The Indian Defence Force (IDF) was a part-time defence force established as part of the Indian Army in 1917 in order to release regular troops from garrison duties during the First World War.
The Indians were volunteers, but many of the Europeans were conscripted,[1] as the Indian Defence Force Act 1917 made military service compulsory for all Europeans permanently residing in British India (including the princely states) between the ages of 16 and 50.
[2] Boys between 16 and 18 were only obliged to undertake training and men over 40 only had to serve in their local district, but men between 19 and 40 were obliged to serve anywhere required within the country.
[3] In 1922, it was announced that those who had served in the IDF during wartime were eligible for the British War Medal.
[4] The IDF was generally unpopular among the British conscripts.