The most popular English-language newspaper in the world gave space on its front page recently for a report on a ground-breaking initiative in Cambridgeshire.
During the 2024 Remembrance season, Cambridge City Council’s Mayor, Cllr Baiju Thittala hosted 150 guests—including the Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, and the High Commissioners of India, Pakistan and Zambia—to recognise the service of Indian Army veterans during the World Wars.
RFCA staff who work with Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force helped to organise and run the commemoration for Cllr Thittala and his guests, including an Indian Army veteran and their family. The event, focused specifically on those who served in the Indian Army, is the first of its kind in Britain and so important enough that one of India’s largest newspapers covered the story on its front page.

The Times of India has a circulation of more than 1.8 million, larger than any British newspaper. It is the oldest English-language newspaper in its home country and the second oldest Indian newspaper still in circulation, having been founded in 1838.
Cllr Thittala welcomed people to the commemoration, held at Cambridge’s Guildhall, saying: “We honour the courage and sacrifice of Indian soldiers who fought in both World Wars—individuals who had travelled far from their homeland, enduring unimaginable hardship on foreign soil to safeguard the liberty that we cherish today.
“The Indian soldiers, comprising soldiers from what what we in the modern day call India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Myanmar, answered the call to serve with extraordinary bravery and commitment.

“This army was unique, volunteers coming from various religions, faith and language, unified in their duty. These brave men represented diverse backgrounds yet stood shoulder to shoulder in battle, showing their strength in diversity.”
Cllr Thittala also quoted Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, the Commander-in-Chief India from 1942, as saying: “The British couldn’t have come through both wars if they didn’t have the Indian Army.”

Cambridge’s Mayor added: “We must also acknowledge the contribution of 11,000 Indian women who served with determination in the Women’s Auxiliary Corps (India) that provided critical logistical and administrative support in the war. They were pioneers, overcoming social barriers symbolising a commitment to serve that truly crossed boundaries.”
More than 1.5 million Indian Army soldiers served in the Great War, and 2.5 million more men from the subcontinent volunteered to serve with Allied forces during the Second World War, between them earning 30 Victoria Cross medals for outstanding bravery.
Sadly, 87,000 never returned home to the subcontinent, dying in the line of duty. Cllr Thittala honoured their sacrifice in his address to the commemoration audience.