London, April 9
The British Sikh Association has submitted a planning application to erect a permanent memorial at Manor House Grounds in Southall, west London, in honour of the contributions made by Sikh soldiers during both World Wars. The proposal is now open for public consultation with Ealing Council, with a decision expected by the end of May. Association chairman Lord Rami Ranger said a sculptor from Rajasthan has already been commissioned for the project, and fundraising is underway to raise an estimated 100,000 pounds for the memorial in the predominantly Punjabi suburb of London.
“We are in the hands of the council and have everything ready to be greenlit once we have the planning permission,” Ranger said. Speaking about the vision behind the project, Ranger said the memorial seeks to bring recognition to the Sikh community in the United Kingdom by highlighting the sacrifices its soldiers made during times of war. “Sikhs made up only around two per cent of the population at the time, but more than 23 per cent of the soldiers in both wars were Sikhs,” he said, adding that the community also distinguished itself through a disproportionately high number of bravery decorations.
Ranger further said that, amid ongoing conflicts across the world, the monument could serve as an enduring source of pride and inspiration for younger generations. “At a time of war in the world, this will be a monument for future generations to take pride in their heritage and feel inspired to join the armed forces,” he said.
Around 83,000 Sikhs are believed to have died in the service of the British Empire during both World Wars and during the historic Battle of Saragarhi in 1897, when 21 soldiers of the British Indian Army’s 36th Sikh Regiment held their position against thousands of Afghan tribesmen, in what remains one of the most celebrated acts of military valour in Sikh history.
According to the planning application, the proposed structure is intended to be a respectful, educational and permanent public monument that will provide a space for community reflection, strengthen local cultural heritage and foster greater community cohesion. The design features a 1.8-metre tall bronze statue of a Sikh soldier, with an inscription on the stone base expected to read: “Sikh soldiers of the British Indian Army who fought in the two World Wars.” The memorial is also proposed as a venue for annual commemorations, with participation expected from veterans and community groups.
An earlier proposal had received approval in principle for a Sikh memorial at a separate site in Southall, opposite the former fire station. The project team subsequently chose Manor House Grounds so that the new monument could stand alongside an existing memorial at the site, consolidating commemorative spaces within a single focal area. “Southall has a strong Sikh heritage. A sensitively designed memorial contributes positively to inclusive placemaking and strengthens community cohesion,” the association stated in its application.
The public consultation on the proposal remains open until the end of April, with a decision from Ealing councillors anticipated by the end of May. Construction, if approved, is expected to begin in the months that follow.
