Indian Army during World War I
Military unit / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Indian Army during the First World War?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
The Indian Army, also called the British Indian Army, was involved in World War I as part of the British Empire. More than one million Indian troops served overseas, of whom more than 60,000 died during the war.[1]
Indian Army | |
---|---|
Active | 1895–1947 |
Country | India |
Allegiance | British Empire |
Type | Army |
Size | 1,780,000 |
Engagements | Second Boer War British expedition to Tibet World War I Waziristan campaign (1919–20) Waziristan campaign (1936–39) World War II |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener |
In World War I the Indian Army fought against the German Empire on the Western Front. At the First Battle of Ypres, Khudadad Khan became the first Indian to be awarded a Victoria Cross. Indian divisions were also sent to Egypt, Gallipoli, German East Africa and nearly 700,000 served in Mesopotamia against the Ottoman Empire.[2] While some divisions were sent overseas others had to remain in India guarding the North West Frontier and on internal security and training duties.[3][4]
Field-Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from 1942 asserted that the British "couldn't have come through both World War I and II if they hadn't had the Indian Army."[5][6]