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Indian soldiers on the grounds of the Royal Pavilion. Injured soldiers sit on benches or the grass. The Dome can be seen in the background.

Empire on the Seafront: WW1 Indian Soldiers at Brighton’s Royal Pavilion

2 hours, KS3

Lecture Theatre in The Old Courthouse on Church Street and the Royal Pavilion

Indian soldiers fought in some of the bloodiest and most brutal battles on the Western Front. They also helped to stop German attempts to block North Sea ports which would have cut off supplies to Britain.

Indian soldiers on the grounds of the Royal Pavilion. Injured soldiers sit on benches or the grass. The Dome can be seen in the background.
Louise in the Lecture Theatre at the Old Court House talking to students about the Indian soldiers.

Altogether, between October 1914 until November 1915, 23,661 Indian soldiers were wounded, 4,539 were killed and 5,373 were declared missing. It is a widely believed that the allied troops would not have won the First World War without the efforts of the Indian Army.

Follow in the footsteps of the Indian Soldiers who were sent to recover from injury and illness at the hospital set up in The Royal Pavilion in Brighton. Hear their stories and learn about their experiences on the Western Front, as well as the time they spent in Brighton.

Louise in the Lecture Theatre at the Old Court House talking to students about the Indian soldiers.

Good to Know

  • The session lasts 2 hours
  • Developed for KS3 groups
  • Up to 90 places per visit (split into groups of 30 for activities)
  • Session starts at the Lecture Theatre in The Old Courthouse on Church Street, then continues through the Pavilion Gardens and into the Royal Pavilion.
  • You can continue your visit independently before or after the session.
  • Available Tuesday to Friday afternoon, 1 – 3pm

What You Will Learn

  1. Why Indian Soldiers stayed at The Royal Pavilion during the First World War
  2. The experiences of Indian soldiers who fought for Britain on The Western Front
  3. To imagine what it was like for the Indian soldiers during their time in Brighton
  4. About individual Indian soldiers through photographs, letters, film footage, objects and documents held by Brighton & Hove Museums.
  5. To interrogate evidence to gain a greater understanding of historical events

Decolonising

  • This session is about the experience of Indian Soldiers who were injured on The Western Front and sent to the hospital set up in The Royal Pavilion during the First World War.
  • We place Indian soldiers at the centre of this session and tell their stories

Links to School Subjects

  • History (KS3)
    • The British Empire, the British Raj, India
    • The First World War
    • A Local Study
  • Other subjects RE, Citizenship, Literacy

Cost

  • Up to 10 students- £150
  • 11-20 students- £250
  • 21-30 students- £295
  • Over 30 students- £10 extra per student, then flat £295 for next 30