Aspiring to build memorial in Punjab to commemorate heroism of WW-I regiment
Fact News Service
Chandigarh, May 8: In a stirring tribute to valour and shared history, Manpreet Singh, also known as Manu Singh, an enthusiastic youth leader and community advocate, is championing the recognition of Sikhs and Punjab regiment soldiers who fought alongside ANZAC troops in World War-I. His mission is to ensure their sacrifices, long overshadowed in mainstream narratives and are etched into Australia’s collective memory. After returning from Australia he is aspiring to build a memorial in Punjab to commemorate their heroism and to be remembered by the generations to come.
While the ANZAC legend is a cornerstone of Australian identity, Manu Singh is determined to bring the “forgotten Anzacs” – particularly the Sikh soldiers who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Australian troops at Gallipoli – into the light. On June 4, 1915, the 14th Sikh regiment alone lost 379 men in a single day of brutal combat, embodying the same courage and sacrifice that define the ANZAC spirit.
The growing recognition of this shared history was evident at this year’s ANZAC Day commemorations in New Delhi, where the Australian high commissioner Barry O Farrell, New Zealand High Commissioner Patrick John Rata, the Australian Army’s Chief of Defence Staff Damien Scully O’Shea and representatives from the Returned and Services League (RSL) gathered to honour all who served – including the Sikh and Indian soldiers who fought alongside ANZAC forces. Their presence underscored the deepening acknowledgment of this multinational legacy.
For the past four years, Manu Singh has proudly marched in the ANZAC Day Parade at New Delhi, wearing his great uncle’s British-Indian Army medals and representing the Sikh regiment being a member of RSL which support war widows. “Hearing the applause for our soldiers was overwhelming,” he said. “It was a moment where cultures converged – the Anzac ethos of mateship meeting the Sikh tradition of sewa (Service) and sacrifice.”
His efforts have resonated deeply, earning admiration from the Sikh diaspora and Australians alike. “True remembrance must be inclusive,” Manu Singh asserts. “These men fought the same war, shared the same struggles and deserve the same honour.”
As ANZAC Day evolves into a broader symbol of courage and unity, Manu Singh’s campaign gains momentum, with growing calls for formal recognition in institutions like the RSL. For him, this is more than history – it’s a debt of gratitude. “Their story,” he says, “is our shared legacy. Let’s not forget.”
