The Maharajah's Retinue

The mention of sunken treasure always excites interest and the SS Persia carried a possibly significant horde of treasure that was the property of the Indian Maharajah, His Royal Highness, Jagatjit Singh Bahadur (24 November 1872 – 19 June 1949). He was the ruling Maharajah of the princely state of Kapurthala in the British Empire of India from 1877 until his death in 1949.

He was an avid Francophile, he was fluent in French and wrote his personal diary in that language (possibly explaining Miss Guyot being Inder Singh's maid).

On March 2, 1915, the Maharaja left on a long trip to Europe and the USA, leaving the Bombay port aboard the S.S. Caledonia. While passing through Egypt he visited the British Indian and Imperial Service Regiments guarding the Suez Canal. From Egypt he repaired to Paris and then moved on to Spain (one of his wives was Spanish). At the end of April, he sailed for the USA from Gibraltar aboard French liner S.S. Patria.

He spent four months visiting New York, Washington, Chicago, Denver, Colorado Springs, Grand Canyon, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. After visiting the Salt Lake and the Yellow Stone Park he crossed into Canada, where he visited Winnipeg, Toronto, Niagara Falls, Montreal and Quebec. He made a flying visit to Ottawa where he was entertained by the Duke and Duchess of Connaught.

In August, 1915, the Maharajah arrived in England and met, among others, the King Emperor and Queen, who thanked the Maharajah for rendering "ungrudging assistance" in connection with the great war. The Maharajah arrived in Paris in October, where he spent two months. During his stay, the Maharajah went down to the trenches on the Franco-German border. He also watched the bombardment of the German lines by the French guns at Reims and Bosches.

Before the Maharajah could set foot on the S.S. Persia, information came to him from a secret source that the Germans were planning to target the ship. This eleventh hour tip-off sent waves of consternation amongst the royal entourage.

While serious deliberations on the possible strategies were going on, Inder Singh proposed that the Maharajah along with some chosen companions stay back in Marseilles and take another ship, while he himself offered to sail in the 'targeted' ship. This ship carried all personal belongings of the Maharajah and a significant portion of his jewelry. The Maharajah's treasure, amassed in London, Paris (he was an avid customer of Cartier) and the USA, was worth £1 million at that time.Comprising gold and silver bullion, gemstones and jewellery, its value could be as much as £50 million today.

The entourage of the Maharajah on the SS Persia consisted of:

Inder Singh & servant

Miss Guyot (his maid)

B. Mangal Singh

B. Partab Singh

J. N. Sahai

Kathleen Read (the Prince's governess)

Inder Singh, though a middle-aged man at that time, enjoyed robust health and could swim at length. He was lucky enough to spot a big wooden raft falling off the ship. He swam up to it and perched himself atop this 'floating stretcher'. He floated in the freezing saline waters of the sea for three days till a rescue ship came looking for survivors.

The injured Inder Singh was taken to an island hospital (Malta?) where he was given the much-needed medical relief.

The Maharaja, having providentially avoided travelling in the ill-fated S.S. Persia, left by Dutch vessel the Prins Der Nederlanden for Egypt, where he changed into the ship SS Medina and arrived safely in Bombay on January 18, 1916.