The Indian Army in the World Wars: recruitment, deployments, and reforms (1914-1947)

1. Kitchener reforms reorganize the Indian Army

   Jan 1, 1903Labels: Lord Kitchener, British Indian

   • WIA India
   • WIA Burma

2. Indian Expeditionary Force A lands in France

   Sep 26, 1914Labels: Indian Expeditionary, Marseille

   • 1914 1918 Online
   • Long Long Trail

3. Indian Corps enters combat at First Ypres

   Oct 25, 1914Labels: Indian Corps, First Ypres

   • 1914 1918 Online
   • WFA

4. Indian Expeditionary Force D begins Mesopotamia campaign

   Nov 1, 1914Labels: Indian Expeditionary, 6th Poona

   • Poona Div
   • Long Long Trail

5. Indian Corps attacks at Neuve Chapelle

   Mar 10, 1915Labels: Indian Corps, Neuve Chapelle

   • 1914 1918 Online
   • Long Long Trail

6. Defence of India Act expands wartime powers

   Mar 19, 1915Labels: Defence of, Colonial government

   • Britannica
   • WIA

7. Garrison at Kut surrenders after siege

   Apr 29, 1916Labels: Garrison at, 6th Poona

   • Poona Div

8. Indian Defence Force created for home defence

   Jan 1, 1917Labels: Indian Defence, Home defence

   • IDF

9. Postwar reorganization creates multi-battalion regiments

   Jan 1, 1922Labels: Postwar reorganization, Multi-battalion regiments

   • Baloch Regt
   • Rajput Regt

10. Indian Military Academy begins officer training

    Oct 1, 1932Labels: Indian Military, Dehradun

    • IMA
    • Tribune

11. Indian Army begins WWII with ~205,000 troops

    Oct 1, 1939Labels: Indian Army, 1939 strength

    • WWII Indian Army

12. Indian National Army is formally proclaimed

    Apr 1, 1942Labels: Indian National, INA

    • First INA
    • INA Singapore

13. First Arakan offensive marks early Burma fighting

    Dec 17, 1942Labels: Arakan offensive, Indian formations

    • Arakan 42 43
    • WWII Indian Army

14. Indian Army reaches 2.5 million by war’s end

    Aug 1, 1945Labels: Indian Army, 1945 strength

    • WWII Indian Army

15. Tripartite Agreement divides Gurkha regiments

    Jan 1, 1947Labels: Tripartite Agreement, Gurkha regiments

    • Tripartite
    • Gurkha Assn

16. Partition ends the British Indian Army system

    Aug 15, 1947Labels: Partition 1947, British Indian

    • WWII Indian Army
    • Tripartite