On Saturday
13th August 2011, thousands of Sikhs from all over the
World mainly from
Europe, gathered at Forli
Indian Army War
Cemetery in
Italy in an inauguration ceremony to reveal the first Sikh military monument dedicated to the Sikh warriors who laid their lives in
World War II for the freedom of Europe.
President of Shromani
Akali Dal Amritsar,
Sardar Simranjit Singh Mann came specially from
Punjab to attend this historical day.
It has reminded the
300 years of the birth of khalsa when to honor the Khalsa and the sacrifices of the Sikh soldiers during
World War I, 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 and the
Panj Piara's unveiled a Sikh monument in Hollebeek where Sikh soldiers were deployed and fought the
Germans facist for the first time during World War I.
Sikhs have fought in Forli (1943-45 ) in 1st - 2nd - 8th - 11th - 15th - and
16th Punjab Regiment,
Nabha Akal
Infantry, 1st Sikh
Engineers , 11
Sikh Regiment, 12th and
13th Frontier Force Rifles,
Indian Pioneer Corps and
English Regiments with Sikhs like
King George V's Own
Bengal Sappers and Miners, 1st
Duke of York Own
Cavalry (
Skinner's Horse ), 6th
Duke of Cannaught's Own Lancers (
Watson Horse ),
Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry and
Royal Indian Army Services
Corps . 352 Sikhs died here out of 800
British Indian Soldiers. Other soldiers are from 18
Garhwal Rifles and 4 &
5th Mahratta Light Infantry. For the liberation of Italy, 5773 British Indian Soldiers have died in Italy, mostly Sikhs, along with the
Allied forces.
Besides Forly, Sikhs have also fought in
Cassino,
Florence, Ravana and
Sangro River during World War II.
Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery and
Taranto Town Cemetery Extention have also Samaads of 1 Sikh soldier of World War I each.
The event was proudly organized by the World Sikh Saheed (
Martyrs)
Military Memorial Committee , Italy, under the leadership of Mr
Harwinder Singh, Mr
Prithipal Singh, Mr.
Kewal Singh, Mr.
Satnam Singh, Mr.
Sewa Singh
Fauji and Mr
Balwinder Singh Chahal with assistance from all the Sikh
Sangat and Gurdwaras of Italy and with the kind co-operation of the
Town Hall of Forli. The whole event was transmitted live by the
Sikh Channel and Sangat
Channel TVs.
Messages of congratulations and good will were sent to grace this historical occasion by
Governor of West Vlanderen Mr.
Paul Breyne in whose province Sikhs have fought twice during World War I, Mayor of Ieper Mr. Luc Dehaene whose City was defended by the Sikhs and
Chemical Gas Chlorine was used against them in
April 1915, Sardar
Ganga Singh Dhillon, Chairman
Siri Nankana Sahib Foundation,
David Symons,
Director of
Communication &
Information,
Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Mr. David Symons writes," In
the last two World Wars 83,
005 Sikh soldiers were killed and
109,045 were wounded. They all died or were wounded for the freedom of
Britain, the
Commonwealth and the World, enduring shellfire with no other protection but the turban, the
symbol of their faith. "we that live on can never forget those comrades who, in giving their lives, gave so much that are great and good to the story of the Sikh Regiment. No living glory can transcend that of their supreme sacrifice. May they rest in
peace."
The plaque on the monument placed by the Sikh Community Italy states the quotation of
Sir Winston Churchill as,"
We are today able to live with honour, dignity and independence
. In the war, they fought and died for us, wearing the turbans".
For more info.
Please read the link below.
http://www.sikhnet.com/news/sikhs-europe-inaugurate-first-sikh-military-monument-forli-italy-13th-august-2011
- published: 16 Sep 2011
- views: 929