American Foreign Legion?

Post by **Beowulf** » 2004-12-09 08:19pm

Cpl Kendall wrote:
Beowulf wrote:
On the other hand, we're not sending those troops on expeditions to take over another country. They're staying home.
Did the British use their Indian and other Aux's in the conquest of other countries? It was always my impression that they only used them for policing the countries they came from.

Gurhkas ring a bell?

Elheru Aran · Post by **Elheru Aran** » 2004-12-09 08:23pm

Beowulf wrote:
Cpl Kendall wrote:
Beowulf wrote:
On the other hand, we're not sending those troops on expeditions to take over another country. They're staying home.
Did the British use their Indian and other Aux's in the conquest of other countries? It was always my impression that they only used them for policing the countries they came from.
Gurhkas ring a bell?

Indeed. They gained quite a name for themselves both in Europe (WWs I and II) and in Asia (against the Japanese-- Thailand and Burma, mostly).

Using other people against enemies is old hat-- been done since the condotteri of Italy in the 1400's (1500's? not sure), all the way through the Hessians, to the Belgians in Zaire. Most of those would technically qualify as mercenaries, I suppose... however, since all the colonials got was their Commonwealth citizenship, which they already had de facto, I don't really see a huge difference.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-12-09 08:27pm

Beowulf wrote:
Gurhkas ring a bell?

Yes, I had forgotten about them. Although I have always been told that they are mercanaires exculsively employed by the Brits, rather than Aux's.

Elheru Aran · Post by **Elheru Aran** » 2004-12-09 08:45pm

Cpl Kendall wrote:
Beowulf wrote:
Gurhkas ring a bell?
Yes, I had forgotten about them. Although I have always been told that they are mercanaires exculsively employed by the Brits, rather than Aux's.

IIRC, many former regiments of Gurkhas once employed by the Brits and then disbanded after the end of colonization serve as mercenaries today. The Brits still have a regiment or two, though; they may technically be mercenaries, but I know for a fact that one of them is privileged to carry the Queen's Mace (some kind of royal symbol, not sure-- they earned it back in the 1840's during the Mutiny).

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2004-12-09 09:30pm

Cpl Kendall wrote:
Beowulf wrote:
On the other hand, we're not sending those troops on expeditions to take over another country. They're staying home.
Did the British use their Indian and other Aux's in the conquest of other countries? It was always my impression that they only used them for policing the countries they came from.

Well in Italy during WWII, there were Indian troops on the divisional level, also across other theaters of the war. I know Australia doesn't count, but during WWII when Japan entered the war, Australia pulled out I Corps to send home and gave Churchill a sissy fit. World War I & II was defintely centered on Europe which caused some discontent among the Asian colonies.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-12-09 09:34pm

Captain Lennox wrote:
Well in Italy during WWII, there were Indian troops on the divisional level, also across other theaters of the war. I know Australia doesn't count, but during WWII when Japan entered the war, Australia pulled out I Corps to send home and gave Churchill a sissy fit. World War I & II was defintely centered on Europe which caused some discontent among the Asian colonies.

You mean they were pissed that they were left virtually defenseless? Ala Singapore.