Some great pics here. "These are the amazing photographs contained within the Girdwood collection of Indian soldiers during the First World War. Canadian-born Charles Hilton DeWitt Girdwood was given permission by the Indian Office in April 1915 to photograph the men recovering in the Indian military hospitals in Bournemouth and Brighton. He then went to France between July and September of that year to record the efforts of Indian troops in the field. He also made a ciné film of the campaign called With the Empire's Fighters. However, according the British Library, which holds the Girdwood Collection, many of the photographs may have been set up. In an advisory, the British Library said: 'While Girdwood’s photographs form an important record, their documentary value must be assessed with caution. Girdwood’s was an explicitly propagandist role on behalf of the war effort in general and the India Office in particular. Some of the scenes at the front appear to be unposed, but a number of images, purportedly showing troops in action, have clearly been staged for the photographer: this could possibly be the case with this photograph. The images are perhaps more significant as an illustration of the use of photography as propaganda, rather than a straight documentary record.' Over the course of the conflict, more than one million Indian soldiers served in the British Army. They suffered 62,000 casualties and were awarded a total of 11 Victoria Crosses." Fascinating photographs show Indian troops in WWI France | Daily Mail Online
