Morale and Discipline in a Multiethnic Army: The Indian Army in Mesopotamia (1914–1917)

Abstract

This article examines morale and discipline in Britain's Indian Army during the First World War in Mesopotamia. It argues that logistical failure, heavy casualties, and the necessity of fighting an Islamic enemy placed severe stress on the implicit contract between Indian soldiers and the army's command structure in the opening years of the conflict. By 1916, an increasing number of Indians resorted to desertion and even suicide in order to escape service. Indian morale improved in 1917 in part because Britain devoted increased resources to the campaign in Mesopotamia, but also because British political and military leaders made a concerted effort to honor the terms of the implicit contract, which included the maintenance of ethnically homogenous units led by British officers with highly specialized linguistic skills and cultural knowledge. In addition to shedding new light on the First World War in Mesopotamia, the article offers insights into the challenges facing modern multiethnic armed forces.