The National Memorial Arboretum
Exploring some of the memorials with South Asian connections at the year-round centre for Remembrance.
© South Asian Heritage Trust | All Rights Reserved
After the fall of Dunkirk, it is said Britain stood alone. However, while Britain was alone in not being occupied, the men and women defending Britain came from across the Commonwealth and the wider world.
The best example of how men and women came together from all nations can be seen in the ranks of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Alongside Polish, Czech, Canadian, Australian and many other nations, a number of India’s finest airmen volunteered to defend Britain in her time of need. One such man was Mohinda Singh Pujji.
Arriving at a time when fighter pilots were revered across the entire nation by both public and military alike, Mohinda fondly recalled how his status as a pilot, combined with the exotic figure he cut in drab wartime London, created quite a stir.
I was always a very chivalrous young man for the ladies, whether in India or here. My turban became my passport for all the privileges of England. During rationing there was no sugar available, but if I went into a shop, sugar was always given to me. Everybody would say thank you sir for fighting for us. My turban which had my RAF wings attracted a lot of attention and all in my favour. Amongst the 24 of us from India, around 6 or 7 of us were Sikh pilots.
Mohinda Singh Pujji went on to fight across the globe throughout the Second World War, seeing action over north-west Europe, the Middle East and Italian campaigns, ending the war in Burma where he rose to the rank of Squadron Leader and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for gallantry in action. In his later life, Mohinda returned to settle in the UK, he died in September 2010 aged 92. [1] [2] [3] [4]
[1] General References – https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/jan/15/raf-race-diversity-pilot-exhibition (accessed 10th May 2021)
[2] IWM Audio Archive, (2005-2009), Pujji, MH (Oral History)
[3] S. Singh, Sikh Fighter Pilots (2011)
[4] Image Ref: https://www.sikh24.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/2014-11-24-mahinder-singh-pujji.png (not copyright checked).
Exploring some of the memorials with South Asian connections at the year-round centre for Remembrance.
An aviation enthusiast’s special mission to honour a Second World War agent in occupied France.
The Indian Army Memorial Room stands as a tribute to the rich history and enduring spirit of the Indian soldiers of the British Indian Army.
The story behind the tribute to commemorate the service of Sikh members of the Armed Forces.
The first of the Trust’s projects is the South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM), which first took place in 2020 and runs from the 18th of July to the 17th of August each year.
SAHM seeks to commemorate, mark and celebrate South Asian cultures, histories, and communities.
It seeks to understand the diverse heritage and cultures that continue to link the UK with South Asia.
© South Asian Heritage Trust | All Rights Reserved
