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A project supported by the Blacktown City Council will pay homage to the Sikh efforts in Australia's military history

BY RAJNIANAND LUTHRA

lenwood in Sydney's north-west could soon be home to a Sikh Soldiers' War Men,orial.

A tribute to the turbaned soldiers in Australia's 111ilitaryhistory, a proposal to this effecthas been accepted bythe Blacktown City Council and has currently beenput out for con1munity consultation.

Mayor oftheCouncil Tony Bleasdale told IndianLink, "Historically, the Sikh community has played a significant part in the British E1npire, sacrificing many sons and daughters in war zones on behalfofus all. When a 1nonumentwas suggested, we were more than proud to offersupport."

Blacktown is oneofthe most diverse LGAs in Australia, with asignificant Sikh con,munity.

"Blacktown is agreatcityfor respect forothergroups, and Sikhs are partofthe big Blacktown fa1nily," Mr Bleasdale said. "Theyare extremelygenerous - having perforn1ed exe1nplaryserviceat times of bushfire, floods and COVID 19. Even as wespeak,theyareout there supporting thosewho can't support themselves."

Theirsenseofservice will be exen1plified in the statue ofthe unknown Sikh soldier, to be erected, ifaU goes well, at Glenwood Lake Reserve (cnr of Dia1nond Ave and Glenwood Drive).

Blacktown Councillor Dr Moninder Singh told IndianLink, "The projectwas put to Council bythe FatehFoundation, a not-for-profit, with support fron1 the RSL, theNational Sikh CouncilofAustralia and Glenwood Gurudwara."

The process began about ayearago, Dr Singh revealed. Various siteswere considered, including an RSL location, before Blacktown Councilwasapproached.

"Wehope that the n1emorial becomes a spot forthe community togather on occasions such asAnzac Day and Re1nembrance Day, aswell as dates of significance on the Indian calendar."

The Fateh Foundation,whowill be funding the 1nemorial, waslaunched lastyear. VolunteerAmarinder Bajwa said, "Wewant to highlight the legacy ofIndian soldiers, Sikhs in particular, and to let future generations knowof their contributions. Our project is seeing supportfrom the Sikh community across Australia."

Currentlya design for the monument is beingdeveloped with artists and architects, Bajwarevealed.

Sikh soldiers foughtforthe British Arn1y in World Wars I and II at hotspots in Europe, Africa, the Middle East andAsia. In Australia, their involvementat Gallipoli, where they fought particularlyvaliantly, came to light in theearly2000s.

Especially noteworthy is the contribution ofthe 14th Sikh Regiment. 371 Sikhs fought gallantlyto their deathson June 3 & 4, 1915. Manyof themwere amongthe 22 Victoria Crosses awarded to Indian soldiers.

Paying tributetotheir heroism, General

Sir Ian Hamilton, Commanderofthe Gallipoli operations, wrote:

"In the highest sense ofthe word extremegallantry has been shown by this fine Battalion In spite oftremendous losses therewas not a sign ofwavering allday. Not an inch ofground gainedwas given up and not a single stragglercan1e back. The ends oftheenemy's trenches leadinginto the ravinewere found to be blocked with the bodies ofSikhs and ofthe enemywho died fighting at close quarters, and theglacisslope is thicklydottedwith the bodies ofthese finesoldiers aU lying on their faces as they fell in theirsteady advance on theenetny."

The bravery and heroism are acknowledgedannually at theAnzac Day Parade, at which a Sikh contingent has been marchingsince 2007.

Much ofthis unknown part of Australia's history was unearthed by historians Len Kenna and Crystal Jordan ofthe Australian Indian History Society.

Awar memorial to Indian soldiers already exists in Sydney, unveiled onthe eveofArn1istice Day in 2018 at Cherry brook. Aproject ofthe Hindu Council of Australia, it has been criticised by Kenna and Jordan for including only Sikhs and Hindu names, not Muslims, Anglo-Saxons orother people of Indian origin whowere Anzacs,who served in the Australian Imperial Force andfought forAustralia.

Opinion is beingvoiced again at the Blacktownmove now, against faith-based tributes to Indian-origin soldiers.

A similar UK tribute, unveiled in 2018, isa 3m bronzestatue ofa Sikh soldier, but it honours soldiers ofaU faiths from the Indian subcontinent who fought for Britain during WWl. (Another memorial, the SikhWar Memorial in Coventry, bears the Khanda, the 1nilitary emblem ofthe Sikhs.)

In 2017, Brisbane got its own memorial honouring Indian participation in Australia's war efforts. It is housed at Sunnybank RSL.

The Glenwood Sikh memorial, itis hoped, will be the first ofits kind in the southern hemisphere.