Indian Army

Researching a Soldier who Served in the Indian Army in the First World War

Indian Army Cavalry WW1Below are a series of guides and articles to help you research a soldier who served in the Indian Army during the First World War. Researching an Indian soldier who served in the ranks is very difficult and impossible if you do not know his regimental number. If you know the soldier’s regimental number I’d recommend starting with my guide to Indian First World War medals. My article on Sepoy Wazir Chand shows how a service history can be built up providing some basic facts are known.

Begin with the following Guides

  • Indian Army Enlistment Dates: In most cases, especially with infantry and cavalry regiments, if you know a soldier’s regimental you can work out when they joined that unit.

Guides to Indian units which served in the First World War

  • Indian Mountain Batteries of the First World War: A guide to every Indian Mountain Battery which served in the First World War. Coming soon!

Guides to Confidential Reports held at the British Library

Researching those who served in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers

The following guides will help you to find even more information

  • The Indian Army List: Learn how to use the Indian Army List to research either a British or Indian officer, or British Warrant Officer who served in the Indian Army. Also my guide to the Imperial Service Troops Army List for Indian officers who served with the Princely States.
  • Sepoy Wazir Chand: The life and death of a Sepoy in the 20th Punjabis in Mesopotamia during the First World War. An example of how you can use a handful of known facts to build up a service history of an Indian soldier.

First-hand Accounts of Indian Units in Battle