[IN PICTURES] 28 Rare and Amazing Photos of Indian Soldiers from World War I

The Indian Army is built upon a long and proud tradition of valour. During World War I, Indians formed a large contingent of soldiers in Europe, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. Over 1 million (10 lakh) troops from undivided India served overseas, of which over 60,000 were killed. Claude Auchinleck, who was commander-in-chief of the Indian Army, had said that the British "couldn't have come through both wars if they hadn't had the Indian Army."

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Here are some photos from that forgotten time.

1. Sikh soldiers arrive in France

Source: Old Indian Photos

2. A young French boy introduces himself to Indian soldiers in Marseilles

Source: Old Indian Photos

3. Wounded Sikh soldiers at the Royal Pavilion, Brighton

Source: Old Indian Photos

4. A regiment of Indian lancers preparing to charge

Source: Old Indian Photos

5. Gurkhas in campaigning kit

Source: Old Indian Photos

6. An Indian cavalry regiment in Mesopotamia

Source: Old Indian Photos

7. On the march in France

Source: Old Indian Photos

8. Unloading baggage at Alexandra Dock, Bombay

Source: Old Indian Photos

9. Indian troops in France

Source: Old Indian Photos

10. Indian troops in the Persian Gulf

Source: Old Indian Photos

11. Indian reinforcements who fought at Givenchy

Source: Old Indian Photos

12. Sikh havaldar at Marseilles

Source: Yahoo

13. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala performing a guard inspection

Source: Old Indian Photos

14. Bhupinder Singh with Belgian generals

Source: Old Indian Photos

15. Bhupinder Singh inspects a 12-inch Railway Howitzer

Source: Old Indian Photos

16. A lancer from Bengal

Source: Old Indian Photos

17. 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles at the North-West Frontier

Source: Wikimedia

18. Indian Army gunners at Jerusalem

Source: Wikimedia

19. Indian troops manning a Hotchkiss gun in Mesopotamia

Source: Wikimedia

20. Indian Army Mountain Gun crew, East Africa

Source: Wikimedia

21. Checking a map on the Western front

Source: Wikimedia

22. Indian cavalry from the Deccan Horse during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge

Source: Wikimedia

23. Indian bicycle troops at the Battle of the Somme

Source: Wikimedia

24. Indian soldiers digging trenches

Source: British Library

25. Indian infantrymen training in case of a gas attack

Source: British Library

26. Group of soldiers, Highlander and Indian Dogra, sitting together in a trench

Source: British Library

27. The Dome Hospital in Brighton, which had 680 beds for Indian soldiers

Source: British Library

28. Bal Bahadur, who was wounded while rescuing fellow soldiers

Source: British Library

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