Thousands of Punjabi WW1 soldiers honoured for the first time in history

Commonwealth War Graves Commission is set to include names of 9,909 British Indian Army soldiers in its database for the first time, rectifying more than 80 years of neglected records. This initiative, fueled by thorough research and volunteer dedication, seeks to recognize the varied contributions of those who served, reshaping historical narrative of World War One.

BRIC Team

Jul 6, 2026 · 2 min read

Thousands of Punjabi WW1 soldiers honoured for the first time in history

Key Takeaways

•The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is adding 9,909 names to its database, recognizing soldiers overlooked for over 80 years.
•Approximately 1.4 million individuals from the Indian subcontinent served in the British Indian Army during World War One.
•Around 25% of the newly recognized soldiers were Sikhs, another 25% were Hindus, and about 40% were Muslim.
•PhD student Jasmin Basra found her great-great-grandfather's name among the newly recognized soldiers, highlighting personal connections to history.
•Sunney Palahey expressed pride in his great-grandfather Kesar Singh finally being acknowledged by the CWGC, stating, 'All the sacrifices seem to have been worth it.'

Recognition of Nearly 10,000 Punjabi Soldiers Marks Milestone in Military History

Identities of nearly 10,000 soldiers from Indian subcontinent who served during Great War are now officially acknowledged. First major update to military records in decades. Years of research revealed these names within Punjab's historical documents.

Volunteers in UK spent years poring over delicate papers at Lahore Museum. Archives list names and fates of about 320,000 Punjabi servicemen. UK Punjab Heritage Association led project. For PhD candidate Jasmin Basra, it was personal. Her great-great-grandfather was among them.

“That connection was emotional,” Basra said about her British Punjabi heritage . “There is almost a disconnect from Punjab and not being fully connected to British history,but I think this is a tangible link to all of it.”

About 1.4 million from Indian subcontinent — now India,Pakistan, Bangladesh — fought in British forces in Great War. Post-war efforts to document them missed many. Especially those who died away from battlefields, left off memorials .

Sunney Palahey, a descendant of one such soldier, felt pride finding his great-grandfather,Kesar Singh, now recognized. “It’s been recognized by an authority, which it never was before. He is now an entry in Commonwealth War Graves Commission,” Palahey said . “All the sacrifices seem to have been worth it.”

Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) update aims beyond record-keeping; it challenges Eurocentric view of Great War. Honoring all service members' contributions,including colonial backgrounds. Of the newly recognized,about 25% were Sikhs,another 25% Hindus, nearly 40% Muslims.

As CWGC takes on this task, it preserves legacies of those who fought and died. These added names remind us of sacrifices made by subcontinent's soldiers,many forgotten. British descendants seek to reconnect with lineage,honor ancestors.

Amid rising conversations on colonial history and its impacts, this acknowledgment resonates. Researchers and volunteers bring closure to families,enrich Great War's narrative, ensuring these soldiers' contributions are remembered and honored. But will this shift broader historical perspective…?