Book on Sikh soldiers' valour in two World Wars launched

Singapore, Jan 27 (UNI) A glowing tribute was paid to Sikh soldiers who died fighting wars in Europe, Africa, Asia and China in a book ''Saluting Sikh Soldiers of World Wars I and II'' launched here last night.

Speaking on the occasion, India's Deputy High Commissioner to Singapore Rajesh K Sachdeva noted the sacrifices of the Sikhs and said the book, appropriately launched on India's Republic Day, was a masterpiece of Sikh history.

The book, authored by a Singapore-based educationist and social worker Surjan Singh, was launched by Raja Randhir Singh of the royal family of the erstwhile Patiala state, whose grandfather Maharaja (Lt. Gen. Sir) Bhupinder Singh led the Sikh soldiers in Belgium in 1915.

Mr Randhir Singh especially came down to Singapore to launch the 1,065-page book comprising more than 40,000 names of Sikh soldiers who left one famous message on the Kohima War memorial: ''When You Go Home Tell Them Of Us. And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.'' The author said he spent nearly four years compiling the names and data of the soldiers with the help of the London -based Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

''The names came from graves, cemeteries and war memorials listed on the internet by the Commission,'' Mr Surjan Singh told UNI, adding that photos and historical information was gathered from letters written by the soldiers from the European war trenches in the early 1900s to their families in Punjab.

Though content at having put together the data on Sikhs who fought the two World War, Mr Surjan Singh said he was unable to trace many more names as war records, graves, cemeteries and war memorials have been destroyed over time.

''This book was published with the support of donations from well-wishers and corporate sponsorships from Singapore and the United States,'' he said.

The ''last post bugle'' was played at the closing of the sombre function, attended by some 150 guests including Singapore's senior army officials.

UNI