Mazargues War Cemetery

February 17, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron recently paid tribute to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives during the world wars, at the Mazargues War Cemetery in Marseille, France.
The Mazargues War Cemetery, which honors soldiers who died in both World War I (1914-18) and World War II (1939-45), contains 1,487 graves from World War I and 267 from World War II.
In July 1925, Field Marshal Sir William Birdwood unveiled the Indian Memorial at the cemetery, which spans 9,021 square meters.
Among the World War I burials, there are 993 Indian soldiers and 465 soldiers from the UK, while World War II burials include 199 from the UK, 43 from Canada, and others from various countries.
Over 1.3 million Indian soldiers served during World War I, with around 138,000 deployed in Europe, where they fought valiantly in key battles such as the First Battle of Ypres and the Battle of Neuve-Chapelle.”