Western Front: Difference between revisions

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== External links ==
== External links ==
*First World War regimental diaries of the Indian Infantry units deployed to the Western Front are available online to download via The National Archives's [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/first-world-war/First World War 100] portal.<ref> [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/962.htm Indian infantry unit war diaries go online] The National Archives</ref> At September 2014, 171 were available. They are not personal diaries. See TNA’s [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/war-diaries-ww1.htm British Army war diaries 1914-1922] for more details about this type of record. Searching is free, but there may be a charge to download documents.
*[https://undereveryleaf.wordpress.com/2014/06/30/the-indian-memorial-at-neuve-chapelle/ The Indian Memorial at Neuve Chapelle]  with Photographs. undereveryleaf.wordpress.com
*[https://undereveryleaf.wordpress.com/2014/06/30/the-indian-memorial-at-neuve-chapelle/ The Indian Memorial at Neuve Chapelle]  with Photographs. undereveryleaf.wordpress.com
*[http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ypres-salient/memorial-indian-forces.htm Indian Forces Memorial, Ypres] greatwar.co.uk
*[http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ypres-salient/memorial-indian-forces.htm Indian Forces Memorial, Ypres] greatwar.co.uk

Revision as of 00:23, 26 September 2014

As the First World War progressed more troops were needed for the Western Front. To meet this demand Expeditionary Force A from India was sent to reinforce the British Troops – particularly in France.. [1]

Many men who fell during these campaigns are honoured by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Amongst these are 4,742 soldiers from India whose names are recorded on the Neuve Chapelle Memorial in France. In 1964 these names were expanded to also commemorate 210 servicemen of India whose graves at Zehrensdorf Indian Cemetery in East Germany could not be maintained.

Related articles

Recommended reading

Recommended by Peter Moore on the Military reading list
"Sepoy in the Trenches: The Indian Corps on the Western Front, 1914-15 by Gordon Corrigan, Kent, UK; first edition. 1999; 16 plates; 9 maps; hardcover; 274 pp. An excellent, updated account of the sufferings and heroism of the Indian regiments sent to France in the bitterest of winters clad only in tropical uniforms until transferred to the Mesopotamian Campaign in 1915. The author, a retired Major (late Royal Gurkha Rifles and ex-10GR), 1998), has an authentic feel for the old Indian Army and the times".

“Well worth tracking a copy, both as a fascinating book and a display of how good military history should be written.“[2]

For an interview with the author Gordon Corrigan, see below.

External links

Historical books online

References

  1. India and the Western Front bbc.co.uk/history
  2. Great War Forum thread Indian Re-evaluation by David Filsell 17 July 2014
  3. Indian infantry unit war diaries go online The National Archives