Indian soldiers have proved their mettle under various circumstances and conditions. Talking about WW2, initially, two lakh soldiers were enrolled in the British Army to fight on various fronts; however, gradually, the number increased to 25 lakhs. This was the largest volunteer army ever raised to date.
Indian soldiers in World War II fought exceptionally well and made significant contributions to the Allied war effort. They served not only in Asia but also in Africa and Europe. Fighting in multiple theatres, in the most treacherous terrains and the most challenging circumstances, they bravely defeated the adversary.
If we get into the specifics, in North Africa, Indian soldiers fought in Egypt, Sudan, and Somaliland. This was one of the most inhospitable terrains, with the harshest deserts at that time. The Indian soldiers also fought in Ethiopia, Libya, and Tunisia against both the Italian and German armies.
However, in Asia, the bulk of the Indian Army was committed to fighting the Japanese and captured areas right up to Burma. These campaigns cost the lives of over 87,000 Indian servicemen, while 34,354 were wounded. Their valour has been recognised by means of war memorials at various places where these battles were fought.
Indian soldiers also fought in Italy and Greece. Their contributions have been well marked in the war memorials there. The war memorial for Indian soldiers in Greece is located at the Phaleron War Cemetery in Athens. During his visit to France in February 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Mazargues War Cemetery in Marseille. The cemetery contains a memorial that honours the memory of Indian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice while defending foreign lands during the war. There are multiple war memorials for Indian soldiers in France, including the Neuve-Chapelle Memorial and the Indian War Memorial in Villers-Guislain.
The war memorial for Indian soldiers in Italy is called the “Naik Yeshwant Ghadge Sundial Memorial,” located in Montone, Italy. An Indian Army plaque has been placed at the memorial, commemorating the gallant sacrifice of all ranks of the Indian Army who fought in the Italian Campaign. The memorial is in the form of a live sundial. The motto of the memorial is “Omnes Sub Eodem Sole,” which translates into English as “We all live under the same sun.”
The primary war memorial for Indian soldiers who fought in Burma during World War II is the Rangoon Memorial. Twenty thousand Indian soldiers died in the Burma campaign, and the valour of the Indian soldier speaks from every battleground in Burma.
There are numerous other war memorials that salute the bravery of Indian soldiers in Iraq, Italy, Israel, Greece, France, Australia, Egypt, Singapore, and the UK. There is also a room in the UK’s military academy dedicated to the Indian soldier.
The contribution of Indian soldiers in the Battle of Haifa is praiseworthy. PM Narendra Modi visited the Indian War Cemetery in Haifa, Israel, in 2017 and was briefed on how Indian soldiers had contributed to saving Haifa. In November 2015, PM Modi had also paid homage at the INA Memorial Marker in Singapore and became the first Indian PM to do so.
The Indian soldiers who laid down their lives over the years should never be forgotten, for they are part of our rich heritage of valour. The soil of India has produced brave warriors, and they have proved their mettle across the world in challenging circumstances.
