[IN PICTURES] 28 Rare and Amazing Photos of Indian Soldiers from World War I

The Indian Army is built upon a long and proud tradition of valour. During World War I, Indians formed a large contingent of soldiers in Europe, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. Over 1 million (10 lakh) troops from undivided India served overseas, of which over 60,000 were killed. Claude Auchinleck, who was commander-in-chief of the Indian Army, had said that the British “couldn’t have come through both wars if they hadn’t had the Indian Army.”

Here are some photos from that forgotten time.

1. Sikh soldiers arrive in France

Source: Old Indian Photos

2. A young French boy introduces himself to Indian soldiers in Marseilles

Source: Old Indian Photos

3. Wounded Sikh soldiers at the Royal Pavilion, Brighton

Source: Old Indian Photos

4. A regiment of Indian lancers preparing to charge

Source: Old Indian Photos

5. Gurkhas in campaigning kit

Source: Old Indian Photos

6. An Indian cavalry regiment in Mesopotamia

Source: Old Indian Photos

7. On the march in France

Source: Old Indian Photos

8. Unloading baggage at Alexandra Dock, Bombay

Source: Old Indian Photos

9. Indian troops in France

Source: Old Indian Photos

10. Indian troops in the Persian Gulf

Source: Old Indian Photos

11. Indian reinforcements who fought at Givenchy

Source: Old Indian Photos

12. Sikh havaldar at Marseilles

Source: Yahoo

13. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala performing a guard inspection

Source: Old Indian Photos

14. Bhupinder Singh with Belgian generals

Source: Old Indian Photos

15. Bhupinder Singh inspects a 12-inch Railway Howitzer

Source: Old Indian Photos

16. A lancer from Bengal

Source: Old Indian Photos

17. 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles at the North-West Frontier

Source: Wikimedia

18. Indian Army gunners at Jerusalem

Source: Wikimedia

19. Indian troops manning a Hotchkiss gun in Mesopotamia

Source: Wikimedia

20. Indian Army Mountain Gun crew, East Africa

Source: Wikimedia

21. Checking a map on the Western front

Source: Wikimedia

22. Indian cavalry from the Deccan Horse during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge

Source: Wikimedia

23. Indian bicycle troops at the Battle of the Somme

Source: Wikimedia

24. Indian soldiers digging trenches

Source: British Library

25. Indian infantrymen training in case of a gas attack

Source: British Library

26. Group of soldiers, Highlander and Indian Dogra, sitting together in a trench

Source: British Library

27. The Dome Hospital in Brighton, which had 680 beds for Indian soldiers

Source: British Library

28. Bal Bahadur, who was wounded while rescuing fellow soldiers

Source: British Library

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