Dedications are seen on crosses placed beside the war memorial at St John the Baptist church, North Baddesley, southern Britain November 11. (REUTERS Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 11
As the world marks the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War 1 today, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio acknowledged the contributions made by the Naga Labour Corp who set sail as part of Labour Corps for the 1st World War in Europe.
“Today, as we mark 100 years since the end of #World War I, we remember the Naga Labour Corps who set sail as part of Labour Corps for the 1st Great War theatre in Europe. We pray for their souls and acknowledge their contributions and sacrifices towards global freedom and democracy,” Rio wrote on his official twitter handle.
At the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month, Sunday, November 11th; the world marked the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended World War One.
The global conflict cost an estimated 10 million lives, including many from the Naga Labour Corps who did not return home.
Hundred years ago in the spring of 1917, an estimated 2000 Nagas who have never ventured out beyond their village boundary set sailed for a long journey to France.
This was in response to the calls made by Secretary of State for India who asked the Viceroy of India in January 1917 to supply 50000 labourers for France mostly in Marseilles.
With increasing demands for men at the front and the need to maintain the Lines of Communication, labourers were imported from overseas including China, India, Africa, Egypt and Fiji. These men were all employed at the ‘rear’ i.e. outside the range of enemy artillery but within the range of enemy aircraft.
From the Naga Hills (present Nagaland state) 2000 were sent from different Naga tribes. Labour Corps were also recruited from Bihar, Orissa, North West Frontier Province, United Province, Bengal and Burma, according to reports.
According to some written documents, the Naga Labour Corps arrived in France in two main groups (688 men on 21 June 1917 and 992 men on 2 July 1917).The Naga Labour Corps were formed in the Naga Hills under the command of Deputy Commissioner, Herbert Charles Barnes.
These men were initially divided into the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th Naga Labour Companies. To avoid confusion with other Indian Labour Corps units serving in Mesopotamia at that time, these companies were renumbered as the 35th, 36th, 37th and 38th (Naga) Labour Companies.
The services of this Naga Labour Company were particularly utilised in Mametz, Le Transloy, Haute Avesnes, Contalmaison and Guillemont for carrying out salvage work, road repairs among others. After the War, the 35th Company moved to Marseille in April 1918, from where they embarked for India at the end of May arriving back in India in June 1918, it said.
Their participation in the First World War opened up new horizons for the young Nagas, some of whom, on their immediate return from Europe in 1918 were instrumental in establishing the Naga Club, a socio-political organisation that played a crucial role in establishing the Naga political identity in later decades.
In 2017, the then Nagaland Chief Minister, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu unveiled the World War 1 Naga Labour Corps Memorial Monolith in Kohima to mark the role and sacrifice of the Naga Labour Corps.
The memorial monolith is set up in a hillock opposite the Red Cross Building in the heart of Kohima, a town that was witness to one of the greatest battles of the Second World War.
