| Sikhs have always been known as great
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| | that in 1857 when most of the Indian Army
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| warriors. During the two World Wars over
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| | revolted, the Sikhs remained totally
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| 80,000 Sikhs gave their lives for the
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| | supportive and fought side by side with
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| allied cause.Whilst Birmingham celebrates
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| | the British Army. Subsequently, the
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| VE Day we could do well to remember this.
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| | Punjab became the recruiting ground for
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| Often unforgotten, there are many Sikhs
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| | the British. This staunch and loyal Sikh
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| who have been awarded the Victoria Cross.
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| | support was to show itself again during
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| Britain has a proud tradition of valiant
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| | the great wars.
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| armed forces and a capable military which
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| | During the First World War Sikhs joined
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| has managed to defend these isles
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| | the ranks of the British Army in great
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| effectively for hundreds of years.
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| | numbers. They fought in the trenches of
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| British Military achievement is well
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| | Germany and at Gallipoli where thousands
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| known throughout the world and the
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| | of Sikhs fought and died. The British
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| bravery and versatility of its soldiers,
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| | Indian Army was made of nearly 20% Sikhs,
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| seamen and airmen is unquestioned and
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| | despite the fact that Sikhs account for
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| forever stamped in history.
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| | only 2% of the population in India.
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| Today as we look at the VE Day
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| | During the Second World War this action
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| Celebrations there is an abundance of
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| | was repeated. Even though there was now a
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| information in the media that provides an
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| | quest for Indian Independence the British
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| insight into what life would have been
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| | Indian Army grew from 189,000 at the
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| like in those troubled times. It is right
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| | start of the war to over 2.5 million
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| that we remember them, the fallen, and
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| | through voluntary recruitment and a large
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| the living whose numbers dwindle with
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| | proportion of those were Sikh. At no
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| every passing year. To them we owe our
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| | other time in history has a foreign army
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| freedom as they fought for this land and
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| | this large been voluntarily mobilised to
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| often lost their lives so that we might
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| | fight for a foreign land as if it were
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| remain a free country.
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| | their own country. The significance of
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| However, whilst each country has a right
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| | this should not be underestimated.
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| to blow its own trumpet and remember the
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| | In 1944, Sikh Soldiers halted the advance
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| heroic gestures, hardships and victories
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| | of the Japanese in Burma and prevented
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| that made this nation what it is today,
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| | them from invading India. Four VC's were
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| we should also remember the massive
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| | awarded in this campaign.
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| sacrifice given by others from nations
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| | As the British Empire came to a close
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| further afield.
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| | many Sikhs were encouraged to settle in
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| The Sikhs sacrificed a great deal for
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| | the UK. Their loyalty, hard work ethics
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| this country. During the Anglo-Sikh wars
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| | and historic connection with the British
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| of 1845 - 1849 the British had been so
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| | should be remembered. Many Sikh families
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| impressed by the Khalsa Army they decided
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| | in Birmingham are direct descendents of
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| to enlist many battalions of Sikh forces.
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| | those who put so much into this country.
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| The former Sikh enemy became so loyal
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