The Lascars: Seafaring Roots of Modern Britain
The Lascars – thousands of seafarers from the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, the Arab world and Africa.
Author: Royal British Legion
The Forgotten Army: Unity in Diversity
This year’s South Asian Heritage Month theme is powerfully reflected in the service of 2.5 million Indian soldiers who volunteered for the British Indian Army during the Second World War. As the largest volunteer force in history, they came from many faiths and ethnic backgrounds across the Indian subcontinent.
Sarojini Naidu: The Nightingale of India
Sarojini Naidu was an early 20th century poet and prominent leader in India’s struggle for independence, as well as an advocate for social justice and women’s rights.
Mohammed Ali Anwar
Mohammed Ali Anwar was a Captain Doctor with the British Army during WWII. His grandson Faryal Iqbal recalls a life of service where traditional Pakistani values merged with Western medical training.
Vignesh Murali remembers the service of his grandfather, Lance Naik Muradhiah
Lance Naik Marudhiah enlisted in the British Indian Army on 9th December 1942, at the age of just 18.
Sepoy Inayat Ali, Corps of Indian Engineers – A Witness to History
Inayat Ali served in India and the Far East during WWII and was present at Partition in 1947. We spoke with his son, Raja Abdul Razak, and grandson Nadeem Fayaz about his military service and life after the War.
Company Quarter-Master Havildar Ram Singh Bahra
Four Generations of Service in the Bahra Family
Capt Arunhang Nembang: A Story of the Iraq War
The Gurkhas in the British Army have a reputation of being amongst the finest soldiers in the world. There are over 4,000 Gurkhas employed across many trades and all are recruited from Nepal, with many thousands of young people attempting selection every year. One of these was Arunhang in 1999.
Honorary Captain Gian Singh VC: A Legacy of Courage from Punjab to Buckingham Palace
His story, rooted in the earth of Punjab and culminating in the highest recognition for valour, is a testament to courage and devotion to service.
Pardeep Kaur MBE: From Indian Roots to a Celebrated Route in the British Army
For South Asian Heritage Month, the Royal British Legion celebrates the remarkable journeys of individuals who have woven their rich heritage into the fabric of British society.
