Photographs

1. Bayonet practice

On the training ground. Indian troops at bayonet exercise.
© IWM (Q 33336)

Indian soldiers training with bayonets.

Photographs

2. On parade

During a march past of Indian troops, a woman pins flowers on to the tunic of one of the soldiers.
© IWM (Q 70214)

A woman pins flowers on to the tunic of a soldier at a march-past of Indian soldiers. Giving flowers to soldiers was a traditional sign of welcome, friendship, support or patriotism.

Photographs

3. The East African Campaign

Indian reinforcements being transported to Kilwa in German East Africa to support military operations there, October 1917. 

Photographs

4. On The Western Front

Troops of the 29th Lancers Regiment (Deccan Horse) near Pys, armed with lances and making their way through a shell torn landscape, March 1917.
© IWM (Q 4997)

Soldiers of the Indian Expeditionary Force make their way through a shell-torn landscape, March 1917.

Photographs

5. Gas attack drill

Indian troops taking part in a gas mask drill on the Salonika Front.
© IWM (Q 56644)

Indian soldiers during a gas mask drill.

Photographs

6. Sports at Salonika

Indian troops giving a gymnastic display.
© IWM (Q 32064)

Indian soldiers performing gymnastics at a Sports Day in Salonika, 1916.

Photographs

7. Gallipoli

Colonel Kishan Singh Sirdar Bahadur and Dr Sampuran Singh, two Indian officers of an Indian mule company who got all the mules and their carts off during the Suvla Bay evacuation.
© IWM (Q 13665)

Two officers of an Indian mule company in Gallipoli, 1915.

Photographs

8. The Battle of the Somme

A group of Indian soldiers, possibly soldiers of the 9th Hodson's Horse (wearing just shirts and trousers), stand round the improvised cookhouse at an Indian cavalry camp near Querrieu whilst two seated cooks prepare some food. Indian Cavalry Camp. 29 July 1916.
© IWM (Q 4072)

Indian soldiers wait for food at an improvised cookhouse at a camp near Querrieu in July 1916.

Photographs

9. Keeping clean

Indian troops of the 7th (Meerut) Division bathing in the River Auja, Summer 1918.
© IWM (Q 12494)

Indian soldiers bathing in the River Auja, Palestine, in the summer of 1918.

Photographs

10. Daily prayers

A line of Islamic Indian troops knelt down and in prayer at their camp, part of which can be seen in the background.
© IWM (Q 24572)

Indian soldiers of the Islamic faith pray at their camp during the campaign in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq).

Photographs

11. In Baghdad

Indian troops guarding Baghdad railway station.
© IWM (Q 25175)

Indian soldiers guarding Baghdad railway station shortly after the city’s capture in March 1917.  Railway stations were militarily important sites and were often guarded against sabotage and other threats.

Photographs

12. Wounded Indian Soldiers Convalescing

Wounded Indian troops at a hospital in Brighton, August 1915.
© IWM (Q 53887)

Wounded Indian soldiers at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton, which was used as a hospital for Indian soldiers during the First World War, August 1915.

Related content

Australians landing at Anzac Cove at 8am, 25 April 1915 - part of the 4th Battalion and the mules for the 26th (Jacob's) Indian Mountain Battery. In the foreground is the staff of Colonel H N MacLaurin of the 1st Infantry Brigade. The officer with the rolled greatcoat over his shoulder is Major F D Irvine (killed on 27 April). Nearer the water's edge (centre) is Captain D M King, Orderly Officer. The officer on the left, with his chinstrap down, is Lieutenant R G Hamilton, the Brigade Signal Officer.
© IWM (Q 112876)
Gallipoli

What You Need To Know About The Gallipoli Campaign

At dawn on 25 April 1915, Allied troops landed on the Gallipoli peninsula in Ottoman Turkey. The Gallipoli campaign was the land-based element of a strategy intended to allow Allied ships to pass through the Dardanelles, capture Constantinople and ultimately knock Ottoman Turkey out of the war.

British troops competing in a wheelbarrow race in Salonika.
© IWM (Q 32010)
First World War

Sports Day In Salonika

Sports Days’ were held to give service personnel a break from their duties. In May 1916, Allied troops stationed near Salonika (Thessaloniki) in Greece organised a Sports Field Day and officers, soldiers and medical staff were invited to join in.

Four visitors take in artwork in the BAFP galleries
© IWM
Permanent Gallery
IWM London

Blavatnik Art, Film and Photography Galleries

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