Imperial Service Troops

The Imperial Service Troops, officially called the Indian States Forces after 1920, were auxiliary forces raised by the princely states of the Indian Empire which were deployed alongside the Indian Army when their service was required.^[1] The Imperial Service Troops were inaugurated in 1888 by the Viceroy of India. At the beginning of the 20th century, their total numbers were about 18,000 men.^[1]

The troops were routinely inspected by British officers and generally had the same equipment as soldiers in the Indian Army.^[1] Although their numbers were relatively small, the Imperial Service Troops were employed in China and British Somaliland in the first decade of the 20th century, and later saw action in the First World War and Second World War.^[1]