MANY Sikhs fought in both world wars making a huge contribution to the shaping of the world we have today.
In all one and a half million Sikhs served in both wars. They suffered heavy casualties with over 80,000 killed and more than 109,000 wounded.
The Sikh soldiers were respected and commended for their courage and for their fortitude as well as for their skills and determination as a fighting force.
On days of national remembrance, many of us have in our thoughts loved ones or family members, people from local villages or towns whose stories we have become familiar with.
Many in the Sikh community share that journey of remembrance and rightly feel that all who served and made sacrifices should be remembered in services and memorials.
Now, moves to mark the contribution made by Sikh people who fought on the frontline are being discussed. One idea is to have a memorial in Huddersfield which would be funded by the Sikh community.
Community leader Manjit Singh said he hoped such a memorial would reawaken memories of those who had died during the wars and encourage Sikhs today to join the country’s Armed Forces.
Such a memorial would also surely remind the wider community of the contribution Sikhs made, one that has perhaps been left too long unacknowledged.
