Sobriety, solemnity, military honors, and moments of celebration continue to mark commemorations across several parts of Europe, particularly in Belgium and Italy, as communities remember the supreme sacrifices made by Sikh soldiers during the two World Wars.

These commemorations are typically held between September and January, aligning with the actual dates when villages, communes, towns, and cities served as battlefields. Indian soldiers in general, and Sikh soldiers in particular, fought while wearing British Army uniforms and played a critical role in halting the German army’s territorial ambitions. In doing so, they also helped local populations defend their homeland.

This correspondent visited several such battlefields where Sikh soldiers laid down their lives. Local residents continue to honor the courage with which these soldiers endured extreme weather, unfamiliar terrain, and the hardships of fighting on distant and unfamiliar soil, thousands of miles from their homes, in defense of people largely unknown to them.

“They remain our all-time heroes,” said an Italian citizen whose father fought alongside Sikh soldiers.

The sacrifices of Sikh soldiers during World Wars I and II are now increasingly being documented and formally recognized through the construction of memorials. Bhupinder Singh of the Netherlands has undertaken the task of recording the role, efforts, and sacrifices of Sikh soldiers during the World Wars and has published several books on the subject.

Earlier this week, a commemorative event was organized in Belgium, which had served as a battlefield in October 1918. Bhupinder Singh Holland, as he is widely known, recalled his engagements with Belgian authorities since 1998, efforts that eventually led to the establishment of memorials honoring Sikh soldiers.

At gurdwaras located near these memorials, special congregations are held annually to mark the martyrdom of Sikh soldiers. Members of the Sikh community join local residents in commemorating their shared victory over German forces during World War II.

As many Sikh soldiers hailed from the Majha region of Punjab, similar commemorative events are also held in India to honor their sacrifices.

In Italy, the Sikh Soldiers Yaadgar Committee, led by Prithipal Singh, has been working closely with commune, city, and provincial authorities to establish memorials and document the sacrifices of Sikh soldiers who fought under unfamiliar climatic, geographic, and living conditions.

“They fought all oddities and fought gallantly as if they were fighting for their own land and own people,” said Prithipal Singh. This week, the committee, in coordination with the city council of Fascia, organized a major event to commemorate both the independence of the Fascia commune and the sacrifices of at least five Sikh soldiers.

The town had earlier honored one of the martyred Sikh commanders, Mohan Singh, with a gold medal. Local residents continue to hold Sikhs in high regard, Prithipal Singh said.

Following prayers at a local church, members of the community participated in a Sikh religious ceremony of Ardas before the celebrations began. The participation of Italian troops added to the significance of the event. Along with Prithipal Singh, other members of the Sikh Soldiers Yaadgar Committee, including Majinder Singh Suzzara, Iqbal Singh, Gurmail Singh Bhatti, and Harjit Singh, paid floral tributes at the site where Sikh soldiers had been cremated.

Schoolchildren, members of the local police, and families of freedom fighters were among those who took part, underscoring the continuing resonance of these commemorations across generations.

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