The Indian Army in the First World War

The book addresses the important global role of the Indian Army during the First World War. It is an academic reassessment of the army by both established and early career scholars of the Indian Army, as well as naval historians. It looks at the historiography of the army - taking into account the recent work on the army (particularly on the Western Front in 1914-1915). The edited volume covers the traditional areas of the Indian Army on the Western Front, in Palestine, Mesopotamia and the defence of the Suez Canal; however, there are also chapters on combined operations; Indian prisoners of war in Germany and Turkey; the expansion of the officer corps; and the Sikh experience, as well as the mobilisation of the equine army at the beginning of the war and the demobilisation of the army in the period from 1918 until 1923. Three additional chapters are related to the theme, such as the role of the Royal Indian Marine; the Territorial Army in India; and Churchill’s portrayal of the Indian Army during the Gallipoli campaign in his account The World Crisis.

“All chapters are firmly researched and fill gaps in both knowledge and the literature…An important contribution to the subject literature, all contributors should be commended as well as the publishers and editor.” SOFNAM

"[the book] is informative – of value to the Indian Army tyros and those with a particular interest in the topic … it is difficult to other than recommend this work…" Stand To!

“This book is a really strong contribution to the literature and an enjoyable read, too, deserving a wide readership….[it] is a timely reminder of the sacrifice India made in the First World War, with some good new perspectives, and is an excellent addition to the existing literature, especially in light of the Centenary.” New Perspectives Asian Affairs