A Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces comprising 75 all ranks, led by a colonel rank officer will participate in the Military Parade at Red Square, Moscow on June 24, 2020, to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Victory of the Soviet People in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. The British Indian Armed Forces during World War-II were one of the largest Allied Forces contingents which took part in the North and East African Campaign, Western Desert Campaign and the European Theatre against the Axis powers. This campaign witnessed sacrifice by over 87 thousand Indian service members beside 34,354 being wounded. The Indian Military not only fought on all fronts but also ensured logistic support along the Southern, Trans-Iranian Lend-Lease route, along which weapons, ammunition, equipment support and food went to the Soviet Union, Iran and Iraq. The courage of the Indian soldiers was recognised with the award of over four thousand decorations, which also included the award of 18 Victoria and George Cross. Besides, the then Soviet Union appreciated the bravery of the Indian Armed forces. By the decree of May 23, 1944, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR signed by Mikhail Kalinin, and Alexander Gorkin awarded the prestigious Orders of the Red Star to Subedar Narayan Rao Nikkam and Havildar Gajendra Singh Chand of Royal Indian Army Service Corps. The marching contingent taking part in the Victory Day Parade is led by a significant rank officer of the gallant SIKH LIGHT INFANTRY Regiment. The Regiment had fought with courage in the World War-II and has the proud distinction of earning four Battle Honours and two Military Cross amongst other gallantry awards. (Source: PIB)
