Haifa’s Heroes: India’s Forgotten Soldiers in Israel

Haifa’s Heroes: India’s Forgotten Soldiers in Israel

Chapter – The Forgotten Chapter of World War I

History often remembers the battles fought in Europe during the First World War—the muddy trenches of France, the Somme, Verdun, and Gallipoli. Yet, far from Europe, in the deserts of the Middle East, another theater of war unfolded. In this overlooked chapter, thousands of Indian soldiers marched, rode, and bled on foreign soil. Among their many feats, one stands out as extraordinary: the Battle of Haifa, fought on 23 September 1918, when Indian cavalry units stormed through Ottoman defenses and liberated a historic city on the Mediterranean coast.

For Israel, Haifa marked the end of centuries of Ottoman control. For India, it was a moment of valor, now largely forgotten outside military circles. This is their story.

The Middle East Under the Ottomans

By the early 20th century, the Ottoman Empire still held vast territories stretching from Turkey down into the Arab world. Palestine, including Jerusalem and Haifa, had been under Ottoman rule since 1517. When the Ottomans entered World War I on the side of Germany, these lands became the frontline of the war between the Central Powers and the Allies.

The British, who controlled Egypt and sought to secure the Suez Canal and oil-rich Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), launched a massive campaign to dismantle Ottoman power in the Middle East. But they did not fight alone. They relied heavily on Indian soldiers, who were then part of the British Indian Army.

The Indian Contribution to World War I

India, still under colonial rule, sent more than 1.3 million soldiers and laborers overseas during World War I. They fought in Europe, Africa, and Asia. In the Middle East alone, over 75,000 Indian troops were deployed.

The Indian cavalry, especially, played a critical role in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign under General Edmund Allenby. These were not just professional soldiers but also warriors from princely states such as Jodhpur, Mysore, and Hyderabad, who brought with them centuries of martial tradition.

The Road to Haifa

By 1917, the Allies had already captured Jerusalem after months of fighting. The next goal was to drive the Ottomans and their German allies out of northern Palestine and Syria. Haifa, a port city of immense strategic importance, became a prime target.

Haifa was heavily defended. The Ottomans had placed artillery and machine guns on the slopes of Mount Carmel, overlooking the approaches to the city. German officers were also advising the defense. Any frontal attack risked heavy casualties. Yet the Indian cavalry would be asked to do just that.

The Battle of Haifa (23 September 1918)

The attack on Haifa was part of a larger offensive known as the Battle of Megiddo. On the morning of 23 September 1918, the task of taking Haifa fell to the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade, which included:

The Jodhpur Lancers (from the princely state of Jodhpur, Rajasthan).

The Mysore Lancers (from the Kingdom of Mysore, present-day Karnataka).

Supporting units including Hyderabad troops.

The Charge

The plan was audacious. The Jodhpur Lancers would make a direct cavalry charge into Haifa, while the Mysore Lancers attacked from another direction. Facing entrenched Ottoman and German forces with machine guns and artillery, the Indian soldiers advanced on horseback across open ground.

Eyewitness accounts describe the courage of the Indian cavalry: lancers riding with drawn swords and spears, galloping through gunfire, cutting down resistance in close combat. Despite heavy opposition, they broke through the defenses on the slopes of Mount Carmel and pushed into the city.

By evening, Haifa had fallen. The Ottoman and German defenders were captured, and the city was in Allied hands.

The Cost and the Glory

The victory was stunning but came at a cost. Around 44 Indian soldiers were killed, and many more wounded. Yet their bravery ensured that the city was taken swiftly, preventing further destruction and saving civilian lives.

The liberation of Haifa opened the way for the final Allied push into Syria and Lebanon, which eventually led to the Ottoman surrender in October 1918.

For the Indian cavalry, it was one of their finest hours. British commanders praised the boldness of the attack, noting that the capture of Haifa was achieved almost entirely by Indian troops.

Remembering Haifa

The Battle of Haifa became legendary in Indian military history. The Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers earned everlasting honor. To this day, the Indian Army commemorates 23 September as Haifa Day in memory of the soldiers who fought and fell.

In Israel, their sacrifice is not forgotten either. Memorials and cemeteries in Haifa and Jerusalem honor the nearly 900 Indian soldiers who died in the Palestine campaign. The Haifa War Cemetery, maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, contains the graves of many Indians who gave their lives.

In 2010, the city of Haifa declared 23 September as “Indian Soldiers’ Day.” Streets and memorials in Haifa also carry plaques honoring the Indian cavalry. During state visits, Indian leaders and Israeli leaders often pay tribute at these memorials.

Why It Matters Today

The story of Indian soldiers in Haifa highlights a larger truth: India’s role in global history is deeper than many realize. At a time when India was not even free, its soldiers were shaping the destinies of nations thousands of miles away.

For Israel, the battle of Haifa remains a moment of liberation from Ottoman rule, part of the chain of events that would eventually lead to the establishment of the modern state in 1948. For India, it is a symbol of valor and sacrifice on foreign soil, often overlooked in mainstream narratives of World War I.

The Forgotten Heroes

So why is this history not widely known? Part of the reason lies in the colonial context. The stories of Indian soldiers were often overshadowed by British accounts. After independence, India’s focus shifted to freedom and nation-building, and the contributions of soldiers in distant lands received less attention.

But in recent years, efforts have been made to revive their memory. Books, documentaries, and commemorations are bringing the story of the Battle of Haifa back to light. It is increasingly recognized as one of the most remarkable cavalry actions of the 20th century.

Conclusion

The Battle of Haifa stands as a testament to the courage and sacrifice of Indian soldiers far from home. In a war that spanned continents, they carved their place in history on the shores of the Mediterranean.

When the Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers charged through the defenses of Haifa, they not only liberated a city but also left behind a legacy of bravery that binds India and Israel even today.

These were not just soldiers—they were Haifa’s Heroes, and their story deserves to be remembered as a chapter of shared history between two ancient civilizations.