The book traces the fascinating history of one of the largest colonial forces raised by the British. First raised as China Gun Lascars by the then Madras Army in 1841 for service in Hong Kong, the Corps later become part of the Royal Garrison Artillery. Composed entirely of Indians, it later formed part of Royal Garrison Artillery and was stationed  at Hong Kong and Singapore.

Though it was meant for service only in the Far East, it saw action in the Middle East during the Great War when its Mountain battery served with the Imperial camel Corps in Palestine.

In the 1930s, the corps was expanded and reformed as an independent corps and was now called the Hong Kong Singapore Royal Artillery. It included the first Indian antiaircraft regiments. With an increased role, its regiments were stationed in the Middle East also where it saw action against the Italians during the Second World War.

The Corps, except one regiment at Aden, was lost to the Japanese in 1941-42 with many of its men joining the Indian National Army.  The last remaining regiment was to see action against the Luftwaffe in the Levant region before being disbanded in 1946.

Colonel Mandeep Singh is an air defence veteran with over thirty years’ experience. He commanded his regiment during Operation Parakaram, and later along the Line of Actual Control. A Masters in Defence Studies & Strategic Studies, he has written extensively on history of air defense and anti aircraft artillery. Besides writing regularly for defence journals, he has authored over ten books including “History of Indian Air Defence Artillery 1940-1945”and “Indian Army at War 1947-1999” as also two books on Anti aircraft Artillery in India-Pakistan Wars 1965 and 1971. His interests include military history with special emphasis on History of Indian Army and the colonial forces. This book is his second research project with the USI,  New Delhi.