100 Years

The British Organisation for People of Asian Origin (BOPA), the 11th Signal and British Armed Forces have joined together for this historic event to commemorate the contribution of Asian and Commonwealth origin to the Allies’ First World War effort, bringing together people of all ages, backgrounds and faiths from schools and communities across the Midlands, and to celebrate the relationships between the Commonwealth communities in the West Midlands and the West Midlands Armed Forces.

It was on the 11th hour of 11th November 1918, that the first World War came to an end, and guns fell silent on the world’s truly global war. This year, 100 years later, is a time to think about all those who lived through those tragic and remarkable times which put Great Britain on the path to becoming what it is today. It is time to say thank you for all those who fought for us.

The British Empire, which has now become the Commonwealth, answered the call with volunteers from far and wide, including pre-partitioned India/Pakistan, the Caribbean and Africa, all of whom contribute to our vibrant multicultural society today.

One and a half millions volunteers from India came forward and of these, 140,000 troops saw active service on the western front and nearly 80,000 sacrificed their lives. They fought together, they fell together and together they defended the freedoms that we enjoy today. The Indian Corps won 13,000 medals for gallantry including 12 Victoria Crosses, of which the first was awarded to Kuadad Khan.

This event includes a service of remembrance not just for those who fought bravely in WW1 but other battles in which soldiers from Indian Corps displayed outstanding bravery, such as the Battle of Saragarhi in Afghanistan by Sikh soldiers and the Battle of Koregaon in Pune, India, by Mahar soldiers, which was a turning point in the history of the Raj and British Empire in India.