Legacy of Valour
A Community Heritage Project
The Legacy of Valour, a community heritage project, was launched in Reading in
October 2014. The project is supported by Heritage Lottery Fund and various local
and national organisations.
Through this project we seek to contribute to a wider understanding of the
significance of India’s contribution in the First World War.
The key goals of the project include:
•  Learn, understand and share the remarkable but largely forgotten story of Sikhs
and other Indian soldiers contribution.
•  Enable community to engage with its own history and heritage.
•  Commemorate Sikhs and other Indian soldiers services and sacrifices for the
freedom of Britain and Europe.
These goals were achieved via organising an Exhibition, Talks and Trips. These
activities were hugely successful and received national and international
recognition.
This leaflet provides a brief overview of the project’s achievements since its launch.
We hope that other communities and interested organisations can benefit from our
experience and research.
Any community or faith group, school or university, local history society or
association interested in hosting our award winning mobile ‘Legacy of Valour’
exhibition, informative talks or require further advice in organising ‘history
engaging group tours’ can contact us for further information.
Inderpal Dhanjal
Project Leader
0778 955 2617
www.legacyofvalour.org
November 2015
Exhibition
Legacy of Valour – The Collections Trust 2015 award winner exhibition
was hosted at the Reading Museum from 2 August – 13 September 2015. The
exhibition was launched jointly by the Indian High Commissioner and Lord
Lieutenant of Berkshire.
Exhibition received national and international coverage, including
BBC Radio, TV, Indian Express, Times of India, Economic Times and
many other press and media channels.
The exhibition displayed some rare and historical documents,
photographs and multi-lingual (Punjabi, Hindi & Urdu) trench maps
rarely seen in the public for over 100 years.
The exhibition also included the story of Indian combat pilots who
were trained in RFC School of Military Aeronautics at Reading.
This remarkable exhibition had more than 200 photographs depicting
the whole story of Indian soldiers in the Great War. A few of the many
comments we received:
“It is a stunning story very skillfully presented by the organisers” Mike Churcher, Columnist.
“The Legacy of Valour exhibition is truly inspirational and very
educational. It provides an excellent insight into the role played by Sikhs
and other Indian soldiers during the First World War. It is a tale that is
little known but undoubtedly deserves a much wider telling and
appreciation.” - Mr James Puxley, Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire.
“Really superb exhibition and launch.” - Mike Cooper, Historian.
“The exhibition was well conceived and laid out. It provides a very
necessary focus on the extraordinary valour and sacrifices of the Indian
soldiers in WW1. A much needed addition to an important chapter of
history. - Mr Ranjan Mathai, Indian High Commissioner.
Talks
These research based informative and thought provoking talks are
developed by our project historian. These are aimed at community &
faith groups, local history societies, schools and university students
who wish to learn in-depth analysis of this modern episode of history.
India’s Contribution in WW1 & Aftermath
India has rendered significantly in the war effort in terms
of MEN, MONEY & MATERIAL. This mostly is
encapsulated in two words, ‘Commonwealth Forces’ and
that too as ‘sub-text’ or ‘footnotes’ of popular WW1
history.
The talk goes beyond the headlines and provides
detailed analysis of facts and also looks at its
economical, social and political impact in India. A real
‘eye opener’.
Sikhs in the First World War
“The Sikhs are the best among all the soldiers and they form
the ‘backbone’ of the British India Army” – James Wilcox, the
Commander of Indian Corps in WW1.
This presentation reviews the historical role and
relationship of Sikhs with British and explains the ‘Spirit of
Khalsa’ and ethos of ‘Sacrifice & Martyrdom’ in Sikhism that
won them many laurels in the battlefields around the world.
This amazing story needs re-telling.
Forgotten Fronts & Indian Soldiers
Six Indian Expeditionary Forces (IEF) were sent out of
India during 1914-18 to East Africa, Mesopotamia,
Sinai & Palestine, Suez Canal and Gallipoli. Very little
in known about these areas of conflict in WW1.
This talk addresses much needed information of the
forgotten fronts and the involvement of the Indian
soldiers. It explains the reasons and objectives of
each campaign. Also, it looks back at some tragic
events costing thousands of Indian soldiers’ lives.
Trips
To engage with its own history and heritage the
Legacy of Valour organised two trips in 2015. These
trips were designed to provide first hand knowledge
of the places, memorials and battlefields associated
with Indian soldiers in WW1.
Royal Pavilion & Chattri Memorial Trip
(14 June 2015)
Over 50 members of local Punjabi community joined us on
this trip. Royal Pavilion Brighton was used as a hospital for
the wounded Indian soldiers during WW1. There is a
‘Indian Hospital’ museum at the Pavilion showing various
artifacts.
Also, the South Gateway can be seen outside the Pavilion.
This memorial was unveiled by Maharaja of Patiala on 26
October 1921 as a token of appreciation by India for caring
for their countrymen.
On second Sunday of June every year a commemoration
service takes place at the Chattri Memorial for Indian
soldiers who died in WW1. It was a moving ceremony at the
serene setting in the valley of Patcham Downs (near
Brighton). 53 Indian soldiers who died were cremated
here.
Indian Corps in the Western Front Trip
(13-16 August 2015)
‘An eye-opener, informative and emotional’ trip as
described by many members of the group of forty people
who followed the trail of Indian Corps in WW1 in France &
Flanders.
We visited various ‘off-track’ places where Indian soldiers
fought alongside the Allied Forces as well as many
battlefields and war cemeteries. To commemorate the
sacrifices Memorial services were conducted by the
community.
It is only by visiting these places one can understand the
horrors of trench warfare in WW1 these soldiers endured a
hundred years ago. A knowledgeable military historian
who accompanied us on this trip which made the history
engaging and alive also.
Once in a life-time trip – a MUST visit.