soldiers prisoners while seizing their artillery and guns. The victory made possible solely through the undaunted spirit of Indian Cavalry soldiers put the last nickel in the coffin of Ottoman Empire rule on Haifa.
It was only in the respect of these brave soldiers that Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru’s house was renamed from Flagstaff House to Teen Murti Bhavan. When Narendra Modi visited the Indian Haifa cemetery last year, he became the first ever prime minister to pay a visit to the resting souls of the brave soldiers.
