A question for our Canadian members (well they have to earn their keep :becky: Were there any Indians in the Canadian armed forces during WW2? I know there was a sizeable Sikh population in Canada from before WW1 and I wondered whether there are any records of them or other Indians joining up in either WW1 or WW2 (though I know that the position of immigrants before, during and just after WW1 was rather complicated and so they may not have been eligible to join-up)? I've read a passing reference to the fact that 200 Japanese joined up during WW1 and 50/60 were killed.
Kyt, Give me some common Indian names and i'll check on this for you. If you want to PM them to me thats fine as well. Sniper. eep:
This seems as though it could be a son of a mixed marriage? Name: SINGH, JAMES Initials: J Nationality: Canadian Rank: Rifleman Regiment/Service: Regina Rifle Regiment, R.C.I.C. Age: 23 Date of Death: 12/10/1944 Service No: L/28261 Additional information: Son of Besua and Jennie Singh, of Medicine Hat, Alberta. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: IX. G. 7. Cemetery: ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Eight (8) Singh's attested in the Great War: Singh List Name Date of Birth Rank Regimental number(s) Reference 1. SINGH, BUKAM 05/12/1893 454819 RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8947 - 44 2. SINGH, HARI 06/06/1882 139181 RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8947 - 45 3. SINGH, HERMAN 04/07/1888 827025 RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8947 - 46 4. SINGH, JOHN 13/12/1880 721760 RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8947 - 47 5. SINGH, LASHMAN 15/01/1885 219222 RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8947 - 48 6. SINGH, RAM 03/12/1888 4080094 RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8947 - 49 7. SINGH, SEWA 07/06/1890 2074282 RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8947 - 50 8. SINGH, WARYAM 23/01/1883 410622 RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8947 - 51 That matches Marc Leroux's program list, so that was the total. Any more names?
Thank you Spidge, just found a picture of the grave. It is very possible that he was of mixed parentage because most of the early Indian immigrants were single males, many of whom would have settled down with canadian women: The Adegem Canadian War Cemetery: J. Singh Thank you Richard. Other possible names (of course just the tip of the iceberg): Lal, Mohan, Patel Ram Dutt Ghosh Khan Menon etc etc etc
There are another two for your list for the great war. LOAL SINGH, who died on October 24, 1918, Service Number: 219222, Unit: Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment), ARRAS ROAD CEMETERY Pas de Calais,France. BUKKAN SINGH, who died on August 27, 1919, Service Number: 454819 , Unit: Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment), Cemetery: KITCHENER (MOUNT HOPE) CEMETERY Ontario,Canada Also i have one listed for 1954 and in 1944. Let me know if you want the details. Sniper eep:
Thank Sniper. And yes, the additional names would be great. I would love to find some references to Indians in the Canadian armed forces but all I seem to find is about recent recruitment.
Any of the names you want searched from WWI records, let me know and it is a done deal. Sorry, we can't do WWII in Canada yet, unless you are a relative and the person is deceased - and only then with PROOF in all aspects.
Kyt, Here are the two others you asked for. Rifleman JAMES SINGH who died on October 12, 1944. Service Number: 28261. Unit: Regina Rifle Regiment. Cemetery: ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY Belgium Flying Officer GERMAL SINGH who died on October 3, 1954. Service Number: 55055. Date of Enlistment: January 25, 1951 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Son of Giana and D'Hante Singh of Vancouver, BC. Husband of Irene D. Singh. Father of Isabel R. Singh. Brother of Darvio, Gerival, Sadu, Gaily, Mindow, Chindow Singh. Cemetery: COTE DES NEIGES OUEST (BARON DE HIRSCH) CEM. Quebec,Canada Hope this helps you in your research. Sniper eep:
Thank you Sniper. Maddeningly I haven't found the causes of either death. In the case of James, he seems to have been Killed in Action, though the Battalion Diary reports it to be a quiet day!! Will have to dig deeper for Germal.
Your welcome Kyt. Could be he died of wounds at some field hospital so therefore would not be mentioned in the Btn diary. You may have to delve a little further back to find anyting. Good luck and as always if i can help let me know. Sniper eep:
Thanks Sniper. It appears that he was KIA, not DoW, according the listing on this site: http://ww2chat.com/forums/unit-history/2102-regina-rifles.html Thanks for your help
