§ 12. Earl Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for India whether he has considered the recent tribute paid by General Mark Clark to the Indian forces under his command; and what steps he is taking to ensure that this tribute shall receive full publicity.
§ Mr. AmeryYes, Sir. I have noted with great pleasure this tribute, which I am circulating with the 'OFFICIAL REPORT, from the distinguished American Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Armies in Italy to the Indian Divisions serving under his command. The tribute was published here, and will have been received with gratification in India.
§ Earl WintertonMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether publication has been given to this tribute, and particularly if there has been any publicity in the U.S.A.?
§ Mr. AmeryI am sorry to say that General Mark Clark's statement seems to have passed unnoticed in the American Press.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the Minister aware of the tribute paid by the Scottish troops to these Indians, by calling them the "MacGurkhas"?
§ Following is the statement:
§ Remarks of Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark, Commanding, 15th Army Group, To Visiting Journalists of India, At A Location Near The 15th Army Group Front in Italy, 27 February, 1945.
§ With the 15th Army Group in Italy, February 27.
§ I have had the distinction of having under my command a trio of great Indian divisions, the 4th, 8th and 10th, whose fighting record in Italy is a splendid one.
§ The achievements in combat of these Indian soldiers are noteworthy. They have carried on successfully in the grim and bloody fighting against a tenacious enemy who has been aided by terrain particularly 367 favourable for defence. No obstacle has succeeded in delaying these Indian troops long or in lowering their high morale of fighting spirit.
§ They are well led, these three divisions. Each of the division commanders, at one time, commanded a battalion in an Indian infantry regiment in combat. These divisional commanders came up the hard way. They are, respectively, for the 4th, 8th and 10th Indian Divisions:
- Major General A. W. W. Holworthy, M.C.,
- Major General Dudley Russell, C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C.,
- Major General Denys W. Reid, C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C.
§ Thousands of the Indian troops are now spending their second winter in Italy. Some of the Indian troops who came from service in the Middle East to Italy have been in action for nearly four years.
§ Your "Jawan" and our "Yank" and "Tommy Atkins" and "Jock" and the other soldiers of this international 15th Army Group have established firm bonds of friendship and respect born in common action against a tough enemy. The bravery of Indian troops is attested by battle honors and decorations awarded.
§ The 4th, 8th and 10th Indian Divisions will ever be associated with fighting at Cassino, the capture of Rome, the Arno Valley, the liberation of Florence, and the breaking of the Gothic defensive line. Recently in the Serchio River Valley, on the Fifth Army front, a German counterattack was stopped and thrown back by troops that included the bulk of the 8th Indian Division. I salute the brave soldiers of these three great Indian divisions.