On April 2-4 1999, thousands of Sikhs from all over the world meet in Ieper, Belgium, to pray for peace in the world. This is a historical date for the Sikhs. In April 1699 - in days of persecution and repression - the tenth and last guru, Gobind Singh, initiated the Khalsa, in order to give strength and a strong feeling of identity to his followers. The European Sikhs are convinced that the City of Peace, Ieper (Ypres), amidst the fields of Flanders, - Poppy day may ring a bell for some - is the appropriate place for this anniversary celebration. Here fell many Sikhs, together with so many from both sides, in the Great War of 1914-1918. In their memory and in memory of all persons anywhere in the world who are oppressed, or are victims of war and violence, an Akhand Path will be held. This is a continuos reading of the whole Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikhs.

***

From the introduction to the beautiful little booklet: 300 Years of the Khalsa - A Celebration of Peace. It continues with a short description of the Sikh religion, the Khalsa, and a brief history of the Sikhs and of their contribution to the Allied war effort.

***

In the notorious Ieper crescent, also referred to as the Ieper Salient, out thirty different nationalities were deployed. Among these the Indian troops were present in significant numbers. Although most Indian troops were stationed near Neuve-Chapelle in France - the impressive Indian Memorial there commemorates this - they were also thrown into the First Ieper Battle - October 1914 - and the Second - May 1915. About 24000 men of the Meerut and Lahore Divisions disembarked at the Mediteranean port of Marseille in September/October 1914. There were two kinds of units in the British Indian Army: ethnic like the 47th Sikhs or 129th Baluchis, and mixed, like the 57th Wilde's Rifles. All officers were British.

In France, the Indian soldiers had of course serious problems of communication. The climate too was very harsh for them. In January 1915, a Sikh soldier wrote to his uncle in Jalandhar: "This country is very pleasant, but it is very cold here. Nobody has any clue about the language. They call milk 'doolee' and water 'doloo'!" [du lait, de l'eau]

From the 22nd of October 1914 there were Indian Troops in the trenches near Wijtschate and Mesen. On 26th October 1914, at 3 pm, the 129th Baluchis and the 57th Wilde's Rifles staged an attack to the south of Hollebeke. This was the first action of the Indian troops in the War. On 1st November the Indian troops were withdrawn from the front near Ieper. In the next months they were deployed near Fesubert, Givenchy and -- Neuve-Chapelle. Six months later, 25th April 1915, the Lahore Division pitched tent near Ouderdom. These troopss had been brought in a hurry to bolster the French and British who had suffered much in the first German gas attack - on 22nd April 1915. One day after their arrival, they were ordered to attack across an open field near Wieltje. In the resulting carnage, on that spring day, 348 of the 444 men of the 47th Sikhs met their death.

Like many other, Bhan Singh, the orderly of a Captain Banks of the 57th Wildes Rifles, was noted for his courage. When his captain fell, and although himself wounded and weak with facial injuries, he still tried to save him, instead of withdrawing. When Banks finally died, Bhan Singh retrieved his personal belongings. For several days, the severe attacks continued, including a chlorine gas attack, without gain or loss of one yard of territory. Finally the Indians were withdrawn, on 30th April. Between 24th and 1st May, 1915, the Lahore Division lost 3889 men, one third of its total.

After they left the Ieper Salient in May 1915, Indians were deployed only sporadically here.After yet another bloody battle , near Loos inSeptember 1915, the Indian divisions left Europe and were deployed in Mesopotamia. That does not mean that all Indians had indeed left western Europe. Members of the Indian Labour Corps and of the Indian Cavalry were seen in western Europe, several times over the next three years.

***

Cooperation was sought by a group of European Sikhs, from the In Flanders Fields Museum and the Cultural Centrum Ieper. (Ieper is about 50 km south of Ostend, around 150 from the Dutch border.) The Belgian province of Flanders was most generous: the large town hall of Ieper, with four large halls were made available for use by the Sikh sangat, a huge khanda was placed on the tower, with beautiful lighting, a large langar kitchen was installed, buses for use for the tours to the battle fields were made available, wide publicity was given, ... the list is long. Support also came from Sikhs abroad; items were generously supplied for the Exhibition. These included Birs that had accompanied the valiant to cold war-torn Europe and had returned back to Punjab, with the surviving few, when it was all over.

In Flanders Fields Museum
Stad Ieper - city of peace
Flemish Bond
European Sikh Community