The sacrifice made by Sikhs and other Indian nationals in the two world wars is largely an unknown story to most of the world. Making up less than 2% of the Indian population, Sikhs stepped forward to swell the ranks of the Indian army from a slim 189,000 to over 2.5 million men. In all, more than 83,005 turbaned Sikhs would give their lives while another 109,045 more would suffer wounds and disability for the sake of the free world. In all, a total of 169,700 brave Indian soldiers lost their lives in the two world wars (this comprised of 83,005 Sikhs, 43,250 Muslims, and approximately 42,700 Hindus and Gorkhas.) The majority of the Indian casualties hailed from the state of Punjab. We must never forget the sacrifices made by the Spirit Born People of yesterday who fought and died to preserve the freedom we all enjoy today.

Just as we honour the soldiers of Britain and Canada, France and Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, and all other free nations of the world we must also pay our respects to these brave soldiers who gave their lives thousands of miles away from home, on foreign soil for the liberty of nations.

Despite the loss of their kingdom in Northern India to the British Empire, the Sikhs, warriors in spirit, adventures by nature, willingly answered the call to arms of the British Imperial Army. Many left behind homes and families they would never see again.

Fighting in the trenches and muddy fields of Europe, in the deserts, among the mountains and on the oceans in these global conflicts, the Sikhs would win unstinting respect for their courage, bravery, patience and fortitude.

As Canadians, in these sad days watching flag-draped coffins make their mournful way home from Afghanistan to our cities and towns, we would do well to think back to the ultimate sacrifice made by so many young men, buried in distant lands, without the honour of a formal funeral.