The story of the contribution made by Sikh soldiers during the First World War is to be told for the first time thanks to a Lottery grant.

The United Kingdom Punjab Heritage Association has been given £450,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund to fund research into regimental histories, dispatches, correspondence and interviews with descendants of soldiers.

Although Sikhs made up only two per cent of the population of British India, they formed 20 per cent of the British Indian Army and 130,000 Sikh soldiers saw active service from the Somme to Gallipoli.

Amandeep Madra, chairman of the London-based UKPHA, said: “The role of Sikhs in the Great War is largely unknown but a fascinating part of the story of the Allied war effort and indeed ‘the British story’.”

The Heritage Lottery Fund is supporting several projects relating to the war’s centenary. For details, visit ukpha.org