Mal Singh and Partap Kaur: A Family Affair
|
|
Mal Singh was a Ressaidar in the Imperial Service Troops who was born in the village of Dakha in Ludhiana District, East Punjab. Selected to attend King Edward VII's coronation in England in 1902 he returned to Europe a decade later, this time to fight the Germans during World War One. His story is told by his great-grandson, Citizen Historian Vic S. Shahid.
Upon his return Mal Singh's entrepreneurial spirit led to his building a successful business. But it is the story of the home front while he was away that sowed the seeds of his family's wealth: his wife Partap Kaur's incredible exploits whilst left alone to fend for her family helped create the foundations upon which their family story was built, leading to a son being educated in England and ultimately becoming Principal of the famed Khalsa College, Amritsar.
Read about this industrious wife and her soldiering husband here. |
|
The Sikh Roll of Honour: 100 Years Ago This Week
|
|
This week's roll of honour of those who died exactly 100 years ago includes men from across Punjab. They served as Sepoys, Sowars, Havildars and even Trumpeters in such diverse units as the Indian Mountain Artillery and Malay State Guides. They lost their lives far from the Punjabi villages that raised them, in lands unknown to them - in France, Egypt and Kenya, but mainly in Iraq.
But who were these men? What is their story? Help us find out by becoming a Citizen Historian and following our step-by-step getting started guide on how to research a WW1 Sikh soldier.
Do you have a personal link to any of them? Check the list below - do you recognise your village? If yes, then could it be that the soldier is connected to you, even possibly your WW1 ancestor?
Click on a name below and you'll be taken to their Soldier Record where, to the bottom-right, you'll see the 'Adopt Soldier' button - click on this to begin your journey as a Citizen Historian, helping to create a lasting memorial and legacy to the fallen.
Sikh Roll of Honour week commencing Monday 22 August:
Monday, 05 September 2016
- Romal Singh • born in the village of Bambawal, Dasuya, Hoshiarpur • Sepoy in the 29th Punjabis • died in Kenya
- Battan Singh • born in the village of Chak Pathunda, Phillaur, Jalandhar • Sepoy in the 30th Punjabis • died in Kenya
- Waryam Singh • born in the village of Nangar, Una, Hoshiarpur • Sepoy in the 57th Wilde's Rifles (Frontier Force) • died in Kenya
- Jagat Singh • born in the village of Padday, Kapurthala • Sepoy in the 35th Sikhs • died in Iraq
Tuesday, 06 September 2016
- Santa Singh • born in the village of Handiaya, Barnala, Patiala • Sepoy in the Malay States Guides, Indian Army • died in Egypt
- Fateh Singh • born in the village of Ramgarh Gujran, Sunam, Patiala • Havildar in the Jind Infantry • died in Kenya
- Sundar Singh • born in the village of Rurka, Jagraon, Ludhiana • Havildar in the 34th Sikh Pioneers • died in Iraq
- Achhar Singh • born in the village of Khanpar, Amritsar • Sowar in the 19th Lancers (Fane's Horse) • died in France
Sunday, 11 September 2016
- Nand Singh • born in the village of Balaspur, Moga, Ferozepore • Sepoy in the 51st Sikhs (Frontier Force) • died in Iraq
- Lachhman Singh • born in the village of Chahe Bhatti, Raya, Sialkot • Sepoy in the 55th Coke's Rifles (Frontier Force) • died in Kenya
- Partab Singh • born in the village of Chandwal Naya, Raya, Sialkot • Sepoy in the 55th Coke's Rifles (Frontier Force) • died in Kenya
- Kishn Singh • born in the village of Joose, Jagraon, Ludhiana • Sowar in the 12th Indian Cavalry • died in Iraq
- Lachhman Singh • born in the village of Jowhal, Tarn Taran, Amritsar • Sepoy in the 90th Punjabis • died in Iraq
- Mal Singh • born in the village of Kheri, Rupar, Ambala • Sepoy in the 90th Punjabis • died in Iraq
- Anokh Singh • born in the village of Mallah, Jagraon, Ludhiana • Havildar in the 1st King George's Own Sappers and Miners • died in Iraq
- Gujar Singh • born in the village of Baba, Amritsar • Sepoy in the 90th Punjabis • died in Iraq
- Ganda Singh • born in the village of Bhadra, Patiala • Sepoy in the 90th Punjabis • died in Iraq
- Sohawan Singh • born in the village of Chak Ram Singh Wala, Ferozepore • Sepoy in the 91st Punjabis (Light Infantry) • died in Iraq
- Binda Singh • born in the village of Hotka, Gujrat • Trumpeter in the Indian Mountain Artillery • died in Kenya
- Gurdit Singh • born in the village of Koma Kaler, Amritsar • Sepoy in the 90th Punjabis • died in Iraq
- Chatar Singh • born in the village of Kot Kapura, Faridkot • Sapper in the Faridkot Imperial Service Sappers • died in Kenya
- Arjun Singh • born in the village of Madhre, Ferozepore • Sepoy in the 90th Punjabis • died in Iraq
- Arjun Singh • born in the village of Virk, Faridkot • Sepoy in the 90th Punjabis • died in Iraq
- Kapur Singh • born in Ludhiana • Sepoy in the 90th Punjabis • died in Iraq
The Sikhs of World War One - With Your Help They WILL Be Remembered
|
|
Back to School: Sikhs & WW1 Lesson Plans Free to Download
|
|
As schools open their doors for another academic year our free Education Packs for Key Stage 2 and 3 are available for educators, parents and kids alike to download and learn from. Designed to be instantly usable each lesson helps to build a comprehensive and detailed look at the Sikhs of WW1.
For example, what does this bloodthirsty and slightly comical image portray? Who was it aimed at? Who commissioned it and why? The answers, and the thought-provoking lesson plans, can be found here! |
|
Were you one of the 23,500 who attended our groundbreaking launch exhibition in 2014? Whether you did or didn't take an exclusive tour in the expert hands of UKPHA Chair, Amandeep Madra as he offers The Sikh Channel an extended private tour of the gallery in our TV news highlights section here. Well worth checking out.
And don't forget to keep up to date with our regular updates and your chance to join in the conversation on Facebook & Twitter.
The EFW Team
The Sikhs of World War One: With Your Help They Will Be Remembered.
Picture Credits:
1. Women at the Golden Temple of Amritsar, c 1906. Detail from a photograph by Herbert Ponting (Image: Toor Collection).
2. Mal Singh and Partap Kaur, February 1961 (Image credit: S. Devinder Singh Shahid).
3. Detail from the memorial plaque in the village of Narangwal (Image credit: Baljinder Singh).
4. A blood thirsty depiction of a Sikh soldier from a German children's picture book of 1914 entitled 'Our Enemies' (Courtesy: Robin Schäfer, Military Historian, Dinslaken, Germany).
5. Amandeep Madra on the Sikh Channel (UKPHA Archive). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment