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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
These graves are of 19 Indian Muslims who fought in the Great War who died in Special Indian Hospitals at Brighton, Brockenhust and surrounds. The CWGC records 24 burials in this plot which includes 5 burials from World War Two.
The graves are not parallel with others in the cemetery & aligned with Mecca.
Sikh and Hindu soldiers of the Great War who died (53) in these hospitals were cremated near Patcham on the South Downs marked by the Chattri War Memorial.
Over 800,000 Indian troops fought in many conflicts of the Great War in support of Britain. The Indian Corps lost over 74,000 men with 69,000 wounded and earned 130,000 medals including 12 Victoria Crosses. The economic cost to India was severe. Despite this overwhelming support Britain maintained a post-war colonial attitude to India which gave impetus to Ghandi's independence movement.
Nineteen Muslims who died in the Indian Hospitals were taken to the Shah Jahan in Mosque Woking and interred at the Muslim Burial Ground Horsell Common. These remains and headstones were moved to this plot at Brookwood in 1968. Around 16% of soldiers serving in Europe were of the British Indian Army
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