Family feted for ancestor's participation in WW-I

AHMEDABAD: Retired Colonel Baljit Singh and his grandson Abhimanyu Joon went to New Delhi last week to attend a function at the British High Commissioner's residence, where they were felicitated along with few others for their ancestors' participation in the World War - I on behalf of the British Empire.
The British High Commissioner organized the function on October 30 to commemorate 'India's contribution to the Great War', where the retired Army officer and his grandson were invited among the few.The family from Vallabh Vidyanagar has got four generations that have served armed forces. This family settled here after Colonel Singh retired from his last posting in Gujarat. They are happy at being invited at a function to mark the centenary of the WW-I 1914-1918.
Blajit Singh's grandfather, Gurdayal Singh was recruited in a cavalry regiment - the 14th Murray's JAT Lancers of the then British Army. On request from British King George V, the Indian soldiers participated in the World war. Gurdayal Singh had fought in the Mesopotamian campaign as party of the 7th Indian Cavalry Brigade and participated in the 'Battle of Sharqat', which had taken place in the town of Mosul. This city hit headlines a few months ago after it fell to the militants of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Joon said that the Indian soldiers fought against the Ottoman Empire's force, which was on the side of the Germans and trained by them. The Indian soldiers defeated them and earned 'The British War' medal, which is also known as 'The British Campaign' medal.
The Indians were made to participate in this war as the British armed forces were not in a position to stand ground against the advancing German forces in Europe and face the army to the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East. Indian soldiers were deployed on various fronts from the Gulf countries to Europe and even in Africa. The Indians won more than 9,000 military decorations out of which 11 were Victoria Cross, the highest gallantry award given by the British for extraordinary courage in the line of fire.