Honouring the Forgotten ANZACs: Manu Singh’s Mission to Memorialise Sikh Soldiers’ WW-I Sacrifice
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, May 8, 2025
In a heartfelt effort to bring long-overdue recognition to Sikh and Punjab regiment soldiers who fought in World War I, youth leader and community advocate Manpreet Singh, popularly known as Manu Singh, is championing a movement to honour these unsung heroes. After returning from Australia, Singh has announced his aspiration to build a memorial in Punjab to commemorate their sacrifice and preserve their legacy for future generations.
While the ANZAC legacy is deeply woven into the national identity of Australia and New Zealand, Manu Singh is working to spotlight the often-overlooked contributions of Sikh soldiers who stood beside ANZAC troops in battles such as Gallipoli. On June 4, 1915, the 14th Sikh Regiment suffered devastating losses, with 379 men killed in a single day—demonstrating the same courage and sacrifice that define the ANZAC spirit.
This shared military history was recently acknowledged at the ANZAC Day commemorations held in New Delhi, attended by dignitaries including Australian High Commissioner Barry O’Farrell, New Zealand High Commissioner Patrick John Rata, Australian Army Chief of Defence Staff Damien Scully O’Shea, and representatives from the Returned and Services League (RSL). The ceremony marked a growing recognition of the multinational contributions to the ANZAC legacy.
For the past four years, Manu Singh has proudly participated in the ANZAC Day Parade in New Delhi, wearing the British-Indian Army medals of his great uncle and representing the Sikh regiment as a member of the RSL. “Hearing the applause for our soldiers was overwhelming,” he said. “It was a moment where cultures converged—the ANZAC ethos of mateship meeting the Sikh tradition of sewa (service) and sacrifice.”
Singh’s campaign has struck a chord both within the Sikh diaspora and among Australians. “True remembrance must be inclusive,” he said. “These men fought the same war, shared the same struggles, and deserve the same honour.”
As ANZAC Day continues to evolve into a broader symbol of courage, unity, and remembrance, Manu Singh’s initiative is gaining momentum—with increasing calls for formal recognition within institutions like the RSL. For him, this is not just about history, but a moral responsibility. “Their story is our shared legacy,” he says. “Let’s not forget.”