In the battlefield of Gallipoli, a Sikh soldier was reported as having seen a vision of Guru Gobind Singh.
One of the most phenomenal discoveries in the research for the 'Empire, Faith & War' exhibition was a small article in an obscure American newspaper in 1915 that recounted this remarkable story:
Subedar Narain Singh of the 14th Sikhs who received six bullet wounds while engaged in an action in Gallipoli...says that the vision of Guru Gobind Singh appeared before the Sikh soldiers just as they brandished their bayonets.
He declares that he cannot explain in words 'the spirit this holy sight infused in us. It emboldened us to march on, piercing thorough the abdomen of the enemy mindful of the havoc being wrought by the horrid machine gun.
We shouted Sat Sri Akal - the battle cry of the Sikhs and chanted shabads of Halla (attack), as if ours was a nuptial procession.
Those among us who fell wounded or dead we minded never, as the only thought before us was devotion to the Guru, who was so omnipresent in the march...
To discover the full story visit our summer exhibition 9 July to 28 September at the Brunei Gallery, SOAS, London. Find out more here.