Indian Army

The Battle of Chillianwala, 13 January 1849

Second Sikh War

In 1848-49, British-Indian forces were once again at war with the Sikh Empire. The campaign that raged across the Punjab eventually led to the region's full annexation by the British and the removal of one of the last Indian powers able to challenge British control of the subcontinent.

2nd Battalion 5th Gurkha Rifles at Ahnai Tangi in Waziristan, 14 January 1920

The North-West Frontier

Between 1849 and 1947, British and Indian soldiers undertook a series of punitive expeditions against the fiercely independent tribesmen of this wild and mountainous region.

The last British troops to leave India, 1948

Independence and Partition, 1947

The birth of India and Pakistan as independent states in 1947 was a key moment in the history of Britain’s empire and its army. But the process of partition was attended by mass migration and ethnic violence that has left a bitter legacy to this day.

Gurkhas at Peiwar Kotal, 1878

The Gurkhas

Nepalese troops known as Gurkhas have fought for Britain since 1815. Here, we explore their history and find out why they have long been regarded as some of the finest and fiercest soldiers.

Explore Indian Army events

Sepoy Harnam Singh of the 34th Sikh Pioneers, 1915
Exhibition
7 Jul 2026 - 21 Feb 2027 FREE

Drawn on the Western Front: Paul Sarrut and the Indian Army

Through a unique selection of intimate sketches, this free exhibition offers a rare glimpse of everyday life for soldiers serving far from home during the First World War.

School students getting to grips with the handling collection
Secondary
15 Sep 2026 - 15 Jul 2027 FREE

World at War: Soldiers of Empire

Discover more about the contributions of soldiers from the British Empire in the First and Second World Wars.

People feeling the textures of items in the handling collection
Workshop
25 Sep 2026 FREE

Drawn on the Western Front: Sensory Session

Discover more about the contribution of Indian soldiers through a sensory session led by our Community Engagement Team.

Visitors attending an exhibition tour
Tour
31 Oct 2026 FREE

Drawn on the Western Front: Audio-Described Tour

Join us for a curator-led tour of our latest exhibition, 'Drawn on the Western Front', designed for blind and visually impaired visitors and their companions.

Indian troops in Burma, c1944
Display
3-15 Nov 2026 FREE

Forgotten India at 80: The Stories You Don’t Know

This special display sheds light on the experiences of South Asian communities during the Second World War and its immediate aftermath.

'Policemen Indiens de la Division de Lahore et l'APM Locon', November 1914
Conference
26 Nov 2026 £20.00

Indian Army in the Early 20th Century: History, Memory and Empire

Join us for a one-day special conference exploring the experiences of soldiers and officers of the Indian Army before, during and after the First World War.

An Indian prisoner at Halbmondlager preparing for prayers, c1916
Talk
18 Dec 2026 FREE

The Halfmoon Camp

Discover the long-forgotten story of the Halbmondlager, where prisoners from across the British, French and Russian Empires were held captive during the First World War.

Explore Indian Army learning resources

Indian Army troops travelling upstream on a barge, Mesopotamia, c1916
Timeline

India, Empire and the Army: Interactive Timeline

Explore the history of the British Army in India and the British Empire's Indian armies through this interactive timeline packed with over 200 sources.

A live interpreter dressed as a British Indian Army soldier in Burma during the Second World War
Video

Jungle Fighter: Meet Shaam Lal

Discover the role of the British Indian Army in Burma during the Second World War, exploring soldiers’ motivations, experiences and hopes.

'The Divided Dominion', poster, published 21 June 1947
Video

The Partition of India: A Poetic Retelling

Discover more about the Partition of India and the events leading up to it through this poetry film, featuring archival images and original epic poetry.