Description
India General Service Medal 1908, Bronze issue, bar Abor 1911-12, 142 Cooly Jagta Bahadur Chetul, No 1 Gurkhali Carrier Corps
Very rare to find in Bronze, well preserved condition.
An interesting chapter on the Carrier Corps from 1912 Book “On the Track of the Abor” by Millington:
“The Nagas could not stay with us till bitter end. A pardonable homesickness at length came over them, and a reasonable desire to be back in time for their spring sowings.
He would have broken the terms of our contract with them if we had detained them against their will beyond a certain date, and therefore they were allowed to go.
But by this time not only had we a whole mule corps in this country, but first one and the another Gurkhali Carrier Corps and been raised.
The Gurkhali is better known in the annals of frontier warfare than the Naga. He is not a savage, and wears more clothes and fewer ornaments than the Naga, so that he is hardly tinged with the same romance.
But he has the same Mongolian cheerfulness and the same zeal for work, and will carry a heavy load up any altitude.
However he sang no martial chaunt as he climbed a hill, and carried no spear. Hence he was accounted by many, the Abors included, as less of a warrior.”
Letters from the Abor Expedition 1911-12 written by Major AB Lindsay, records some of the treacherous conditions of traversing the Abor Jungles, one refers to the employed Native Carriers in a letter from Camp Kobo 14th October 1911:
“…You would marvel to see the naked savages produced as carriers. We have five corps of them and mostly from the Naga Hills. Our lot are stark. The others are practically so, having only a 2 inch excuse for a rag in front of them. All carry long spears. They are quite war-like and are out for heads.
In fact there seems some fear that when we are attacked in the jungle they will drop their loads, shout their war cries and dash into the jungle after the Abors whom they hate. I hope not, as the confusion will be great if this happens…”
An earlier letter from SS Sharini at Brahmaputra on 30th September 1911 also recalls the pressure placed upon the carriers, as no personal animals were allowed on the expedition:
“We are allowed no animals and have only cooly transport to carry our 2 Maxim Guns and 7 Pounder Guns, And I believe we are to be reduced practically to what we can carry, Not a pleasing prospect. I am used to loading up my horse but I do not like loading myself up.”
He rather amusingly adds afterwards: “Don’t be worried if you read in the papers that the Abors use poisoned arrows The Poison (Aconite) is not usually strong and rarely has ill effects if the wound is treated properly at once, we all carry squirts and antidote..”
