Chattri Memorial Service in Brighton, Indian Army Corps including the Sikh Pioneers Regiment

The Chattri Memorial Service at Patcham Downs (near Brighton) annually commemorates the soldiers from the Indian Army Corps who served on the Western Front, as well as those who died in the hospital at Brighton and were cremated on the Downs. To mark this spot, a Chattri - literally translated as an "umbrella" - was built. A commemorative memorial service is held annually every 2nd Sunday in June, where the Sikh Pioneers and Sikh Light Infantry Association UK Association lays a wreath in memory of their fallen men. It is also remembered that all Sikh Pioneers Regiments primarily recruited Mazhbi and Ramdasia Sikhs with some Lubana Sikhs and Jat Sikhs (the Association represents the 23rd, 32nd and 34th Sikh Pioneers and the current Sikh Light Infantry Regiment respectively). Davinder Singh Dhillon organises and leads the service, assisted by Tom Donovan from the Association. Various members of the Armed Forces including Sikhs from the Army, Navy and Air Force are introduced, alongside local dignitaries and various community organisations. Before formal proceedings commenced, a Giani ji, an equivalent to a Sikh priest, leads the prayer called an Ardaas. This short prayer remembers the sacrifices that Sikhs have made to upload the honour of their faith and asks for "Sarbat da bhalla" - the betterment and well-being of the whole of humanity regardless of religion, caste or creed. This is followed by a priest from the Hindu community. Initially, various political dignitaries lay wreaths including the HM Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, followed by the Deputy High Commissioner of India, Military attaché to the Indian High Commission, the Mayor of Brighton, local councillors, members of the House of Lords and the Chief Constable of Sussex Police. The UK Sikh Chaplain Service and the Sikh Community and Youth Service also participated, as did Sikhs from various Gurdwara's (places of worship) including Sri Guru Singh Sabha (Hounslow), Sri Guru Singh Sabha (Crawley) and Sri Guru Ravidass Sabha (Bedford). Thereafter, wreaths were laid by individuals whose ancestors were cremated at the Chattri; for example, Jaimal Singh Johal laid a wreath in memory of his grandfather who was cremated on Patcham Downs, Subadar Manta Singh. Wreaths were also laid by the Undivided India Ex-Servicemen's Association and the great-grandson of General Willcocks, Commander of the Indian Corps on the Western Front. The Last Post was played, followed by a two-minute silence. Association attendees were then invited to a local school, and treated to a meal courtesy of the Punjab Restaurant (Covent Garden, London). The service is an annual event, to remember those men from the Indian Army Corps who fell on the Western Front during the 1914-18 war. Note:- the photograph shown is of a Memorial Screen, which the 34th Royal Sikh Pioneers gifted to King George V as a war trophy during the interwar period. The screen was made from the driving bands of enemy shells collected from three fronts (Western Front, Mesopotamia, Sinai & Palestine). It has since been reunited with the Sikh Light Infantry, the successor unit to the Sikh Pioneers regiment.