More than a century after the end of the First World War, 9,909 Indian soldiers who had been missing from official records of the war dead have finally been recognised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
The names were added to the UK’s official records on Monday following the completion of the Punjab Registers Project, a five-year research initiative that uncovered a long-standing historical omission affecting soldiers from pre-Partition India.
Century-Old Historical Oversight Corrected
The CWGC said the soldiers, who served in the British Indian Army during the colonial era, had never been formally commemorated because of administrative decisions taken during British rule.
The research project was carried out in partnership with the UK Punjab Heritage Association and the University of Greenwich.
Claire Horton, Director General of the CWGC, described the project as a landmark achievement.
“The recovery of every one of these 9,909 names helps restore missing chapters in family and world histories,” she said.
She added that the organisation remains committed to ensuring every Commonwealth serviceman receives the recognition and dignity they deserve.
Rare Historical Records Unlock Hidden History
Researchers digitised and analysed fragile historical documents preserved at the Lahore Museum, containing service records of around 320,000 Punjabi recruits.
The team examined 15,935 recorded deaths and compared them with 74,000 existing CWGC Indian Army records.
Using computer-assisted analysis and manual verification, researchers identified 9,909 soldiers whose names had never been included in official commemorations.
Families Finally Receive Recognition
The project has brought emotional closure to many descendants.
Dr. Inder Singh Palahey, whose great-grandfather Kesar Singh died during the war, said discovering his ancestor’s military record was deeply moving.
He said his great-grandfather left behind a widow and two young children and that the official recognition finally acknowledges the family’s sacrifice.
Former England rugby player Manjinder Nagra also learned that her maternal great-grandfather, Jagat Singh, was among the forgotten soldiers.
She described the recognition as overwhelming and said it was meaningful that, after more than 100 years, her ancestor was finally receiving the honour he deserved.
Why Were They Left Out?
According to research led by CWGC historian Dr. George Hay, most of the omitted soldiers died in non-operational areas within India during the First World War.
At the time, the British Indian government ruled that such deaths did not qualify for official war graves status.
As a result, their names were never submitted to the CWGC for commemoration.
The new research has overturned that historical exclusion.
Indian Soldiers’ Contribution to World War I
Between 1914 and 1918, more than 1.4 million men from the British Indian Army served across major battlefronts during the First World War.
- One in every six soldiers fighting for Britain came from pre-Partition India.
- Around 500,000 were recruited from Punjab.
- The force included Sikh, Muslim, Hindu and Christian soldiers.
Despite their significant contribution, many of their sacrifices remained absent from mainstream historical records.
Part of Wider Historical Justice Programme
The Punjab Registers Project forms part of the CWGC’s Non-Commemoration Programme, launched in 2021 to address historical inequalities in war remembrance.
So far, the initiative has identified more than 20,000 additional individuals who deserve official commemoration.
Professor Gavin Rand of the University of Greenwich said the project not only corrected a historical injustice but also helped families reconnect with their shared heritage.