Indian Long
Range Desert Squadron
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Last updated
09/28/14
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Group
of officers of the 9th Bengal Cavalry, Suakin
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Indian Long Range
Desert Squadron 1941-1947
McCoy’s task was one of considerable difficulty, as it was necessary to
train Indians to be really good drivers and wireless operators, and also to
navigate. Furthermore, he also had to teach them desert craft, and other
subjects which LRDG personnel had taken eighteen months to learn from practical
experience. It was designed for operating behind enemy lines in Syria, Iraq and
Persia in case of a Nazi attack through the Balkans into the Middle East.
In the event, this threat never materialized.
Composition of the ILRS
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Establishment……….. |
350 volunteers from the IAC |
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Headquarters…........... |
C.O. Major S.V. McCoy, and Captain F.B. Boyd |
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‘J’ Patrol…………….. |
Captain J.E. Cantlay |
Jats (I/1 Patrol under LRDG)
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‘R’ Patrol……………. |
Captain T.J.D. Birdwood |
Rajputs (I/2 Patrol under LRDG) |
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‘M’ Patrol……............ |
Captain A.B. Rand |
Muslims (I/3 Patrol under LRDG) |
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‘S’ Patrol……………. |
Captain G.W. Nangle |
Sikhs, (I/4 Patrol under LRDG) |
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Ancilliary troops……. |
RCS, RAOC, REME and other sections |
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Deployment - attached to Long Range Desert
Group
After a period spent at Ferozepore in India, the ILRS was
deployed to Zahidan, Baluchistan and Persia where it saw the war out patrolling
the volatile Persian/Afghan/Russian border to discourage any Soviet infiltration
into this oil-rich border region.
Disbandment
The ILRS was disbanded in 1947 when India was partitioned. The
Jats, Rajputs and Sikhs of ‘J’, ‘R’
and ‘S’ Patrols went to the 2nd Royal Lancers, 3rd Cavalry and 18th K.E.O.
Cavalry, allotted to India. The Muslims of ‘M’ Patrol were absorbed into the
PAVO Cavalry (Frontier Force), allotted to Pakistan.
Badges
The cap badge (above)
consisted of crossed lances with pennons, with a tablet bearing the letters LR
at the intersection. It came in
brass or silver plate, as designed by Major Sam McCoy, and was worn on a black
beret.The cloth slip-on shoulder title
(above) was embroidered with the letters ILRS in gold on a dark blue
backing. Buttons, if any particular pattern was worn, are not known.
Honours, awards and roll of honour
British officers with the ILRS
British other ranks with the ILRS
Navigators: Collins, Lever,
Jessop and Owens
Wireless operators: Cox and
Brain,
Signallers: George, Haslam,
Sheffield, Smurthwaite, Gregory and Kearney
Others: Ripley
Sources
Ministry of Defence records
at the National Archives
LRDG Association
newsletter;
Ashok Nath,
Izzat, Historical Records and Iconography
of Indian Cavalry Regiments 1750-2007 (U.S.I. of India, New Delhi 2009)..
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