The principal mutineers were lined and executed in public!; Source: Public Domain

medium_The principal mutineers were lined and executed in public! Soldier Revolt.png

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The principal mutineers were lined and executed in public! Soldier Revolt.png

In 1915, around 202 Indian soldiers of the 5th Light Infantry were convicted in Singapore and sentenced to either hanging, life imprisonment or long prison terms. Some were even sentenced to summary execution- tied to poles with ropes and fired on with a huge spectacle. This blood bath began in March and continued till September of that year. The reason for such severe and wide-scale punishments - Mutiny!

On 15 February 1915, about half of the 850 soldiers of the 5th Light Infantry, mostly belonging to the right-wing, while loading ammunition at Alexandra Barracks, opened fire on the British officers. This was the signal to the start of the mutiny. The mutineers then split into three groups - the first headed towards the German POW camp and released the prisoners there, killing fourteen British and Indian officers and men on the way; the second group headed towards the centre of Singapore and killed six soldiers and civilians as they moved; the third group moved towards the Malay State Artillery Unit to gather more men to their cause, killing British civilians along the way.

> The 5th Light Infantry was ironically called the 'Loyal' 5th for they played a significant role in suppressing the 1857 revolt.

When the news of the mutiny spread, the Europeans panicked as the 5th was the only regular regiment present in the country at that time, others were involved in the world war. It is interesting to note that the only protectors were in an open rebellion and started killing the same people they were supposed to protect!

The mutiny was quelled in two days after it started with the help of French, Russian and Japanese seamen as distress calls were sent all over to save the colony. And then followed the executions, transportation and imprisonment on an unimaginable scale to make an example of the apprehended mutineers. 

> Rumours are misleading - the 5th sensed that they were to be deported to Turkey to fight the Caliph of Islam which led to great disaffection!

The cause of the mutiny? Tensions among the British officials had loosened the discipline among the ranks of soldiers. Moreover, there were disagreements between the Indian officers and the mutinous right-wing of the Infantry. British were also keen on looking at outside influences that could have contributed to the rebellion - the seditious elements in Singapore, the influence of German POWs and jealousies were seen as few of the reasons. Kasim Mansur, an Indian merchant in Singapore was supposed to have caused fanatical unrest and was found guilty of influencing the troops to rebel.

> The main causes of the mutiny were the pan-Islamicist movement and the influence of the Nationalist Ghadar party in India - both these causes were neglected by the Britishers. The 5th was an entirely Muslim Unit - comprising of Ranghars and Pathans.

Though the mutiny has largely been forgotten by history, it was significant as it happened in the background of World War I. It also shone a light on great disarray among the Indian soldiers and reflected passion, betrayal, intrigue, racism, murder, panic and tragedy. It was a nail on the coffin from the back. Even today, Indian soldiers in the Singaporean military are seen with an eye of suspicion!

A deja vu moment when the 42nd Bengal Native Infantry known for quelling the 1847 revolt, later renamed as the 5th Light Infantry in 1861, turned the table as half of it rose in rebellion in Singapore against the Britishers. This was no Independence movement but it wasn't even less!