userid50966
Well-known member
It reminds me of another Sikh valor of 1897, which is known to very few people in India but in France and Italy, this is taught in class books and is a chapter of course.
On 12th Sep.1897, 21 Sikh soldiers of 36th regiment were besieged by about 10,000 Afreedi Pathans at Saragarhi near fort Lockhart, distt. Kohat NWF of now Pakistan. The fierce battle was fought under the command of Havaldar Isher Singh who caused maximum causalities of the invaders. According to the accounts of Afreedi-pathans, more than 200 hundred were killed and about 1000 seriously injured. At the fag end of the battle only Gurmukh Singh was left alone with twenty bodies of his brave fellow fighters Amritdhari Gur-Sikh soldiers lying all around him. He was a signalman and he sent the last messege on heliography that now he is going to switch off the Radio and to hold the rifle and permission be granted, he was given the permission. He fought alone for hours in the spirit of Chardi-kala (Dynamic power) and showing exemplary courage unparalleled in the history of wars, continued firing and fighting till the last drops of his blood kept him alive. He and twenty of other brave Sikh soldiers practically proved in the battlefield the prophetic prononcement of Guru Gobind Singh that, "Sawa laakh se ek larhun tabhey Gobind Singh naam kahaun."
All these twenty one Sikhs who laid down their lives heroically were awarded the highest gallantry award-THE INDIAN ORDER OF MERIT (IOM) equivalent to existing PARAM VEER CHAKRA, for their supreme valor and sacrifice by the British Govt.
Most of Indians are unaware of this battle and supreme sacrifice. Their bravery is not taught in schools in India but France and Italy have given them due importance.This saga is in the lesson of their High school books.
When the news of that peerless sacrifice reached England,all the members of the British Parliament in their special session paid glowing tributes to the most daring Sikh soldiers and two minuites silence was observed in their sweet memory 0); "The members of the House while eulogizing the remarkable acts of bravery of the brave Sikh soldiers of Saragari battle said," The English as well as Indian subjects are proud of 36th (Now 4th Sikh) Sikh Regiment and it is no exaggeration to record that the armed forces which posses valiant Sikhs cannot face defeat in any war." 21 highest gallantry awards were given on that day to 21 Sikh soldiers which were the highest in strength awarded for any single day.
On 12th Sep.1897, 21 Sikh soldiers of 36th regiment were besieged by about 10,000 Afreedi Pathans at Saragarhi near fort Lockhart, distt. Kohat NWF of now Pakistan. The fierce battle was fought under the command of Havaldar Isher Singh who caused maximum causalities of the invaders. According to the accounts of Afreedi-pathans, more than 200 hundred were killed and about 1000 seriously injured. At the fag end of the battle only Gurmukh Singh was left alone with twenty bodies of his brave fellow fighters Amritdhari Gur-Sikh soldiers lying all around him. He was a signalman and he sent the last messege on heliography that now he is going to switch off the Radio and to hold the rifle and permission be granted, he was given the permission. He fought alone for hours in the spirit of Chardi-kala (Dynamic power) and showing exemplary courage unparalleled in the history of wars, continued firing and fighting till the last drops of his blood kept him alive. He and twenty of other brave Sikh soldiers practically proved in the battlefield the prophetic prononcement of Guru Gobind Singh that, "Sawa laakh se ek larhun tabhey Gobind Singh naam kahaun."
All these twenty one Sikhs who laid down their lives heroically were awarded the highest gallantry award-THE INDIAN ORDER OF MERIT (IOM) equivalent to existing PARAM VEER CHAKRA, for their supreme valor and sacrifice by the British Govt.
Most of Indians are unaware of this battle and supreme sacrifice. Their bravery is not taught in schools in India but France and Italy have given them due importance.This saga is in the lesson of their High school books.
When the news of that peerless sacrifice reached England,all the members of the British Parliament in their special session paid glowing tributes to the most daring Sikh soldiers and two minuites silence was observed in their sweet memory 0); "The members of the House while eulogizing the remarkable acts of bravery of the brave Sikh soldiers of Saragari battle said," The English as well as Indian subjects are proud of 36th (Now 4th Sikh) Sikh Regiment and it is no exaggeration to record that the armed forces which posses valiant Sikhs cannot face defeat in any war." 21 highest gallantry awards were given on that day to 21 Sikh soldiers which were the highest in strength awarded for any single day.
i know that 
