– Tarlochan Singh Virk, Leicester, 14 November 2023
(Samaj Weekly)- The Sikhs from across Leicestershire gathered on Remembrance Sunday at the Sikh Soldier Statue on which ‘THIS MEMORIAL COMMEMORATES THE BRAVERY AND SACRIFICE OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SIKH SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM DURING VARIOUS MILTARY CAMPAIGNS NOTEABLY THE FIRST AND SECOND WORLD WARS’ is inscribed and located on Victoria Park in Leicester. The Sikh Troops War Memorial Leicestershire was completed in Summer 2022 with the support of Sadh Sangat, Gurdwaras of Leicestershire, Leicester City Council and the British Armed Forces.
Everyone took part in the Sikh Ardas by Giani Gursevak Singh Ji from Gurdwara Sri Guru HarKrishan Sahib in Oadby and respects were said to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of tens of thousands of braves Sikhs who fought and gave their lives for the United Kingdom during World Wars. Those in attendance included the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire Mike Kapoor OBE, City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, representatives of all the Gurudwaras in Leicester and Leicestershire, the Sikh Motorcycle club, members of the armed forces and emergency services who each laid a wreath of poppies.
Following the short service, members then moved onto the main commemorative service held at the arch of remembrance on Victoria Park. The Sikhs and British relationship go back to the 18th century. A total of 83, 005 Sikh soldiers were killed and 109,045 were wounded in the two World Wars so that rest of the World can enjoy living in freedom.
An author of number of books on important Sikh issues Mr Jaspal Singh Bains said “The relevance and importance of Remembrance Day is a valuable reminder of the sacrifices of our ancestors made for our freedom. Sikh community also welcomes this valuable time to reflect especially given the huge participation of Sikh Veterans in both World Wars. There are accreditations of our Veterans as there are numerous statues around the country, allowing their contributions to be remembered and their bravery acknowledged. Such actions also endorse the Anglo Sikh relationship.”
Gulf War Veteran Dr. Sujjan Singh MBBS FFARCSI who attended the service in his special uniform pointed out that it was indeed “A proud moment to pay our respects to the sacrifices made by our Sikh brethren in the in the two great wars, so that we can live in this free world.
I can empathise with the soldiers. I served as a doctor with the British Forces in the Gulf War in Iraq in 2003. I was able to travel to Baghdad and also had the good fortune to visit the Gurdwara Sahib which was built where our first Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited.
That historical Gurdwara does not exist anymore. It was destroyed by the ISIS three months after my visit to the Gurdwara Sahib. I do believe I am the last Sikh to visit the Gurdwara Sahib in Baghdad.”
At the end of the Service, Ajmer Singh Basra, President of the Sikh Troops War Memorial Leicestershire paid respects to the Sikh Shaheeds (Martyrs) of World War 1 and World War 2, thanked the distinguished guests, congratulated everyone gathered on Bandi Shod Divas / Diwali which all the Gurdwara Sahibs were celebrating on Remembrance Sunday and thanked all the Management Committees for attending the Service when very special celebrations were taking place in all the Gurdwara Sahibs.
