UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon pays tributes to Indian soldiers of World War I

NEW DELHI: British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon today paid tributes to over a million Indian soldiers who fought World War I and laid a wreath at the war memorial at India Gate here.

Fallon arrived here today on a day-long visit for the programme to commemorate World War I in which over 70,000 Indian soldiers lost their lives.

He also met Defence Minister Arun Jaitley at the South Block.

He will present the Government of India memorials of 6 Victoria Cross that were won by soldiers in the war at a special function organised at the British High Commission.

The UK is working very closely with the United Service Institution of India (USI) for the commemoration programme of the World War I.

It has funded a battlefield guide book which will be available through USI for those families wishing to visit the France and Flanders battlefields.

It has also funded in conjunction with USI a coffee table book giving a pictorial overview of India and the Great War, besides digitising the War Diaries of the India Corps that fought in France and Flanders.

World War 1 started on July 28, 1914 and ended on November 11, 1918 and involved all of world's great powers, 70 million combatants, with more that 9 million killed.

British Empire entered the war on August 4, 1914 and over 1.1 million Indian servicemen fought in WW1 and there were around 70 thousand fatalities.

The books will be presented to the Indian government and the key Regimental War Diaries will be printed and bound for presentation to the colonels of the regiments 6 Victoria Cross winners won by Indian soldiers.