"British Asian families are being urged to record the experiences of relatives who fought for Britain for future generations as data reveals half the British public don't know that Indian members of the armed forces served in the second world war. The My Family Legacy project, backed by the Royal British Legion, is building an online archive of Asian veterans' experiences to raise awareness of the shared histories and sacrifices of Britain's diverse communities."
"More than 2.5 million people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka served in the second world war, the largest volunteer army in history. My Family Legacy a joint project by the thinktank British Future and Eastern Eye, the British Asian newspaper is asking British Asian families to share stories and pictures, or just the names, of ancestors and living relatives who fought in world wars."
British Asian families are being asked to record and share relatives' military service to preserve experiences for future generations. The My Family Legacy project, backed by the Royal British Legion, is building an online archive of Asian veterans' experiences to raise awareness of shared histories and sacrifices. More than 2.5 million volunteers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka served in the second world war. Polling showed half the British public were unaware of that legacy, with around 60% of British Asians aware. The project invites stories, pictures or names. Parliamentary memorials honoured veterans whose accounts are being added to the archive. Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP hosted a UK parliamentary memorial for Havildar Maj Rajinder Singh Dhatt MBE, a Kohima veteran, and Sgt Muhammad Hussain, who fought at Monte Cassino. Dhesi said a duty existed to ensure the sacrifices of Black and Asian Commonwealth servicemen, including Sikh ancestors, were not airbrushed or ignored. Relatives stressed the imperative of recording these stories for future generations.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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