Forgotten Sacrifices The untold story of 4 million Muslim, Sikh and Hindu soldiers from South Asia who fought in World War I and II When you go home tell them of us and say, For your tomorrow we gave our today Kohima Epitaph Capture - Celebrate - Inspire About COLOURFUL HERITAGE The living owe it to those who no longer can speak to tell their story for them The story of Colourful Heritage started with a As part of the 2018 commemorations marking the conversation amongst friends over a cup of tea in 2010 centenary of the end of World War I, we refreshed the to capture the stories of the early South Asian and GlaswegAsians exhibition war thematic including a Muslim migrants to Scotland. Never did we imagine unique infographic detailing the costs and number of that our own journey as second-generation Scots servicemen that took part in both the wars. In addition would take us to developing the largest archive of to this there is footage of Muslim soldiers from the oral migrant stories in the UK. Our collaboration with trenches of World War I as well as several short videos Glasgow Museums delivered the Bashir Maan Archive including the story of a World War II veteran and an at Mitchell Library, Scotland’s first dedicated physical exclusive interview given by the Glaswegian son of archive that starts to address the archival silence that Naik Gian Singh VC. existed. We have an exclusive partnership with Glasgow Museums where we recently in July 2017 launched the GlaswegAsians exhibition at Scotland Street School We aim to further develop the conversation of South Museum which has been a first for Scotland and has Asian and Muslim contributions to World War I and II been incredibly well received. with a programme of over a dozen events and activities over the coming years. We invite like-minded individuals and organisations to partner with us. Our latest ‘stop’ on our journey has been the emotional uncovering of the story of our ancestors from South Asia who fought and sacrificed their lives in World Colourful Heritage is striving to capture our history; War I and II. Our team has travelled from the graves celebrate and commemorate the lives of those who of northern Scotland, to Muslim soldiers buried in have gone before; and inspire future generations to Woking, to visiting the battlefields of Ypres in Belgium. build a better and more cohesive society. 1 The Importance of the British Indian Army If the Indian Army had not arrived when it“ did, the Germans may well have broken “ through and they may well have got the channel ports and the whole history of the war may well have been very different. Military Historian Gordon Corrigan The British Indian Army was one of the largest ‘volunteer’ armies in the world. It was the principal military of the British Indian Empire before partition of All India into present day India, Pakistan and neighbouring countries. It formed an important part of the British Empire forces both in India and abroad. In World War I, over 1.5 million servicemen and soldiers served with over 74,000 losing their their lives and more than 100,000 injured. India contributed over £479 million (£25 billion in today’s money) in money and supplies to fund the war and earned a total of 11 Victoria Crosses. In World War II, 2.5 million servicemen and soldiers served with over 87,000 deaths and more than 150,000 injured. India contributed over £1.3 billion (£53 billion in today’s money) in money and supplies and earned a total of 28 Victoria Crosses. The Indian soldiers showed exceptional loyalty, courage and determination in Britain’s fight for freedom. One such front line soldier was Sepoy Khudadad Khan from the 129th Duke of Connaught’s Own Baluchis, British Indian Army. He was the first Indian soldier to receive the Victoria Cross, awarded for his valour and bravery during World War I. Buried in Kingussie are nine servicemen from Force K6, an all Muslim transport corps. They originated from the Punjab and arrived in France in Dec 1939 and eventually were evacuated from Dunkirk to Britain. In the UK, they trained, provided supplies and prepared for Churchill’s ‘Operation Jupiter’. Kingussie represents the largest grave site of Force K6 soldiers in the UK. The inaugural remembrance service at Kingussie Cemetery was organised by Colourful Heritage and the British Armed Forces and honoured all the soldiers who gave their lives for Britain in both World Wars and in doing so it recognises the role of all British Indian soldiers. Across Scotland, thirteen Force K6 servicemen are buried across four sites. These individuals resting in Scottish soil provide a special and everlasting link between Scotland and South Asia and between Muslims and Britain. Their selfless sacrifice should never be forgotten nor should we take for granted the freedom and privileges we enjoy today for which they gave their lives. BOTH WORLD WARS Victoria 39 Crosses 250,000 161,000 awarded injured dead 2 In Numbers - the South Asian contribution Gian Singh, a Sikh who won the Victoria Cross in Burma in 1945 (WWII), pictured with Khudadad Khan, the first Indian and Muslim to win a VC in 1914 (WWI), at Buckingham Palace in 1956. © Charanjit Singh Sangha India’s contribution in World War I India’s contribution in World War II 2.5 million servicemen including 1.5 million servicemen including £1.3 billion 560,000 Other in money and supplies – roughly 115,000 Other 55,000 Gurkhas £53 billion £479 million 100,000 Sikhs in today’s money 90,000 Indian Christians in money and 74,000 100,000 Gurkhas 87,000 supplies – roughly dead dead 150,000 Sikhs £25 billion 430,000 Muslims in today’s money up to up to 100,000 600,000 Muslims 150,000 injured injured 800,000 Hindus 11 Victoria 28 Victoria Crosses Crosses awarded awarded 1,000,000 Hindus Source: GlaswegAsians exhibition at Scotland Street School Museum, Glasgow 3 Force K6 in Scotland - The forgotten sacrifices By Ghee Bowman, University of Exeter On December 26th 1939, 1723 men from India disembarked at Marseilles together with over 2000 mules. These were Force K6: Punjabi Muslims of the Royal Indian Army Service Corps (RIASC), sent to France to help the British Expeditionary Force deliver supplies to the front lines. Five short months later, after one of the harshest winters in living memory, these men were in flight from the German blitzkrieg, together with the British and French armies. Two companies escaped via Dunkirk, one company via St Nazaire, and the fourth company ended up in a German POW camp. 1941 - 1943 Conduct arctic and mountain warfare training in the UK travelling to Wales and 1939 Scotland in preparation 1940 Force K6 set sail from Bombay for a possible invasion One company gets on 8th Dec arriving on 26th Dec in of Norway. They captured by the France to join the British Expedi- provided pack transport Germans and three tionary Forces fighting there. for British Infantry companies evacuated Units during military to Britain from exercises. Dunkirk, Brest and St. Nazaire albeit without their mules. After their escape from France they were reinforced and spent 3½ years in Britain, much of that time in Scotland. They were part of preparations for Operation Jupiter, one of Churchill’s ‘mad plans’ (Alanbrooke): a proposed invasion of Northern Norway to secure German airfields and thereby protect the arctic convoys delivering supplies to the Soviet Union. The plan was never approved, but the training and the preparation continued, with Force K6 companies attached to British infantry brigades, training them in loading and handling mules. During their time in Scotland, men of the RIASC were posted around the Highlands from Glenfeshie to Kinlochleven and from Aberdeenshire to Loch Ewe. There are many stories from their time there including a letter from the school teacher in Lairg, Iby Fraser, who wrote: “ ‘Lairg is bleak and deserted now that they are gone, and the empty stables are a mute reminder of the happy faces and busy figures that were ever seen there. The children have lost their “good companions” from whom they were never separated during the months of the Indian’s sojourn in Lairg, and the great majority of firesides have an empty chair tonight’. 4 Photo by © IWM A Corner of Pakistan in There was also a leave centre established for them at 13 Wester Coates Terrace in Edinburgh. This incorporated a prayer room on Scotland the side of the building, possibly Edinburgh’s first mosque. During their time in Scotland, there were inevitably casualties. Thirteen of the men are buried in four cemeteries across Scotland. There were nine burials at Kingussie, as their Indian General Hospital was nearby. Local British Legion member Mrs Isobel Harling has been tending the graves since the war, and said “I like to think that it brings their families comfort knowing that even The untold story of Force K6 by Hamish Johnston though their loved ones are so far away from home they are still being looked after”. A Corner of Pakistan in Scotland 1 Read more about Force K6 in ‘A Corner of Pakistan in Scotland’ by Hamish Johnston, published by Colourful Heritage There is another lasting relic of these men’s stay in Scotland. In the gallery of Glasgow’s Kelvinside Museum you can see a portrait of Driver Abdul Ghani, ammunition bandolier over his shoulder, looking somewhat dreamily into the distance. The Punjabi Muslims of Force K6 are still remembered in Scotland.