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.