In 2nd World War, a company of the Royal Indian Army Service Corps was part of the British Expeditionary Force in 1940 campaign which ended in the evacuation from Dunkirk (France). Divisions of the British Indian Army fought in the Western Desert, in the Middle East, in Eritrea, Ethiopia, they fought in Italy at Cassino, Florence, Forli, Ravena, Sangro River and took part in the liberation of Greece. But against Japan in the east, the British Indian Army played its greatest role right through from the reverses of 1942 to the final overwhelming victory of 1945.

Till 1945, the Royal Indian Navy was a strong force of 28,000 officers and men and took part in action in the Red Sea, the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, the Bay of Bengal and the Mediterranean, also in the combined operation of the coast of Sicily and Burma. Their role in transporting the armies and essential supplies even to the civilian populations cannot be forgotten.

The Royal Indian Air Force played its role from the beginning of 2nd World War (1939) with one squadron and strength of 200 officers and men. It had grown by 1945 to the strength of 28,500 and nine squadrons. It saw action throughout the Burma campaign. British Indian officers also served in the Royal Air Force in Burma, Europe and other theatres.

To honor 300 years of Khalsa and the sacrifice of Sikh soldiers during World Wars, the City of Ieper together with the European Sikh Community organized a Celebration of Peace on Sunday 4 April 1999 at Cloth Hall in Ieper, Belgium.

Flt. Lt. Mohinder Singh Pujji, a pilot of Royal Air Force who took part in the European campaign was honored along with several living soldiers of World War II by Governor Paul Brijne of Inflanders Province. Flt. Lt. M.S. Pujji has stated, "I was posted to No.253 Squadron RAF, flying Hurricane IIB fighters from RAF Kenley, which is a couple of miles south of Croydon. We were a mixed bunch, with pilots also from Poland, America, Canada and Australia. Equipped with twelve machine guns, our hurricanes were extensively flown day and night, to intercept German bombers and reconnaissance aircraft."

There are 12,830 graves (Smaads) of the British Indian soldiers and 76,388 are commemorated by the Memorial, thus total of 89,218 have died in 2nd World War (1939-45).

Delhi Memorial, India has commemorated 22,838 soldiers followed by Rangoon Memorial, Burma (19,661) and Singapore Memorial, Singapore (12,100).

Taukkyan War Cemetery, Burma has graves (Smaads) of 1,819 British Indian soldiers followed by Imphal Indian Army War Cemetery, India (809) and Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore (668)

Engraved on the graves of Sikh soldiers is Ik Oankar Siri Waheguru Ji Ke Fateh Sanskare Gaye in Gurmukhi. Sepoy number, full name, name of the regiment, and date of death are all printed in block letters in English. These Smaads of the Sikhs can be found across Europe, Middle, South & Far East Asia and Africa. They are well maintained, cleaned, and decorated by Commonwealth War Grave Commission.

Similarly, most Hindu soldiers are Gorkhas, and engraved on their graves in Sanskrit are the words, Oom Bhagwattee Nammo. Rests of the particulars are the same. In the same way, our Muslims brothers have the holy words from Qur'an written in Urdu on their graves with all the particulars mentioned above.

India has the largest number of British Indian soldiers 49,285 Buried - Cremated and Commemorated on Memorials and other countries are: Iraq (43848), Burma (22,932), Singapore (13,556), France (8886), Egypt (8171), Italy (5773), Iran (3471), Tanzania (1990), and Turkey (1742).

As I said earlier that the actual number is much more than has been recorded by the Common Wealth War Grave Commission. Research is needed by Government of west Punjab (Pakistan) and by Government of east Punjab (India) as most of the casualties are from united Punjab. Hence the recorded history of British Indian soldiers who died in both Wars is:

1st World War (1914-1918) = 80,482
2nd World War (1939-1945) = 89,218
Total:  = 169,700

Besides this, more than quarter of a million were wounded, ill, or prisoners of war.

"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."

(General Sir Frank Messervy K. C. S.I, K. B. E., C. B., D. S. O.)
"The Sikh Regiment in the Second World War"
Colonel F T Bird Wood OBE
Published in Great Britain by Jarrold and Sons Ltd., Norwich
Foreword by General Sir Frank Messervy K. C. S.I, K. B. E., C. B., D. S. O.