Tura, July 14: To remember the several hundred Garos who perished during the first World War in France and return of the few survivors on July 16th in the year 1918, the annual commemoration event of Garo Labour Corps Day is being observed in Tura on Friday.

To observe the day, the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh has declared July 16th as a local holiday and all government offices, district courts and education institutions will be closed on the day.

A special event will be held at the cenotaph in Babupara area of Tura where the monument stands to welcome the returnees.

During the World War–I around 500 Garo men were recruited by the British government in India and sent to the frontlines of the war in France. Their job was to bring in supplies, construct roads and transport much needed supplies to the allied forces battling the Germans at the frontlines.

Although 1000 garo men were recruited only 500 were declared fit, of which 456 reached France, at the beginning of the cold and bitter winter of the same year.

During their stay in France, the recruits won acclaim of the allied commanders for their hard and dedicated work.

When the war ended on May 25 of 1918, they were sent to Marseilles port in France for repatriation to India.

They landed in Tura on July 16, 1918 but sadly, of the 456 who reached France, only 120 were to return home alive.

It is to commemorate their return and to remember those who could not make it back that this special programme has been organized every year, since 1918.