As Remembrance Sunday (9 Nov) and Armistice Day (11 Nov) to honour those British and Commonwealth soldiers who died in the line of duty during the First World War near, the grounds of Wellington Barracks in London came alive with a ceremony that was as poignant as it was historic, marking the official inauguration of the 1914 Sikhs Ceremonial Marching Troop to honour the service of Sikh soldiers in the First World War.
Hosted by the Sikh Military Foundation in partnership with the British Army on Wednesday 29 October, the inaugural event saw a troop of 18 serving Sikh service personnel, community leaders and senior representatives from the Armed Forces come together to honour the bravery of more than 100,000 Sikh soldiers who fought for Britain between 1914 and 1918, making up nearly 20% of the force in France and Belgium.
Despite the steady autumn rain, there was a quiet sense of joy and perseverance among the audience. A crowd of onlookers gathered outside the barracks to join in on historic moment.
Major General John Kendall VR ADC, Deputy Commander Field Army, in his welcome address, reflected on the extraordinary courage and service of Sikh soldiers during the First World War, saying, “In 1914, the world was plunged into war and the Sikhs responded. 1.5 million Indian soldiers came to fight in the First World War. By late 1914, one in three soldiers on the Western Front was Indian. Twenty per cent of those were Sikh solders, a remarkable achievement for the about two per cent of the Indian population.”
He went on to recall the bravery of the 47th Sikhs of the Jullundur Brigade, and highlighted the selfless heroism of Manta Singh and the gallantry of Thakur Singh. Reflecting on the remembrance parade, he drew on the enduring faith expressed in the words of Havildar Hirram Singh: “If I die, I go to paradise. It is a fine thing to die in battle.”
The Sikh soldiers, dressed in authentic World War I Sikh infantry uniforms, marched proudly in precise formation onto the parade square to the stirring accompaniment of the Band of the Irish Guards, one of the oldest and most distinguished military bands in the British Army.
Troop Captain Maj Daljinder Singhí Virdee MBE VR RAMS, who is the driving force behind 1914 Sikhs, stated, “We formed this troop to unite Sikhs across the UK Armed Forces and honour our long, proud military tradition. This isn’t about reenactment — it’s about recognition. It’s about making sure the courage and sacrifice of Sikh soldiers are remembered, seen, and carried forward by those of us still serving.”
The sight of each soldier wearing the distinctive khaki uniform and turbans styled in the manner of Sikh soldiers from the Great War, carrying period-accurate equipment such as the Lee-Enfield rifle, was a poignant visual reminder of their historic service.
Most members of the troop are serving personnel from the Royal Navy, the British Army, and the Royal Air Force (RAF), each representing the enduring martial heritage of Sikh soldiers within the British Armed Forces. The troop includes Troop Sergeant Major SSgt Ranjit Singh R Signals and Troop Standard Bearer Cpl Nishan Singh RLC, supported by 15 soldiers in other ranks.
Next was the inspection of the troop by Major General John Kendall VR ADC, Deputy Commander Field Army, and Gurpreet Singh Anand, Chair of the managing trustees at the Khalsa Jatha British Isles, who commended the troop for their exceptional bearing. Many of the original founding part of the Gurdwara were British Indian soldiers. The two moved down the line of soldiers, exchanging words with each man as they stood tall with pride.
People then stood up to join the troop for Ardas, a Sikh prayer, as the soldiers would have done, to seek a blessing before commencing battle, led by Sikh Chaplain to the Armed Forces, Mandeep Kaur. The crowd stirred in emption as the troop gave the iconic Sikh war cry “Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal!”
Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, commented on the significance of the event, “It is wonderful to be here today. And I want to thank the SMF for all the work they are doing championing this very important cause, and of course, it is educational for our young ones as well, seeing the 1914 Sikhs in what was their attire in the past. It’s a wonderful example of the contributions Sikhs have made.”
The inaugural parade concluded with the most symbolic moment of the day, when the 1914 Sikhs Standard, bearing the insignia of the Sikh regiments who served with distinction, was formally presented. The troop is not just a re-enactment group. It stands as an important reminder that remembrance is not about the past alone, but also about the Sikh values that continue to be passed on, inspiring those who serve today.
Battle of Ypres
The ceremony also served as a remembrance service to mark the 111th anniversary of the First Battle of Ypres, one of the most defining and tragic moments of the Great War, where Sikh regiments suffered heavy casualties yet held the line with extraordinary courage.
Readings were delivered by guests, reflecting on the bravery of those who fought in the mud and chaos of the Western Front, including a first hand account from Jamedar Inder Singh, a Sikh cavalry man from WW1 to his family by Punjab. Jas Athwal, MP for Ilford South also read out the Roll of Honour, calling out with great respect the names of soldiers who have died in service.
Everyone present on the parade square fell silent as a minute’s silence was observed in honour of the fallen.
The 1914 Sikhs concept was first set up in 2010 by the late Harbinder Singh Rana as part of the Anglo Sikh Heritage Trail, but the project unfortunately dissolved when he passed away. Now, it breathes a new life under the Sikh Military Foundation.
The 1914 Sikhs troop will continue on to perform at remembrance events across the UK, such as at The Cenotaph, The Commonwealth Gates and beyond at regular services held in France and Belgium, bringing visibility to Sikh contributions in British and Commonwealth military history.
Mou signed
The evening concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the 1914 Sikhs, the Sikh Military Foundation, the British Army and the Sikh Defence Network, formalising the troop as part of the London District team. The signing of the Charter formalised the historic day that served to celebrate the contribution of Sikh soldiers past and present, and to reaffirm the enduring bond between the Sikh community and the British Armed Forces.
