President Barack Obama USA, Prince Charles, Prime Minister Gordon Brown UK, President Sarcozi France remember D-day in Normandy on 060609.  

 France on 06-06-2009

  It is better to elaborate what D-Day is. The term is for the day of actual landing, which was dependent on final approval. The Normandy Landings were the first operations of the Allied Invasion of Normandy, also known as Operation Neptune and Operation Overload. Operation Neptune began on D-Day (June 6, 1944) and ended on June 30, 1944. By this time, the Allies had established a firm foothold in Normandy . The landings took place along a 50-mile (80 km) stretch of the Normandy coast divided into five sectors:  Utah , Omaha , Golf, Juno and Sword. The operation was the largest single-day amphibious invasion of all time, with 160,000 troops landing on June 6, 1944. Allied naval and merchant navy personnel in over 5,000 ships were involved. The assault was conducted in two phases: an air assault landing of American, British including Royal Indian Air Force. Below are some of the  names of the Sikh Pilots who has Smaads in Runnymede memorial in the United Kingdom .

RAJENDER SINGH SANDHU, Pilot Officer, 2915, 53 O.T.U., Royal Indian Air Force. 10 September 1944. Age 21. Son of Hakam Singh, of Pakhopur, Amritsar , India . Panel 264.

SINGH, Flying Officer, JAGIT, Royal Indian Air Force. 13 September 1946. Age 25. Son of Sarder Bahadur Santokh Singh. Panel 286.

Canadian airborne troops landed shortly after midnight, and an amphibious landing of Allied infantry and armored divisions including many Sikh Regiments on the coast of France commencing at 6:30. There were American, Canadian Divisions also but I give you the names of British Divisions involving many Sikh Regiments and mixed Regiments of the Sikhs.

British 6th Airborne Division.

British I Corps, British 3rd Infantry Division, British 27th Armored Brigade, British XXX Corps, British 50th Infantry Division, British 8th Armored Brigade, 79 Armored Division.

Some of the Canadian Divisions participated in the operation are Canadian 3rd Infantry Division, Canadian 2nd Armored Brigade and rest were American Divisions.

The total number of troops landed on D-Day was around 160,000

The Invasion Fleet was drawn from 8 different navies, comprising 6,939 vessels: 1,213 warships, 4,126 transport vessels (landing ships and landing craft), and 736 ancillary craft and 864 merchant vessels. They were under the command of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay (who had been directly involved in the North African and Italian landings where many Sikh Regiments were also involved).

Living Sikh Soldiers of 2nd World War

Sikhs have fought in France , marched through Belgium and Holland and fought in Germany during advances of the Allied forces towards Berlin during world War 2nd.

Also ,they have fought in :

Mediterranean, Middle East and African theatres of World War II
o    East African campaign
o    North African campaign
    Operation Compass
    Operation Battleaxe
    Operation Crusader
    First Battle of El Alamein
    Second Battle of El Alamein
o    Anglo-Iraqi War
o    Syria-Lebanon campaign
o    Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran
o    Italian campaign
    Battle of Monte Cassino Battle of Forli, Battle of Ravenna, Battle of Sangro River.

•    Battle of Hong Kong
•    Battle of Malaya
•    Battle of Singapore
•    Burma Campaign
o    Battle of Kohima
o    Battle of Imphal

Some of the specimen are given below :

France:

CHAMPENOUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY - Meurthe-et-Moselle

Commonwealth War Dead 1939-1945

PURAN SINGH, Lance Daffadar, 1700. P.A.V.O. Cavalry (11th F. F.). Indian Armoured Corps. 2nd September 1944. Age 32. Son of Hira Singh, of Lauhke, Amritsar , India ; husband of Gurdip Kaur, of Lauhke.

EPINAL FRENCH NATIONAL CEMETERY - Vosges

Commonwealth War Dead 1939-1945

AJMER SINGH, Sepoy, 16828. 4th Bn. 11th Sikh Regiment. 11th May 1944. Age 21. Son of Inder Singh and Har Kaur, of Laihra Khana, Ferozepore , India . Row 1. Coll. grave 1-65.

AMAR SINGH, Sepoy, 16852. 4th Bn. 11th Sikh Regiment. 11th May 1944. Age 22. Son of Badan Singh and Uttam Kaur, of Manupur, Ludhiana , India ; husband of Dalip Kaur, of Manupur. Row 1. Coll. grave 1-65.

GANGA SINGH, Sowar, 3340. Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (11th F.F.), I.A.C.. 11th May 1944. Age 26. Son of Risaldar Jiwan Singh and Narayan Kaur, of Ruriwala, Amritsar , India ; husband of Santo, of Ruriwala. Row 1. Coll. grave 1-65.

Germany :

DURNBACH CREMATION MEMORIAL, Germany

BALWANT SINGH, Sepoy, MTN/898669, Royal Indian Army Service Corps. 14 March 1945. Age 23. Son of Sohan Singh and Jamna Devi, of Kotli Squianwali, Amritsar , India .

BANTA SINGH, Havildar, 8110, 4th Bn., 16th Punjab Regiment. 5 September 1943. Age 31. Son of Atar Singh, of Sandhu Chitha, Kapurthala , India .

Italy :

CASSINO MEMORIAL
Commonwealth War Dead 1939-1945

AJIT SINGH, Lance Naik, 15127. 1st Bn. 12th. Frontier Force Regiment. 22nd May 1944. Age 23. Son of Tam Singh and Rattan Kaur; husband of Gurbakhsh Kaur, of Jatpur, Mahilpur, Hoshiarpur , India . Panel 19.

AJMER SINGH, Sepoy, 27368. 2nd Bn. 11th Sikh Regiment. 13th September 1944. Age 25. Son of Santa Singh and Charnd Kaur, of Jari Bagwali, Sangat, Patiala , India . Panel 19.

NICOSIA CREMATION MEMORIAL, Cyprus

AMAR SINGH, Sepoy, 701, Nabha Akal Infantry, Indian States Forces. 10 May 1944. Son of Bishan Singh, of Sakohan, Patiala , India .

BACHAN SINGH, Sepoy, 1270, Nabha Akal Infantry, Indian States Forces. 5 October 1943. Son of Partap Singh, of Chehal, Patiala , India .

CHETA SINGH, Sepoy, 609, Nabha Akal Infantry, Indian States Forces. 30 September 1942. Son of Bakhtawar Singh, of Balad Kalan, Sangrur , India .

MUKAND SINGH, Sepoy, MTN/919461, 10th Indian Inf. Bde. Transport Coy., Royal Indian Army Service Corps. 22 September 1943. Age 26. Son of Jamial Singh, of Ralla Phekhi, Patiala , India .

SINGAPORE CREMATION MEMORIAL, Singapore

SUCHA SINGH, Sepoy, 10205, 2nd Bn., 15th Punjab Regiment. 26 November 1940. Age 26. Son of Kala Singh and Santi, of Gumti Khurd, Nabha , India ; husband of Gurdip Kaur, of Gumti Khurd. Grave Ref. Column 16.

UJAGAR SINGH, Sepoy, 13351, 2nd Bn., 15th Punjab Regiment. 17 July 1945. Age 23. Son of Jaimal Singh and Ind Kaur, of Manupur, Ludhiana , India ; husband of Gurdial Kaur, of Manupur. Grave Ref. Column 16.

RABAUL (BITA PAKA) WAR CEMETERY , Papua New Guinea

HARNAM SINGH, Naik, 9732, 2nd Bn., 15th Punjab Regiment. 1 March 1945. Age 31. Son of Karam Singh and Hukam Kaur, of Deo, Amritsar , India ; husband of Mahindar Kaur, of Deo. Grave Ref. T. C. 5.

Beirut

In Memory of
Naik BACHAN SINGH

9928, 3rd Bn., 1st Punjab Regiment
who died age 27
on 15 June 1941
Son of Chanda Singh and Har Kaur, of Sadopur, Malerkotla , India .
Remembered with honour
BEIRUT CREMATION MEMORIAL

Al Amein

In Memory of
Naik BACHAN SINGH

14135, 4th Bn., 11th Sikh Regiment
who died age 26
on 01 July 1942
Son of Indar Singh and Punjab Kaur, of Sihora, Patiala State, India.
Remembered with honour
ALAMEIN MEMORIAL

In the last two world wars 83,005 turban wearing Sikh soldiers were killed and 109,045 were wounded. They all died or were wounded for the freedom of Britain and the world, and during shell fire, with no other protection but the turban, the symbol of their faith.”

For more information on the subject, please read the links and my books below.

WSN-Special Report-Two World Wars and the Sikhs

WSN-Special Report-World War I through Sikh Soldiers' Letters

WSN-Column-Turban versus Helmet

Memorial: Sikh Casualties of World War I  

Memorial: Sikh Casualties in Italy

French-Sikh Soldiers

1)      How Europe is indebted to the Sikhs, Role of Sikhs in Europe during World War One 1914 – 1918 . Sikh University Press , Belgium . 1st edition 2005 and 2nd edition 2009.

2)      How Europe is indebted to the Sikhs, Role of Sikhs in Europe during World War Two 1939 – 1945. Sikh University Press , Belgium . 1st edition 2007

3)      The Dutch Sikhs – A Brief History. Sikh University Press , Belgium . Ist edition 2009.

The books can be obtained from ‘Singh Brothers, Bazar Mai Sewan, Siri Amritsar’, Punjab .

It is unfortunate that India from where these brave men came, specially from United Punjab ( Sikhs and Muslims ) and fought both World Wars for the freedom of mankind don’t recognize their supreme sacrifices. Actually, this is the work and duty of a country to cash and promote the sacrifices of their nationals. What has been done so far that the whole world should know and glorify the Sikhs and Muslims for their unparallel contribution to the International Community?  Where are the families of these martyrs  of mankind and what has been done for them? On the other hands, Sacrifices of Europeans, Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and others  have been well recognized by International Community and by their respective governments  and proper respect and assistance is still being provided. Their families are invited and honored on 11 November - Armistice Day,  6 June - the D- Day, 5 May- the Liberation day. This is a big question.

As far as the Sikhs are concerned, India has not even recognized the 80 % sacrifices given by them to free their own country. In return, Sikhs have got operation like Blue Star, humiliation, destruction of their holy places and has been murdered by their own army. Recently the Sikh Nation had commemorated the 25th anniversary of the genocide of the Sikhs. Have the demands of the Sikhs are met and the guilty has been punished? No.

When our own people don’t mention and speak about the glorious history of the Sikhs, why people like President Obama or others will mention and remember their contributions. These questions needs consideration and to be answered.

Bhupinder Singh Holland

Almere, 09 June 2009