alot of the people would've had grand-dad's who would've fought in the wars atleast some family member would have. then an immigrant comes in the 70's and the recovery is happening and not many people like talkin about the war...
The Commonwealth Graves Commission is an excellent resource for anyone trying to trace a long lost family member who died
so i went there and its quite a good resource - so i thought lets see if there were any asian who fought for the british in europe as opposed to the far east where the indian army was quite active.
so a brief look into their archives...
Name: | ALI, YOUSIF |
---|---|
Initials: | Y |
Nationality: | United Kingdom |
Rank: | Leading Aircraftman |
Regiment/Service: | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Age: | 42 |
Date of Death: | 12/05/1947 |
Service No: | 1873001 |
Additional information: | Son of Mahamed Cassie Ali and Babe Ali ; Husband of Ethel Emma Ali, of Shepherd Bush London. |
Casualty Type: | Commonwealth War Dead |
Grave/Memorial Reference: | 2A. D. 5. |
Cemetery: | BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY |
Name: | SINGH, MOHNA |
---|---|
Initials: | M |
Nationality: | United Kingdom |
Rank: | Sergeant (Air Gnr.) |
Regiment/Service: | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Unit Text: | 106 Sqdn. |
Date of Death: | 30/07/1944 |
Service No: | 1324569 |
Casualty Type: | Commonwealth War Dead |
Grave/Memorial Reference: | Panel 3. |
Cemetery: | GOLDERS GREEN CREMATORIUM |
thankfully with the internet many people have found it easier to trace their family history to such wars and further back. sites such as the commonwealth graves commission have made it easier for people to look back to see if their predecessors were involved and what role they played. sadly alot of the WW1 records were destroyed in german bombings.
many immigrants i think are sadly ignorant to the fact that it wasnt just the "english" who died during these wars - they're just so unaware of how many asians died along side them.
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
1 comment:
I know that the Sikh community are very proud of the involvement of their elder relatives who fought in the second World War.
Then again, you can't miss the Pride - There's an element of militarism in the culture of Sikhism, is there not?
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