A sepoy was a Indian soldier during the rule of the British East India Company. In 1857, rumours spread amongst them that beef and pork fat was being used to coat their cartridges. The Muslims couldn't touch pork and the Hindus couldn't touch beef. Their subsequent mutiny resulted in the abolition of the East India Company and the foundation of the Indian Civil Service. (PROSE: All-Consuming Fire)

Prem Barsar was among the sepoys being trained at Lahore during World War II. In July 1941, there was talk of the British committing them to defend the oilfields in Iraq, but once Japan entered the war, they became engaged in the Far East Campaign. By 1944, some had been transferred to the front in Italy, while others remaining in the Far East contributed to the victory at Kohima. (PROSE: Letters from the Front)