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Indian troops arriving in France, WW1
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Indian troops arriving in France, WW1
Indian troops arriving in France (Marseilles) during the early stages of the First World War. Date: September 1914
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Media ID 14123218
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Arriving Colonialism Landing Marching Marseilles Racecourse Sikh Turban
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative photograph, Indian troops disembark from a ship at the port of Marseilles, France, marking their arrival on the European continent during the early stages of the First World War in September 1914. The Indian soldiers, predominantly Sikh and Muslim, are seen here in their distinctive uniforms, many wearing turbans, as they prepare to march towards the train station, which would transport them to the Western Front. The presence of Indian troops in Europe during WWI was a testament to the vast reach of the British Empire, which extended its military might beyond its shores to fight in a global conflict. The use of colonial troops was a common practice during this era of imperial colonialism, with over one million Indian soldiers serving in various theaters of the war. The Indian troops, who were part of the British Indian Army, were initially deployed to defend the Suez Canal and later sent to France to reinforce the Allied forces. Their arrival in Marseilles marked the beginning of a long and arduous journey towards the battlefields of Europe, where they would face the harsh realities of trench warfare and the horrors of modern warfare. This photograph captures a moment of transition, as the Indian soldiers, who were accustomed to the heat and terrain of their homeland, prepared to adapt to the cold and muddy conditions of the Western Front. The image serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by soldiers from the Indian subcontinent during the First World War, and the complex history of colonialism and imperialism that shaped the course of the conflict.
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