MEMBERS of a Sikh temple visited the Royal Pavilion to pay homage to its role as a military hospital in the First World War.

The palace, well-known for its Indian-inspired architecture, was re-purposed to treat Indian soldiers wounded on the battlefronts of France and Belgium on the Western Front.

The Nanak Darbar Gurdwara North London Sikh Temple in New Southgate visited the Pavilion on July 30 to remember those who fought in the Great War.

Gurjinder Kaur Theti, a member of the temple, said: β€œIt is important for Sikhs today to remember those soldiers who played a vital role to fight in Europe and support the British cause, as the Indian Army provided the largest number of troops and by the end of 1915 made up almost a third of the British Expeditionary Force.”

Some 2,300 Indian soldiers were treated at the Pavilion, which was set up with two operating theatres and over 720 beds.