UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon visited India Gate to pay tribute to Indian soldiers
British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon today visited India Gate in the national capital to pay tribute to the over one million Indian soldiers who fought in World War 1. Around 70,000 Indian soldiers lost their lives.
Mr Fallon laid a wreath at the war memorial in honour of the Indian soldiers.
Later in the day, he will present the Government of India memorials of 6 Victoria Cross that were won by soldiers in the war at a special function organized at the British High Commission.
The UK is working very with the United Service Institution of India (USI) on the grand commemoration programme.
The UK has, in conjunction with USI, funded a coffee table book giving a pictorial overview of India and the Great War, besides digitising the War Diaries of the India Corps that fought in France and Flanders.
World War 1, which began on July 28, 1914 and ended on November 11, 1918, involved the world's greatest powers, with nearly 70 million combatants. More than nine million lost their lives.
The British Empire entered the war on August 4, 1914 and over 1.1 million Indian servicemen fought in the battle.
"The Indian Army dominated, but the Indian Navy also contributed and Indians served in the Army Flying Corps. There were also labour battalions recruited from Bengal. The Indian Army has the distinction of having fought in almost all theatres of the war France and Flanders, alongside the ANZACs at Gallipoli, Mesopotamia, Palestine and North Africa," a statement by the High Commission said.