Indian soldiers who were wounded fighting in World War 1 on the Western Front were sent to England for treatment. Many towns on the south coast of England, including Brighton, Bournemouth, Brockenhurst and New Milton helped care for the large numbers of wounded Indian soldiers. It is estimated that over 64,000 Indian soldiers died or went missing and more than 65,000 were wounded by the end of the war.

1. Indian soldiers in Hampshire during
WW1

2. During the First World War,
over 140,000 volunteers from
the Indian sub continent saw
active service in Europe. In
addition almost 80,000
volunteers from African colonies
and the West Indies took part in
the fighting.

3. Indian soldiers wounded in battle on the Western
Front were sent to England for treatment. The Royal
Victoria Military Hospital at Netley was unable to
handle the large numbers of wounded so alternative
arrangements were made. Towns on the South Coast
of England to offer assistance included Brighton,
Bournemouth, Brockenhurst and New Milton in the
New Forest to name but a few.

5. It is believed that at the
end of the war a total
of 64,449 Indian soldiers
had been reported dead
or missing and over
65,000 wounded.
Queen Mary visiting wounded Indian soldiers at Brockenhurst,
Hampshire, November 1914.

6. Indian troops carrying out
bayonet practice outside Forest
Park Hotel, Brockenhurst,
Hampshire, in preparation for
returning to the Front, 1915.
‘The troops were taken out of the line and rested in early 1915,
but were soon back in the trenches. The Indian Corps provided
half the attacking force at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle and the
Lahore Division were involved in the Second Battle of Ypres’
Source: Dr David Omissi

7. Indian troops leaving for the Front at New Milton and
Brockenhurst railway stations, 1915.

8. To see an archive film of Indian troops observing a
troop march through Bournemouth click on the
hyperlink below. You may have to download Quicktime
Viewer. Follow instructions on the website page.
http://www.hants.gov.uk/record-office/film/video/sample2.html

9. By 1918, some 827,000 Indians had enlisted, in addition to
those already serving in August 1914.
Today two memorials exist in Brighton to commemorate the
Indian soldiers who passed through the town’s hospitals
during the First World War. The gateway to Brighton
Pavilion and a memorial known as the Chattri. Both were
erected after the war.
The Chattri memorial,
Brighton, Sussex