Brave Soldiers of India

Thousands of injured Indian soldiers were brought to Brighton for treatment. They were suffering from injuries sustained at the battlefront in WWI

Every year tributes are paid at the Chhatri memorial in Brighton erected as a mark of respect to the sacrifice made by Indian soldiers during WWI
Subject: BRAVE SOLDIERS OF INDIA
Dear Chander,
A letter to the Editor published in The Tribune Chandigarh, e-paper dated 11 Oct 2009, is appended below. It is quite an informative letter and worth circulating through RMS blog.
With regards,
Bhupal Singh, Veteran, Australia

Letter to editor of The Tribune: Brave sons of India: click me
“Brave soldiers of India” (Spectrum, Sept 13) has portrayed a true picture of the bravery of Indian soldiers. Over 1.4 million Indian soldiers fought for the British in World War I. Of these, 47,000 were killed and another 65,000 were wounded. In this war, Indian soldiers became known the world over for their valour and won 12 Victoria Crosses.
The first Victoria Cross was awarded on October 31, 1914, at Hollebeke in Belgium to an infantryman Sepoy Khudadad Khan of Battalion I, 129th Duke of Cannaught’s own Baluchis. Thus, of the 17 Victoria Crosses awarded during World War I, 12 went to the Indian soldiers. Only one of these, Rifleman Gobar Singh Negi of Battalion II, 39th Garhwal Rifles was awarded posthumously, other VC holders had fought on to inspire their fellow soldiers. At the end of the war, 2/3 Gorkha Rifles had two living VCs in the unit.
The Britishers were very tactful, tough and tenacious. They had not considered the Indian soldiers entitled for the Victoria Cross. The “Order of Merit” instituted in 1837 was the highest gallantry award for the Indian soldiers. It was only in 1911 that Indian soldiers became entitled to receive the VC.
The courage of millions of soldiers from the Indian sub-continent, Africa and the Caribbean, who fought and died for the British in the two world wars, has been recognised now with the erection of memorial gates adjacent to the Buckingham Palace. Leading industrialists Gopichand Hinduja, Lakshmi Mittal and Avtar Lit were among influential Asians in Britain who were the driving force behind the setting up of these memorials.
Our politicians have no time for our martyrs. On Kargil Day many leaders had no time to grace the functions held to mark the occasion.
MULTAN SINGH PARIHAR, Jalari (Hamirpur)

Sunday, September 13, 2009
Brave soldiers of India
Nearly 50,000 Indian soldiers died on the western front during World War I. Two monuments were erected on British soil— one to mark the soldiers’ supreme sacrifice, and the other to convey appreciation of people from India to the British for nursing their countrymen, writes Chanan Singh Dhillon. Read the full account by clicking link below:
Brave soldiers of India