Study shows up to 15,000 Indian soldiers had fought as part of the allied troops in Gallipoli during the First World War. Their contribution, however, remains relatively unrecognised in Australia
New Delhi: On the 100th anniversary of The Armistice, a new war memorial would be unveiled on November 10 in Sydney to honour the participation of Indian soldiers in the First World War along with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC).
“A war memorial would be unveiled on November 10 on the centenary of the Armistice which marked the end of the First World War in which Indian soldiers fought alongside the ANZAC forces as British allies. We have invited people to join us for the unveiling of the ANZAC Jawan Centotaph,” an official from Sydney said.
The official said the local Indian community along with the Hindu Council of Australia have worked towards the new war memorial.
The Indian troops during the Gallipoli campaign included battalions of Gurkha and Sikh soldiers and mule-riders who were given the charge of transporting goods and troops for the British and their allies.
Australian expert professor Peter Stanley said that the Indian participation was from four Gurkha battalions and one Sikh battalion which suffered almost 80% casualties along with several thousand mule-riders but not much of it has been documented.
According to an Indian war historian, up to 15,000 Indians fought as part of the allied troops at Gallipoli, but their contribution remains relatively unknown and unrecognised in Australia.
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