In response to Bert Williams of Brighton and Hove Black Community (Letters, June 4), I hope to attend the Chattri annual memorial service to honour and remember the Indian soldiers who died in hospital in Brighton and Hove during the First World War. Two of my uncles fell in the Great War and one of them was in a regiment which fought alongside Indian infantry. The outstanding courage and skill of Indian soldiers who fought with us in several war zones should never be forgotten. These included Sikh Cavalry who fought mounted and on foot, Bengal Lancers, infantry divisions and others.
Though forgotten by many people today, at the time their heroism and gallantry were gratefully recognised. For example, the VC was awarded to Khudadad Khan who, as the only survivor of a machine-gun team and at great risk to himself, refused to quit his post until he had rendered it useless to the enemy, and a VC to Naik Darwan Singh Negi who, under a hail of fire and grenades, continued fighting to regain a vital trench which had fallen into enemy hands.
In spite of being severely injured three times, he refused to report that he was wounded. (The Sphere, January 19, 1918)
Sally Hosking Cedar
-Cavendish Place, Brighton
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