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Two World
Wars and the Sikhs
Bhupinder Singh Holland
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At a time when social scientists claim that in reality, the
ethical society is located in the West, it is time that it pays
ttention to what the Sikhs have done for the construction of
that part of the world. The Sikhs came forward and helped the
Europeans at the time of grave crisis of World War I and II and
gave their lives in thousands and in return, all they are asking
is the free world to come forward and give due respect that we
deserve and to our symbols of faith. |
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 The
forces of British India played a major role in both World Wars.
Nearly 1,700,000 men and women of the Commonwealth including some
169,700 from the forces of undivided British India died in the
1914-18 and 1939-45 Wars. In the first World War, the strength of
the British Indian Army rose to one million and in the 2nd World War
with two and half million. During WW-1, it fought in China, France
and Belgium (Flanders), Mesopotamia against Turkey, Irak, Iran,
Egypt , Palestine, Gallipoli and in East Africa.
The Royal Indian Marine whose ships were armed in
1914 served with the Royal Navy as auxiliary cruisers on escort
duties and others as river gun boats in the Mesopotamia campaign or
as coastal minesweepers.The Royal Indian Marine was also resposible
for the fitting out and dispatch of the vessels conveying the
expeditionary forces sent overseas from British India.
There are 15,519 Burial place ( Smaads ) of the
British Indian soldiers and 64,963 are commemorated by Memorial thus
total of 80,482 have died in Ist World War (1914-18) according to
the register of Common Wealth War Grave Commision.
But I am sure there are many more British Indian
casualties whose names were never recorded and who are by
consequence not commemorated. I think this is due to the battle
circumstances and perhaps poor administration. I give you some
examples:
Mr. Dominiek Dendooven from the Documentary Center of
In Flanders Fields Museum, Ieper (Belgium) wrote his account to me,
in view of some historical facts that the Documentary Center has
preserved regarding the Western Front.
"The losses of the 57th Wilde’s Rifles and the 129th
Baluchis were great during the last two days of October 1914 (during
the 1st battle of Ieper). The Wilde’s Rifles lost 300 out of 750,
the Baluchis had 240 men killed, wounded or taken as POWs.
 The
Menin Gate in Ieper has the name of 15 casualties from the 47 Sikh
Regiment while alone on 27 April 1915 (during the 2nd Battle of
Ieper) out of 444 men 348 did not come back. They are nowhere else
commemorated. Between 24th April and 1st May 1915, the Lahore
Division had lost 3,889 men, or 30 % of the troops it had employed."
In 14 months the Indian Corps had lost 34,252 men
(dead, wounded, ill, or prisoners of war) on the Western Front.”
Basra
Memorial, Iraq has the largest 33,367 British Indian soldiers
Commemoration by Memorial followed by Delhi Memorial, India Gate
(12,321), Neuve Chapelle Memorial, France (5015).
Amara (Left
Bank) Indian War Cemetery, Iraq has the largest Burials (Smaads) of
British Indian soldiers (5000) followed by Baghdad (North Gate) War
Cemetery (2513) and Mazargues War Cemetery, France (1002).
In 2nd World War, a compaany of the Royal Indian Army
Service Corps was part of the British Expeditionary Force in 1940
campaign which ended in the evacuation from Dunkirk ( France ).
Divisions of British Indian Army fought in the Western Desert, in
the Middle East, in Eritrea, Ethiopia, they fought in Italy and took
part in the liberation of Greece. But against Japan in the east,
British Indian Army played its greatest role right through from the
reverses of 1942 to the final overwhelming victory of 1945.
 Till 1945, the Royal Indian Navy was a strong force
of 28,000 officers and men and took part in action in the Red Sea,
the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, the Bay of Bengal and the
Mediterranean, also in the combined operation of the coast of
Sicily and Burma. Their role in transporting the armies and
essential supplies even to the civilian populations cannot be
forgotten.
Royal Indian Air Force played its role from the
beginning of 2nd World War (1939) with one squadron and strength of
200 officers and men. It had grown by 1945 to a strength of 28,500
and nine squadrons. It saw action throughout the Burma campaign.
British Indian officers also served in the Royal Air Force in
Burma,Europe and other theatres.
To honor 300 years of Khalsa and the sacrifice of
Sikh soldiers during World Wars, the City of Ieper together with the
European Sikh Community organized a Celebration of Peace on
Sunday 4 April 1999 at Cloth Hall in Ieper, Belgium.
 Flt. Lt. Mohinder Singh Pujji, a pilot of Royal Air
Force who took part in the European campaign was honored along with
several living soldiers of World War II by Governor Paul Brijn of
Inflanders Province. Flt. Lt. M.S. Pujji has stated, "I was posted
to No.253 Squadron RAF, flying Hurricane IIB fighters from RAF
Kenley, which is a couple of miles south of Croydon. We were a mixed
bunch, with pilots also from Poland, America, Canada and Australia.
Equipped with twelve machine guns, our hurricanes were extensively
flown day and night, to intercept German bombers and reconnaissance
aircraft."
There are 12,830 graves (Smaads) of the British
Indian soldiers and 76,388 are commemorated by Memorial, thus total
of 89,218 have died in 2nd World War (1939-45).
Delhi Memorial, India has commemorated 22,838
soldiers followed by Rangoon Memorial, Burma (19,661) and Singapore
Memorial, Singapore (12,100).
Taukkyan War Cemetery, Burma has graves (Smaads) of
1,819 British Indian soldiers followed by Imphal Indian Army War
Cemetery, India ( 809) and Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore (668).
Engraved on the graves of Sikh soldiers is Ik
Oankar Siri Waheguru ji Ke Fateh Sanskare Gaye in Gurmukhi.
Sepoy number, full name, name of the regiment, and date of death are
all printed in block letters in English. These samadhs of the
Sikhs can be found across Europe, Middle, South & Far East Asia and
Africa. They are well maintained, cleaned, and decorated by
Commonwealth War Grave Commission.
Similarly,
most Hindu soldiers are Gorkhas, and engraved on their graves in
Sanskrit are the words, Oom Bhagwattee Nammo. Rest of the
particulars are the same. In the same way, our Muslims brothers have
the holy words from Qur’an written in Urdu on their graves with all
the particulars mentioned above.
India has the largest number of British Indian
soldiers 49,285 Buried - Cremated and Commmemrated on Memorials and
other countries are: Iraq (43848), Burma (22,932), Singapore
(13,556), France (8886), Egypt (8171), Italy (5773), Iran (3471),
Tanzania (1990), Turkey (1742).
As I said earlier that the actual number
is much more than has been recorded by Common Wealth War Grave
Commission. Research is needed by Government of west Punjab
(Pakistan) and by Government of east Punjab (India) as most of the
casualties are from united Punjab. Hence the recorded history of
British Indian soldiers who died in both Wars is :
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Ist World War (1914-1918) 80,482
2nd World War (1939-1945) 89,218
Total
169,700 |
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Besides this, more than quarter of a millon were
wounded, ill, or prisoners of war.
"In the last two world wars 83,005 turban wearing
Sikh soldiers were killed and 109,045 were wounded. They all died or
were wounded for the freedom of Britain and the world, and during
shell fire, with no other protection but the turban, the symbol of
their faith."
(General Sir Frank Messervy K. C. S.I, K. B. E., C.
B., D. S. O.)
"The Sikh Regiment in the Second World War"
Colonel F T Birdwood OBE
Published in Great Britain by Jarrold and Sons Ltd.,
Norwich
Foreword by General Sir Frank Messervy K. C. S.I, K.
B. E., C. B., D. S. O.
 Most of the People in Punjab does not know that their
forefathers, the Sikhs have fought gallentry in Europe including
Italy in the 2nd World War and played an important role for the
liberation of Europe and paid heavy price for the freedom of mankind
along with Allied forces as part of the forces of the
Commonwealth.The total Allied casualties killed, wounded and missing
were 312,000; of these, 42,000 of the killed belonged to the forces
of the Commonwealth in Italy. Sikhs, Gurkhas, and Muslims, the
traditional warriors has a great history in Italy during that
terrable and painful period of war.
It is interesting to note that in Italy, Sikhs are
living in large number( about 90,000 ) next to England in Europe and
have established more than two dozen Gurdwara's there.
A tradition has been set up that every year on the
November 11 (Armistice Day 11 November 1918), hundreds of Sikhs are
coming from throughout Europe to Ieper to take part in the Poppy
parade and pay homages at Menon Gate, the national monument of World
War-I in Belgium and at Hollebeke where a monument has been built by
Belgium Government and inagurated by 'Panj Piare' in memory of the
Sikh soldiers to mark the celebration of peace on 2,3,4 of april
1999 dedicated to the 300 years of the birth of the Khalsa. Official
invitations are being sent to Gurdwara's of Belgium, Holland and
France every year. Last year a delegation of the Sikhs working for
the British Police also visited this place. Free meal (langer)
is also served on this occasion.
Graves (Samaads) are visited by the families of these
soldiers from Punjab, Europe, Canada, USA, and Great Brition. Since
1999, on May 4, the liberation day of Holland, a strong delegation
of Sikhs also pays respect in Amsterdam at the National Monument of
2nd World War at Dam square.
As you
must be aware, in March 2004 a law was passed in
France
that bans conspicuous religious symbols and attire in the classroom.
Under this law, Sikh schoolchildren are banned from wearing the Sikh
turban. The same people who fought for the freedom of mankind and
the world including France has been denied their right of freedom.They
all died or were wounded for the freedom of Britain and the world,
and during shell fire, with no other protection but the turban, the
symbol of their faith. A Sikh's right to wear his articles of faith
has been challenged in schools, the workplace, Prisons and other
public places. Sikhs suffer increased harassment at airports because
they wear the Turban. Sikhs can’t have their photos with Turban on
the Driving licence, Identity Card including French Passport. Is not
a shame on part of the French Government ? Our forfathers did not
gave their lives that their children should suffer. This is a great
unjustice and Sikhs througout the World, specially in France are
fighting a legal battel.
On 31 May 2006
Sikhs Lobby MEPs
Against Turban Ban in France in the EU Parliament.
and the fact that we cannot and will not ever
compromise our faith.
The Sikhs came forward and had helped the Europeans
at the time of grave crisis of World War I and II and gave their
lives in thousands and in return we the Sikhs are only
asking the free World to come forward and give due respect that we
deserve
and to our symbols of faith. Only then the sacrifices of our great
forfathers,
given for the freedom of mankind, will be worthwhile.
The author is based in The Netherlands and has
doggedly researched the topic for years. This is his first article
for the WSN.
23 April 2008
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