Indian families uncover truth about forgotten troops from First World War

A project to digitise records of Indian troops who fought in WWI has offered insight to several Punjabi families, writes Shweta Sharma

A woman pins a flower on the uniform of Ganga Dat Singh, a Hindu risaldar-major, during the 1916 Bastille Day parade in Paris (Toor Collection / UKPHA)

A wave of mixed emotions hit Sukhwinder Singh when he opened a rusty chest in his home years ago and discovered a huge circular plaque engraved with the name of his great-grandfather.

“He died for freedom and honour,” reads the memorial plaque with Sepoy Kishan Singh’s name on it.

“It was a feeling of surprise, shock, proud and heartbreak, all at the same time, upon seeing my ancestor’s name etched on the plaque,” Mr Singh told The Independent.