Jodhpur, Mysore and Hyderabad Lancers played a key role in the Allied campaign; Major Thakur Dalpat Singh remembered as one of the prominent Indian commanders of the battle
New Delhi, September 24 (SDNA):
More than a century after the Battle of Haifa, the events of September 23, 1918, continue to hold a significant place in the history of Indian military participation in the First World War. On that day, cavalry units drawn from the princely states of Jodhpur, Mysore and Hyderabad took part in the Allied operation to capture Haifa, then under Ottoman control.
The port city, now one of Israel’s major urban and maritime centres, was strategically important during the First World War. Its capture was part of the wider Allied advance through Palestine and the Middle East against the Ottoman forces.
Indian cavalry at the centre of the operation
The Indian units involved in the campaign formed part of the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. The brigade brought together troops supplied by several Indian princely states, including Jodhpur, Mysore and Hyderabad.
The battle came at a time when warfare was increasingly dominated by machine guns, artillery and other modern weapons. Yet the Indian cavalrymen were still expected to operate on horseback and, where required, fight with traditional cavalry weapons such as swords and lances.
Their assault at Haifa subsequently became one of the best-known examples of Indian cavalry operations during the First World War.
Major Dalpat Singh and the Jodhpur Lancers
Among the Indian officers associated with the battle was Major Thakur Dalpat Singh, the commanding officer of the Jodhpur Lancers.
The Jodhpur contingent advanced towards Haifa despite strong Ottoman resistance. Dalpat Singh was killed during the operation and was later remembered as the “Hero of Haifa” for his leadership and role in the battle.
His name remains closely associated with the Jodhpur Lancers and the Indian contribution to the capture of the city.
A cavalry assault against fortified positions
The battlefield presented a formidable challenge. Ottoman troops had defensive positions supported by machine guns and artillery, while the attacking Indian cavalry relied heavily on mobility and close-quarter combat.
The Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers moved through difficult terrain as Allied forces sought to break through the Ottoman defences. Their successful advance helped open the way for the capture of Haifa.
Military accounts of the operation describe the action as one of the notable late examples of cavalry being used against heavily defended positions during the transition towards modern mechanised warfare.
Haifa falls to the Allied forces
The operation resulted in the capture of Haifa and a large number of Ottoman and German prisoners. Contemporary military records also document the contribution of the Indian cavalry units during the fighting.
The fall of Haifa had strategic significance for the Allied campaign in the region. Control of the port strengthened Allied positions along the Mediterranean coast and supported further operations in the Middle East.
Remembering the fallen
Major Dalpat Singh lost his life during the battle, along with other Indian soldiers who participated in the campaign. The names of Indian servicemen associated with the operation are preserved in military memorials and cemeteries connected with the First World War.
Over the decades, the Battle of Haifa has become an important part of the military history of the Indian princely-state forces that served overseas during the war.
Three-Murti-Haifa Chowk keeps the memory alive
The legacy of the battle is also visible in New Delhi through Three-Murti-Haifa Chowk, where statues commemorate the Indian cavalrymen associated with the campaign.
The memorial serves as a reminder of the role played by troops from Indian princely states in the First World War and of the sacrifices made by Indian soldiers on battlefields far from the subcontinent.
A chapter of Indian military history
The Battle of Haifa took place more than 100 years ago, but its story continues to be recalled in India as part of the country’s wider military history. The participation of the Jodhpur, Mysore and Hyderabad Lancers illustrates the contribution made by Indian troops to Allied operations in the Middle East during the First World War.
For the Jodhpur Lancers in particular, the battle remains closely linked with the memory of Major Thakur Dalpat Singh, whose leadership and death during the operation earned him a lasting place in accounts of the Battle of Haifa.
(SDNA)