UK’s National Army Museum Marks Indian Army’s First World War Contributions With New Display

British Indian Army: Soldiers of the First World War, which debuted earlier this month and is on display at the United Service Institution of India in New Delhi through November 5, was developed in collaboration with them.

UK's National Army

National Army Museum in London

London: Using photos, artwork depictions, documents, and medals from the museum’s holdings, a new exhibit at the National Army Museum in London illustrates the crucial efforts of the Indian Army during World War One.
British Indian Army: Soldiers of the First World War, which debuted earlier this month and is on display at the United Service Institution of India in New Delhi through November 5, was developed in collaboration with them.
It commemorates the important role played by troops from the Indian subcontinent during the war as part of the British Indian armed forces during the colonial era in the 20th century.
“The Indian Army was essential during the war as the imperial reserve both on the Western Front at the beginning of the war and during the Palestine campaign in 1918,” notes the museum display.
“Nearly 1.4 million men from India served in various theatres, making it the largest all-volunteer force the world had seen at the time,” it said.
The Indian Corps went on to fight in the battles of Neuve Chapelle, Second Ypres and Loos in 1915.
The infantry was withdrawn from the Western Front in December 1915 to reinforce the troops in Mesopotamia, with the two cavalry divisions remaining until 1918.
The display, which is free of charge, highlights how Mesopotamia was the main theatre for the British Indian Army.
Over three-quarters of the engaged force, all of the river vessels, and all of the rail equipment and people were supplied by India.
The initial goal was to protect the oil supplies near Basra, which was accomplished in April 1915 at a relatively low cost.
From late 1917 onward, Indian Army units took the place of British Army units in Palestine as part of a process known as “Indianization.” British Army units were moved back to the Western Front.
(PTI)