24 Hour Museum - official guide to UK museums, galleries, exhibitions and heritage
Gateway to Over 3,000 UK museums, galleries and heritage attractions
Skip to navigation
Search Is On For South Asian Veterans Of World War Two In Kirklees
By David Prudames
20/10/2004
Then Prime Minister Winston Churchill meets with Sikh soldiers during WWII. Courtesy Imperial War Museum.
A museum in Huddersfield is calling for South Asian veterans of the Second World War from the Kirklees area to come forward and tell their stories.
With celebrations for the religious festivals of Diwali and Eid coinciding this year with Remembrance Sunday, staff at Kirklees Community History Service intend to use the opportunity to explore the contribution of South Asians to the war effort.
A display is being developed to go on show at the Tolson Museum from November 14 that will commemorate the important role played in WWII by the soldiers and people of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
"We are preparing a display to acknowledge the contribution of South Asian servicemen and women in World War II," explained Neil West, Community History Project Officer.
"Their sacrifice remains unsung - despite the fact that soldiers from South Asia outnumbered their British comrades in receiving the Victoria and George Cross Medals, the highest awards for bravery."
Soldiers originating from South Asia fought alongside other allied troops, sailors and pilots in the dark days between 1939 and 1945.
In Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, many parts of Asia, as well as in the Battle of Britain, South Asians swelled the ranks of soldiers as well as support and medical staff.
Remembrance Sunday provides an opportunity to commemorate the sacrifice of servicemen and women from all over the Commonwealth. © Jon Pratty.
The Tolson Museum’s Diwali celebrations are set to take place on Remembrance Sunday, November 14, when ceremonies all over the UK will commemorate the sacrifice made by servicemen and women in times of war.
Just a day or two later Eid will mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on November 15/16.
This offers staff at Kirklees Community History Service the perfect opportunity to explore the South Asian contribution to WWII.
But, while it the display will include more general information and photographs, organisers want to find local people who can tell the story as they remember it.
"We would really like to hear and use the accounts of local people from South Asian communities who were actually 'there' - either fighting or in another way supporting the war effort," added Neil.
"This would provide a real local dimension to the exhibition. We would also like to hear from any forces personnel who served alongside South Asian comrades during the war, or the relatives of South Asian veterans."
Anyone with a memory or story to tell can contact Neil West by telephone on (01484) 223802.
Tolson Museum, Huddersfield
Tolson Museum, Ravensknowle, Wakefield Rd, Huddersfield, HD5 8DJ, West Yorkshire, England
Open: Monday to Friday: 11am - 5pm
Saturday & Sunday: 12 - 5pm
Visiting groups should pre-book.
Related Articles
Young And Old Come Together In Kirklees To Make Mill Textile Art
E-news registration
E-mail story to a friend
Tell us what you think
Blitz And Dunkirk Veteran Thames Fireboat To Be Restored
News In Brief - Museums, Galleries And Heritage News
Massive Ted Hughes Archive Acquired By British Library
Art Fund Donates £1 Million To Save Titian's Diana And Actaeon
Youngsters Win Battlefield Trips To Mark 90th Anniversary Of Armistice
SEIZURE: Roger Hiorns And The Art Of Disappearing
Archaeological Dig To Uncover The Mysteries Of Carisbrooke Castle
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham Launches Library Debate
The Sackler Centre - The V&A's New Centre For Arts Education
T.M. Hemy Mauretania Oil Painting From QE2 Handed To Discovery Museum
English Heritage In Nationwide Search For Young History Presenter
National Trust Wades Into The Water And Flood Management Debate
Sir Christopher Frayling: 'Unlock Creative Potential Of Collections'
New Their Past Your Future Projects Bring Generations Together
News In Brief - Week Ending October 12 2008
Two Of Britain's Roman And Maritime Heritage Sites Get Major Funding Boost
Winners Of Young Archaeologist Of The Year Awards 2008 Announced
Shock And Gore - Controversial Artwork Opens Brighton Photo Biennial
Search this site
Home Page
News Page
Exhibition Page
What's On
Trails Page
Website of the Week
Letters Page
Welsh Home
Graphical Version
Copyright © 24 Hour Museum
Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.