India-Australia ties shaped by shared military history

Australia's High Commissioner to India Patrick Suckling Tuesday said India and Australia have a shared military history, and the mutual sacrifices of their respective armies during the world wars has relevance in contemporary relationship of the two countries.

"There has been growing interest in Australia and India's shared military history following the visit to New Delhi last week by Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott," a statement from Australia's High Commission here quoted Suckling as saying.

Recalling that Abbott laid a wreath at India Gate to commemorate fallen soldiers, sailors and airmen from India and other allied nations who fought in World War I and subsequent conflicts, Suckling said Australia is very conscious of its ties with India.

"Australian and Indian soldiers fought together in both World Wars in several theatres, including at Gallipoli, Palestine, Italy, Singapore and Malaya," Suckling said.

He added: "Australia is very conscious of these ties, which bind our two countries together. Australian and Indian soldiers were brothers in arms, fighting together in defence of freedom."

Suckling further said that Abbott extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the commemoration of the 100-year anniversary of Gallipoli in 2015.

"Nations with a close connection to the campaign will be invited to send high level representatives to the service," he said.

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, by the end of the First World War in 1918, more than one million Indian personnel had served overseas.

Approximately 70,000 troops from the British Indian Empire gave their lives in the First World War, and over 9,200 decorations were earned, including 11 Victoria Crosses.

"I believe there is growing recognition of this fact within India, and an increasing desire to honour those who gave their lives in service. I hope Abbott's visit to India contributes to this understanding and that our two countries continue to recognise how our contemporary relationship is shaped by our history of shared sacrifice," Suckling said.