Two of the UK’s few remaining South Asian veterans of the Second World War who died this year, Havildar Major Rajindar Singh Dhatt MBE and Sergeant Mohammad Hussain, will be honoured at a commemoration event today, with the Royal British Legion making a special presentation to their families.
The event also sees the launch of My Family Legacy, a new project to raise awareness of South Asian service in the world wars and preserve the stories of those who fought for Britain.
A new Focaldata poll for British Future finds that only half the UK public (52%) – and fewer than 6 in 10 British Asians (57%) – know that Indian soldiers served in WW2.
More than 2.5 million people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka served in WW2, the largest volunteer army in history. My Family Legacy, coordinated by British Future and Eastern Eye and supported by the Royal British Legion, aims to make this story of South Asian contribution better known, among South Asian communities and people from all backgrounds in Britain today.
The project asks British Asian families to share stories and pictures of ancestors who served, creating an archive for future generations. The stories will be displayed on a dedicated new website, www.myfamilylegacy.org.uk, and also form part of the Royal British Legion’s ‘Forgotten Army’ exhibition that is touring the country, featuring a bronze sculpture of Indian soldiers by artist Mahtab Hussein. The ‘Forgotten Army’ tour begins in Liverpool later in September 2025.
South Asian families are invited to share their family stories at www.myfamilylegacy.org.uk or by emailing stories@myfamilylegacy.org.uk
The new Focaldata poll for British Future also finds:
- Three-quarters of the public (76%) and of British Asians (77%), agree that learning more about this history could help social cohesion in Britain.
- Awareness of faith contributions is even lower, with just 4 in 10 aware that Sikhs (42%) and Hindus (40%) fought, and only a third (32%) aware of the millions of Muslims who served.
- There is appetite to learn more: two-thirds of the public (64%) , and three-quarters of British Asians (76%), say they want to learn more about South Asian soldiers’ contribution.
Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, said:
“We should never forget what we all owe to those who won the Second World War against fascism. South Asian soldiers were the largest volunteer army in history. Ensuring that their enormous contribution is fully recognised in our national story remains important work in progress.
“My Family legacy aims to help people to find, document and tell these family stories of courage and contribution, service and sacrifice in the world wars. It shows how our national traditions of Remembrance can bring today’s modern, diverse Britain together ever more powerfully when we commemorate all of those who served to secure the freedoms that we enjoy today.”
Gail Walters, Director of Network Engagement at the Royal British Legion, said:
“Honouring the South Asian soldiers who served in Britain’s World Wars is about remembering their bravery and also gives a fuller picture of our shared history. The service and sacrifice of South Asian soldiers are integral to Britain’s national story and helped build the country we are today. We want more families across the UK to feel included and hope they will share the stories of their ancestors who served.”
Amrit Kaur Dhatt, Granddaughter of the late Havildar Major Rajindar Singh Dhatt MBE said:
“It is so important to capture stories of Commonwealth and ethnic minority soldiers, like my grandfather’s, because they were left out of mainstream history. I find that even the disparity and awareness between VE and VJ Day remains shockingly significant. But remembering isn’t just about the past. It is about shaping the future. And I fear that today’s society clearly hasn’t learnt enough from history. Baba Ji had always hoped that future generations would never have to see the devastation that they [war veterans] had to endure.”
Ejaz Hussain, Granddaughter of the late WW2 veteran Sergeant Mohammad Hussain, said:
“As the last soldiers of the war fade before our eyes, it remains imperative that we capture their stories. We – as a country and a people – are blessed to be here today, enjoying liberty and safety directly because of the sacrifices of those from the greatest generation, of which my grandfather was one. The shared history as a united people, fighting for one common cause in spite of their differences, serves as the ultimate metaphor for future generations on how we must remain united as a country. Only then can we overcome any and all challenges in an uncertain world.”
Sangita Myska, Journalist and Presenter, said:
“Honouring the service given by South Asian soldiers is vital to understanding the intertwined and complex relationship forged by our forebears with Britain. It is, in part, through that prism that we can build a common legacy and strengthen our common identity in the future”
Adil Ray OBE, actor and presenter, said:
“This is the greatest war story that’s never been told. Millions of Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs from India, today’s Pakistan and Bangladesh fought two world wars, fighting for our freedom. We owe everything to Major Dhatt and Sergeant Hussain and their fellow soldiers. Their history is our history.”
For more information – and to read the first stories collected by the project – visit: www.myfamilylegacy.org.uk.
The stories are also being shared on social media, via the @My_Family_Legacy Instagram account.
All images copyright (c) IWM.
