Marseilles was the base of the Indian troops in France during the 1914-18 war. Throughout the war the Royal Navy, the Merchant Navy, British troops and Labour units worked in the port or passed through it. Four of the town cemeteries were used for the burial of officers and men of the Commonwealth forces who died at Marseilles. Mazargues Cemetery, on the south-east side, was used less in the war, but before the Armistice an Extension was made, to which were removed the bodies or ashes from the four Town cemeteries.