For the British Empire, Indian soldiers were just cheap consumables. They could be re-conscripted after they died. There was no need to rescue them, let alone waste precious medicinal materials on Indian soldiers.
The British military also did not have time to identify which soldiers were loyal to the empire and which ones participated in the rebellion. The best outcome for the surviving soldiers was to retire without receiving a penny of compensation.
As expected, Kotal's application to leave the camp was rejected, and the officer on duty ruthlessly rejected Ashik. Even though Ashik knelt down to the officer on duty, he did not make the officer on duty change his mind.
Cottard stood up strongly with crutches. What came out of the wound on his leg was not blood, but thick water.
When leaving the tent, Cottard picked up a pair of scissors.
"Wait a minute, don't be impulsive, let's think of other ways." Ashik was flustered, not knowing what Kotal was going to do.
"There's no time, I don't want to die here, and I don't want to lose a leg," Cottard limped toward the entrance of the camp.
If it were in southern Africa, losing a leg would not be the end of the world. The military service society would provide prosthetics for disabled soldiers. The local government would solve life and work problems. The family would get help with education, taxation, work, etc. In society, there would be no problem.
They will be discriminated against. The social status of soldiers in southern Africa is very high. In any neighborhood, they are proud of those soldiers who have fought for the country.
In India, losing a leg will not only result in being kicked out of the army, but also being abandoned by society and even the family.
Many disabled soldiers choose to wander in order not to be a drag on their families. They will most likely end up dying in an unnoticed corner like wild dogs and cats, and disappear silently.
Cotal has a family, and most importantly, four children to take care of. He cannot die, let alone lose the ability to work.
"Don't be like this, let's think of other ways." Ashik followed Kotal and kept trying to persuade him.
Sumit stared at Kotal's back blankly, then suddenly picked up a piece of wood and strode after him. This was their only weapon now.
At the gate of the camp, several British officers were chatting.
"It really sucks, being sent to this damn place, staying with these damn bugs, damn the weather, damn the riots, damn it," a freckle-faced British officer complained. He was not old.
He probably just graduated from military school.
"It's pretty good now, at least there are no damn Japanese." Another older officer was very satisfied. Compared with the Japanese, the current troubles are nothing more than a drop of water.
"Southern Africans now have the ability to launch attacks on the Japanese mainland, why haven't they done that yet?" Some people are dissatisfied with the southern African military.
"Because the southern Africans want to torture the Japanese severely and make them die miserably. Just wait and see, after the war is over, the country Japan will probably disappear." There are still sober people.
“Southern Africans are too cruel”
"What does this mean? I used to work in Jinling. When the Japanese captured Jinling, you can't even imagine what happened. I can only say that the Japanese are devils and they deserve it. Everyone deserves to die."
The officers were chatting animatedly, and someone finally noticed Cottard, who was on crutches.
"Who asked you to come out? Go back and don't walk around casually." The freckle-faced officer was arrogant and his attitude towards the Indian soldiers was worse than that of a servant.
Just kidding, servants are human too.
Indian soldiers in the eyes of British officers
Like the Russians, they are gray animals.
Cottard didn't speak. Although he was walking slowly on crutches, his steps were very firm.
Sumit finally caught up with Cottard and looked at the freckled officer coldly without saying a word.
"What are you going to do? Do it again?" The freckled officer pulled out his pistol. Now he was confident.
Then Officer Freckles noticed that more and more Indian soldiers were coming out of the tent.
"Go and report quickly. There is a situation at the gate of the camp. We need support." The experienced officer had already realized that something was wrong.
Support troops arrived soon, the same British and Indian troops, the same Indian soldiers.
When they saw Kotar on crutches, the Indian soldiers supporting the troops showed unbearable expressions, and some soldiers looked at the officers with angry eyes.
"Sir, I need necessary treatment. I don't want to die, and I can't die. I still have four children to raise." Cottard's scissors were in his pocket, otherwise he would have no chance to come to the freckled officer.
"That's your business. Now obey the order and go back to your tent to wait. A doctor will treat you." The freckled officer's face was pale. He was just inexperienced and not stupid.
"I have been waiting for seven days and there is no time to wait any longer. If you don't want to treat me, then let me find a way on my own." Cotal's face was expressionless, and he was completely despairing of the British Empire.
"I told you, a doctor will come to see you," the freckled officer said with a stern look on his face.
"Stop lying. No one cares about our life or death. We fight for the British Empire. People die every day, but no one cares about us. We love the British Empire, but the British Empire doesn't love me!" Sumit couldn't bear it anymore.
Not only were the wounded soldiers left unattended, but the amount of food was also dwindling, clearly aiming to starve them to death.
In fact, it’s not like starving to death.
There is plenty of food in the camp, but the officers dare not distribute it in full. The mood of the entire 79th Division is not stable. If the soldiers with full stomachs have nothing to do, big trouble will occur.
Reducing the supply will not only reduce consumption, but will also calm down the soldiers. Their stomachs will not be full, so they will naturally have no energy to cause trouble.
"We have to survive"
"We don't deserve to be treated like this."
"We are all loyal soldiers of the British Empire"
More and more Indian soldiers took the initiative to speak, and their emotions became more and more agitated. The crowd began to surge towards the entrance of the camp, and the situation was about to get out of control.
At this time, several military vehicles suddenly drove over from a distance.
Seeing the Southern African flag and red cross on the body of the military vehicle, some soldiers gradually became quiet.
"Sorry, please wait a moment, we have some trouble here." The British officer did not dare to open the camp door for fear of causing more trouble.
"What's going on?" The officer leading the team asked proactively without being angry.
"It's just a small trouble and it will be dealt with soon." The British officer looked embarrassed. You guys are here at the wrong time. If you don't come earlier, you won't come later. Why don't you come at this time? This will add fuel to the fire.
The leading officer nodded to express understanding, with a slightly strange expression.
I used to think that mutiny only happened in France, but I didn't expect that it would happen in England as well.
This has never happened to southern African armies.
Including the Southern African Union troops, most of which are composed of Africans, this kind of thing has never happened.
At this time, several doctors in white coats jumped out of the truck. They had traveled a long distance, and the car ride was also very difficult.
The Indian soldiers in the camp were even more excited.
"Why don't you open the door and let them in? You don't care about us, but you also allow the southern Africans to help us?" Cottard's hand was already holding the scissors in his pocket.
"Open the door and let them in"
"Let's get out"
Other Indian soldiers were more emotional. Soldiers were still different from those Indians who were non-violent and non-cooperative.
Indians who believe in non-violence and non-cooperation will never become soldiers.
The Indians are not without blood. When they have a numerical advantage, they are very powerful.
"What the hell is going on?" The senior officers of the 79th Division finally appeared, and Division Commander Crofts was in a bad mood.
Mutiny is unacceptable in any army.
The current Allied forces in Southeast Asia are mainly composed of the Southern African Army, the US Army, and the British Army. The Southern African Army and the US Army use different tricks to torment the Japanese every day, while the British Army is busy with internal strife. The contrast is too stark.
As the division commander, Crofts must be responsible for the mutiny of the 79th Division. He has been busy contacting the country to shirk responsibility these days and has no time to appease the mood of the troops. He is not aware of the undercurrent at all.
Cheap supplies shouldn't have emotions.
Just accept your fate obediently.
An officer present explained to Crofts in a low voice.
"Let them go back to their tents and tell them there will be doctors to treat them." Crofts looked disgusted. He would not communicate with the soldiers in person.
If we really wanted to communicate with the soldiers in person, this kind of thing would not happen.
Now it seems that Pétain is really a good soldier, no wonder he can become president.
"We don't trust you anymore, you've been lying."
"Open the door, we want to live"
"We need enough food, we need doctors and nurses"
The officer's comfort was obviously ineffective.
"Open the damn door and stop letting them bark," Crofts ordered, not realizing there was anything wrong with this.
The campground gate will open soon.
When the military vehicle drove in, the Indian soldiers cheered and all the British officers breathed a sigh of relief.
"Your injury is a bit serious and must be treated immediately. Is there an operating room?" The military doctors immediately went to work.
All the British officers who heard this sentence looked embarrassed.
Of course there is an operating room, but it cannot be used by lowly Indian soldiers.
What's more, the operating rooms of the British and Indian troops may not necessarily meet southern African standards.
"There is no time to prepare the operating room, let's handle it on site." The leading officer frowned. There were too many wounded soldiers who needed treatment, and he probably didn't bring enough medicines: "Send a telegram to the headquarters, we need more doctors and medicines."
Looking back at the Indian soldiers who were full of expectation and weak, he sighed: "If you bring more food, you won't even have food, right?"
The latter sentence was asked to the British officer next to me.
The British officer continued to look embarrassed.
Of course there is food, and it is plentiful.
"Oh, even if you throw away the rotten food, you won't give it to us to eat." Cottard's consciousness was very clear.
"Be patient, I'm going to give you an injection of anesthetic first to relieve your pain." The anesthesiologist's expression was unclear due to his mask, and his voice was gentle.
"Thank you" Cotal broke through his defense instantly, the corners of his eyes moistened.
Anesthesia needles are also very expensive, but I have heard that in the past only British officers were eligible to use them, and Indian soldiers had to endure the pain even if they died.
"Relax, relax, Li is a top student who graduated from Johannesburg Medical College. Have you heard of Johannesburg? It is a beautiful city, advanced and developed, with beautiful environment, mild climate and people living in harmony." The anesthesiologist used chat to relieve Cotal's pain.
mood.
"That must be paradise" Cottard's voice faded away.
"I'm going, this has to be cut off." Untying the hastily wrapped gauze, Li felt heavy.
The wound has been severely inflamed, so the operation will be very troublesome, and the leg may not be saved in the end.
The key point is that there are too many wounded soldiers who need to be treated. If it is amputated, Kotal will only lose one leg. If too much time is spent here in Kotal, other wounded soldiers with more serious injuries may lose their lives.
So don't say that military doctors are simple and crude. Time is life, which is most vividly reflected in the battlefield.
"Sir, please try to save his legs. He still has four children to raise. If Kotar loses his legs, his children will be finished and his life will be finished." Ashik clasped his hands together and prayed with a face full of prayer.
"I'll try my best." Li didn't waste any time, cut the knife accurately, and began to remove the rotten muscles.
When Cottard woke up it was already the next day.
It was still a familiar tent, but the environment was completely different. The ground was clean, the dirty clothes piled up in the corner of the tent had disappeared, the air was filled with the smell of disinfectant, and the ground was cleaner than ever.
Ashik changed into clean clothes and sat beside the bed. He washed his hair, cut his hair, shaved, and probably took a shower. His whole person seemed to be a completely new person.
"You finally woke up?" Ashik's face was filled with joy.
"I'm so exhausted. Southern Africans are good at everything, but they are too harsh. It's my problem that I don't take a bath. What does it have to do with them?" Sumit walked in carrying a wooden basin with freshly washed water.
clothing.
"Don't you think you feel much better after taking a bath?" Ashik has fallen in love with bathing.
In the past, Indian soldiers also took baths, but compared with the bathing recognized by southern Africans, the most Indian soldiers used to do was take a shower.
Bathing requires bath products. If you don't have shower gel, you must have soap and shampoo.
In the past, Ashike had never seen shampoo, let alone shower gel, and soaps had to be limited.
After communicating with military officers in southern Africa, I learned that shower gel and shampoo were also included in the supplies distributed by the British and Indian troops.
There is hair distribution, but no hair distribution troops, so where the shampoo and shower gel went is worth pondering.
"How do you feel?" Sumit was concerned about Kotal.
"It feels good, better than ever." Cottard could feel the pain in his legs.
It's okay if it hurts, it's great, at least the leg is saved.
"You really have to thank that southern African doctor. He performed a full four-hour operation on you. After the operation, you needed help to stand up. He also used expensive anti-inflammatory injections for you," Sumit said with emotion on his face.
, only when dealing with southern Africans did Sumit feel like a human being.
Cottard stared directly at the roof of the tent without saying a word.
