Memorial of the Siamese Expeditionary Force in World War I, Bangkok

World War I Memorial, Bangkok

A Spanish Flu Connect

Also see: FAM Trip of Thailand 2022

I always have a passion for World War I (WWI) Memorials. Starting from my own city Kolkata to other Indian cities like Delhi, Chennai or Pune I have visited and documented several WWI memorials (Also see: World War I (WWI) Memorials)

Memorial of the Siamese Expeditionary Force in World War I, Bangkok

Thailand, then Siam, is the most likely place for a WWI Memorial as Thailand was never been colonized and it has remained neutral for the majority of contemporary international events.

World War Memorials and Cemeteries, Pune

World War Memorials and Cemeteries of Pune

A compilation of World War Memorials and Cemeteries in Pune

Also see: World War I (WWI) Posts

Over a million Indian soldiers served the British Army during the First World War (WWI), which was initially known as the Great War of 1914 – 18. Over 70,000 died fighting in different war theatres spread across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

World War Memorials and Cemeteries of Pune
Left: Pune World War I Memorial, Top right: Maratha War Memorial and Bottom right: Kirkee War Cemetery

Emden Plaque, Madras High Court, Chennai

The only attack on Indian soil during World War I

Also see: FAM Trip of Tamil Nadu and WWI Memorial in India

Over a million Indian soldiers served the British Army during the First World War (WWI), which was initially known as the Great War of 1914 – 18. Over 70,000 died fighting in different war theatres spread across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Emden in 1910 (wikimedia commons)

Today numerous meorials and plaques dot the entire landscape of the sub-continent in memory of the fallen Indian soldiers who died fighting for the King of another country in far off lands.

This memorials consists of well known land marks like the India Gate, Delhi or the towering Glourious Dead Cenotaph, Kolkata.

They consist of elaborate memorials like the Teen Murti Memorial, Delhi and also include a tiny nondescript plaque on the walls of a health centre in Mehruli region of Delhi

Centenary of the end of World War I, Remembrance Day, Kolkata

Centenary of the end of World War I

Remembrance Day, Kolkata

I’m privileged to be here in Kolkata and had the opportunity to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in war. We recognise India’s remarkable contribution to the war efforts….

Bruce Bucknell. British Deputy High Commissioner, Kolkata

100th Remembrance Sunday at Kolkata. L: Bhowanipore Cemetery, C: Glorious Dead Cenotaph, Maidan and R: St. John’s Church

It was the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year 2018 the buglers sounded the Last Post followed by a two minutes silence, which was broken by the sounding of The Rouse.

Teen Murti Memorial, Delhi

A memorial of Mysore, Jodhpur and Hyderabad soldiers of WWI

See also: Compilation of World War Memorials

The Indian Army during World War I contributed a large number of divisions and independent brigades to the European, Mediterranean and the Middle East theatres of war in World War I. Over one million Indian troops served overseas, of whom 62,000 died and another 67,000 were wounded. In total at least 74,187 Indian soldiers died during the war.

Teen Murti Memorial, Teen Murti Chowk, Delhi

Today numerous memorials of the Indian soldiers in World War I dot the Indian landscape. They consists of well known towering memorials of British soldiers to hidden memorials dedicated to unknown regiments.

Remembrance Sunday, Glorious Dead Cenotaph, Kolkata

Remembrance Sunday

Glorious Dead Cenotaph, Kolkata

Also see: Remembrance Sunday at St. John’s Church, Kolkata

In Remembering the terrible cost of the war, let us all work for peace and peaceful resolution of our difference.

Bruce Bucknell. British Deputy High Commissioner, Kolkata

Remembrance Sunday, Glorious Dead Cenotaph, Kolkata

The First World War (WWI), which was the known as the Great War of 1914 – 18, ended on 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year ie: 11:00 am of 11 Nov, 1918.

India Gate, a memorial to known and unknown soldiers, New Delhi

India Gate, a memorial to known and unknown soldiers

Rajpath (Kingsway), New Delhi

This was Rajpath – once the Kingsway – one of the greatest ceremonial ways of the world. It was planned as an Imperial Champs Elysees – complete with India Gate, its own butter coloured Arc de Triomphe. But it was far wider, far greener, far more magnificent than anything comparable in Europe.

William Dalrymple, City of Djinns

India Gate, Rajpath (Kingsway), New Delhi

India Gate (originally called the All India War Memorial), the icon of Delhi, stands at the eastern end of Rajpath (formerly Kingsway). India Gate is a memorial to 80,000+ soldiers of the undivided Indian Army who died in the period 1914–21 in the First World War. It is also dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the Third Anglo-Afghan War. Of these 13,000+ names inscribed on the India Gate.

Remembrance Sunday, St. John’s Church, Kolkata

November 8, 2015

The First World War (WWI), which was the known as the Great War of 1914 – 18, ended on 11 November 1918 (11/11/18).

Remembrance Day, St. John’s Church, Kolkata

A year later in 1919 King George V inaugurated the first commemoration of the end of the Great War of 1914 – 18. 

World War I (WWI) Plaque, Mehrauli, Delhi

World War I (WWI) Plaque

Mehrauli, Delhi

Also see: World War I (WWI) Posts and Monuments of Mehrauli

World War I (WWI) plaque, Mehrauli, Delhi

Located on the southern edge of Delhi, Mehrauli is a region known for its large collection of Mughal and pre Mughal tombs and monuments.

The Glorious Dead Cenotaph, Calcutta (Kolkata)

The Glorious Dead Cenotaph

Maidan, Calcutta (Kolkata)

Also see: World War I (WWI) Memorials in Calcutta (Kolkata)

Glorious Dead Cenotaph, Calcutta (Kolkata)

Cenotaph literally means an empty tomb or monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere.

Located on the Northern end of the Calcutta (Kolkata) Maidan the Glorious Dead Cenotaph is the most well known of the WWI Memorials of Calcutta (Kolkata). It is popularly but wrongly known as the “Memorial of Unknown Soldiers.”

Designed by architect Herbert William Palliser, the sandstone built memorial loosely resembles the Cenotaph of Whitehall, London.

Built in 1924 the  Glorious Dead Cenotaph commemorates those Calcutta British and Anglo Indians who gave their lives for King and Country between 1914 and 1918. The Eastern side of the cenotaph bears the inscription “Glorious Dead” on the lower portion.

The top portion of the Southern and Northern side contains strange inscription of MCMXIV and MCMXVIII respectively. But this are actually not random alphabets but Roman numerals representing 1914 and 1918, the beginning and end of the Great War. (M = 1000, C = 100, X = 10, V = 5,  I = 1).

Strangely the memorial contains no plaques with the names of those fallen and probably because of this the memorial is commonly known as the memorial of unknown soldiers.