June

“You say that you have heard that the entire Indian Army has left France. This is not so. The infantry have left but the cavalry is still upholding the honour of the government here.

By the grace of God the cavalry are flourishing like fields of sarson (rape seed) in the spring. At the present time much rain and snow are falling and consequently the cold is very severe. The snow accumulates all day… Sirdar Buta Singh of Rawalpindi has sent a copy of the Granth Sahib.

He has conferred a great favour on us, since we can have worship celebrated during our sojourn in a foreign land.”

(English translation of an extract from the letter of a Sikh soldier (Mohan Singh) of the 6th Cavalry in France, to Sirdarni Bishan Devi, Lyallpur, Punjab. 25th February 1916.Source: www.sikhnet.com

“During World War 1, when the steel helmet was first introduced, we British Officers of Sikh Regiments tried to persuade our men to wear them, but they steadfastly refused, and have done so ever since.”

(Lt. General Sir Reginald Savory’s letter to Mrs.G.Scott. Scientific Section, House of Commons Library).Source: www.sikhnet.com