Grateful Britain recalls valour, sacrifices of Indian soldiers during World War-1

Tribune News Service

October 30

The British Government today thanked the contribution of Indian troops in the World War-I. The valour displayed by Indian soldiers during the war was remembered through black and white images and movie footage of the Imperial War Museum.

UK recognises that it could not have prevailed in the war (July 1914 to November 1918) without the contribution and sacrifice made by many countries. The Indian contribution to the war effort was one of the largest from the Commonwealth.

6 Victoria Cross - the highest military honour of Britain - were awarded to Indian soldiers in WW-I

Today, the UK, working closely with the United Service Institution of India (USI), remembered over 1.1 million Indian servicemen who fought in the war. There were around 70,000 fatalities.

A melange of pictures, displayed at the residence of British High Commissioner Sir James Bevan in New Delhi, today narrated the stories of valour by the Indian Army which had the distinction of having fought in almost all theatres of the war - France and Flanders, alongside the Australian and New Zealand at Gallipoli, Mesopotamia, Palestine and North Africa.

The commemoration began on August 4 with a memorial service at the Glasgow Cathedral for Commonwealth Leaders which coincided with the closing ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The same day, an event was held at the Symphorien Military Cemetery in Mons Belgium and a candle-lit vigil was organised at Westminster Abbey.

The UK has funded a battlefield guide book which will be available through USI for those families wishing to visit battlefields in France and Flanders. 

Another coffee table book giving a pictorial overview of India and the Great War is available. War Diaries of the India Corps that fought in France and Flanders and these have been digitised and were presented to India.

Regimental War Diaries printed and bound were passed on to the regiments. A total of six Victoria Cross - the highest military honour of Britain - awarded to Indian soldiers and memorials are being prepared for presentation to the Government of India.