A volunteer plans to run the Brighton Marathon dressed in period Sikh Regiment uniform to commemorate the lives of soldiers from the First World War. Angad Singh was inspired by the Royal Pavilion’s history as a military hospital for Indian soldiers, a role commemorated in an audio tour last year. The 27-year-old volunteers for the […]
A volunteer plans to run the Brighton Marathon dressed in period Sikh Regiment uniform to commemorate the lives of soldiers from the First World War.
Angad Singh was inspired by the Royal Pavilion’s history as a military hospital for Indian soldiers, a role commemorated in an audio tour last year. The 27-year-old volunteers for the United Kingdom Punjabi Heritage Association’s (UKPHA) Empire Faith and War project, which aims to remember the role played by Sikh soldiers and the experiences of their families left behind. the story that it aims to uncover – the untold story of how one of the world’s smaller communities played such a disproportionately large role in the Great War – that he wanted to do his bit in raising funds and awareness for the project and in so doing highlight the role of Sikhs in the First World War.
He said: “I wanted to contribute in a way that I could do well and I hope this won’t just raise money but also raise awareness of this part of history. “Many Sikhs came to Britain around the 1960s, my grandparents’ generation. But when we learned about the First World War, the Sikhs’ role wasn’t taught.”
Volunteering for the UKPHA uncovered some very personal connections to the period for Mr Singh. He explained: “I found people from my ancestral village in India who died in World War One, something I didn’t know about before.
“It was quite a shock, as I’ve seen my family tree and I thought I knew my family history quite well.” Mr Singh will be at Brighton Museum on April 11, the day before the marathon, for an afternoon of talks and hands-on learning starting at midday.
He says his training is going well and he is confident about the marathon, although he added that his Sikh Regiment uniform may make the race harder.
He said: “I think the main thing is that it is cotton, and thicker than sports-wear. It is manageable but it will be difficult.” He has already raised more than £1,000 and has set a fundraising target of £10,000, which will go towards the Punjabi Heritage Association’s work.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
~ Source: www.theargus.co.uk