South Asian Heritage Month

The RBL supports the annual South Asian Heritage Month as part of its mission to highlight the immense contribution of personnel from the Commonwealth in times of war and peace.

Visit the special RBL pages on the South Asian Heritage website to discover inspiring stories.

Service and Sacrifice - South Asian Heritage Trust

Discover inspiring stories of service and sacrifice by the men and women who served in the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces.

Remembrance

Sgt Pardeep Kaur MBE

Sergeant Pardeep Kaur was born in a small Indian village. She grew up to become a British Army chef and instructor, and to receive an MBE from Prince William.

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Hardit Singh Malik in the gardens at Balliol, looking toward the Old Library

Remembrance

The first Indian pilot of WWI

Known as The Flying Sikh of Biggin Hill, Hardit Singh Malik was the first Indian pilot of WWI and would go on to become a distinguished diplomat.

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Remembrance

Yavar's story

Yavar Abbas trained as a combat cameraman, following the troops of the 14th Army and documenting the extraordinary reality of the war in the east.

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Remembrance

Rajindar's story

Rajindar Singh Dhatt was born in Punjab and joined the army in 1941. He was part of the relief at Kohima and Imphal before serving in the gruelling Burma campaign.

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Warrant Officer Class 2 Khadak Bahadur Chhetri

Remembrance

Kalu Sing's story

Kalu Sing Chhetri’s remarkable bravery in the Far East and as a prisoner of war commanding 1,500 Gurkhas has inspired generations of service.

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