'VICTORY to the Khalsa!' (Khalsa ka jai!)
This cry has often made the British soldier sit up and look to his laurels. Today, it happily adds to his confidence, as he knows that it betokens the neighbourhood of firm friends and fellow subjects whose loyalty is no less than his own.
On many a hard fought field the gallant Sikh has shown that he is as estimable as a friend as he was formerly as an enemy. The Sikhs are a race of soldiers, and it must also be acknowledged that they are, like the ruling race, very shrewd traders. As we are a nation of shop-keepers, we should all the more appreciate this trait in their character. The 45th Sikhs were raised in 1856 by Rattray, who has left his name in the history of the Indian Mutiny. They were formerly a battalion of Bengal Police.
A glance at the pictures will give an idea of the personnel of this regiment, which is typical of the gallant Sikh regiments serving King Edward VII. It will be noticed that they are armed with a sword-bayonet, instead of the long bayonet of triangular section with which British troops using the Martini-Henry were armed.
Now that all the Indian troops are being rearmed, they have either got or will soon be supplied with the short 'knife' which has supplanted the bayonet. It is pleasant to note that there is still a Rattray Capt. H. B. Rattray D.S.O. borne on the strength of the regiment.
No class of soldiers appreciate old names of comrades more than do the Indians of whatever fighting class they maybe. The old men tell the young ones how So and So Sahib has borne himself in action, and young So and So is almost bound to follow in his father's footsteps when called upon to do so.
This is a relic of the feudal system, and the feudal system makes bold soldiers although it had doubtless many aesthetic faults. Rattray's Sikhs wear the quoit or chukker in a distinctive way. Most Sikh regiments wear it all round the pugaree or turban, in the form that old Sikh warriors used it when it was a weapon to hurl in the charge at a distance where cold steel could not be delivered. Rattray's Sikhs wear an ornament representing the quoit as au embellishment to the pugaree. Their facings are white.
First published in The Navy & Army Illustrated, 1902.