Lt Gen NPS Hira, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps laying wreath at the World War-I Memorial at Jalandhar Cantt on 16 Mar 2015.
Jalandhar, March 16, 2015: The Centenary of World War-I (1914-18) is being commemorated the world over from 2014-18. Lt Gen NPS Hira, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps laid wreath at the World War-I Memorial at Jalandhar Cantt on 16 Mar 2015. He paid rich tributes to the selfless bravery of the unsung Heroes of India, who laid down their lives away from their homes.
Just 20 days after the Great War began, the first Indian troops of 3rd Lahore Division sailed westwards from Bombay on 24 Aug 1914. Troops of 8th Jullundur Brigade were the first Indian troops to land on European soil on 26 Sep 1914. Million more were to follow them in the Indian Expedition Forces to various battlefields of Europe, Mesopotamia, Turkey, Egypt, Palestine and East Africa.
During this Great War, India contributed over 1.5 million men out of which 74,000 were killed and over 67,000 were wounded on various battlefields. Indian soldiers won 13,000 medals for gallantry including 11 Victoria Cross. The gallantry and sacrifices of the Indian soldier introduced India to the world and to Europe in particular.