The wartime history of Brighton’s Royal Pavilion was brought to life recently with Sikhs in period-battle dress.
A Heritage Open Day explored how the Regency palace was used as an Indian military hospital during the First World War. A 15th Ludhiana Sikh Regiment re-enactment group appeared at the open day, dressed accurately in the uniform of the period.
Among them was Kuljit Singh Sahota, the great-great-grandson of Subedar Manta Singh, a soldier of the 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, who rescued his English comrade Captain Henderson during battle by carrying him to safety in a wheelbarrow. Manta Singh was nursed in Brighton but died from his wounds. He was on of just over 50 Sikh and Hindu soldiers to be cremated.
Kuljit, now a medical student at the University of Brighton, was involved as part of the National Army Museum's 'War and Sikhs' project.
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