"It was very difficult to learn more, or find out more."
Major Jay Singh-Sohal is leading efforts to ensure thousands of forgotten British Indian Army soldiers are remembered in an Armistice Day tribute at London Paddington.
The Sutton Coldfield-based Major will join veterans, serving military personnel and special guests for the Poppies to Paddington tribute on Platform 1, honouring Sikh, Hindu and Muslim soldiers who fought during the First World War.
The event will see hundreds of wreaths brought to the station on services across the Great Western Railway network, representing the sacrifices made by Commonwealth soldiers and the 9,909 British Indian Army servicemen whose names were recently uncovered through research.
Their identities and service had gone unrecognised for generations, prompting renewed efforts to ensure their contributions are included in Britain’s military history.
Major Singh-Sohal, who has spent more than a decade raising awareness of Sikh and Commonwealth contributions during the World Wars, has made remembrance a central part of his work.
His interest in the subject began growing up in Birmingham, where stories of Sikh soldiers’ wartime service were shared within his community but rarely taught in schools.
He said: “It was very difficult to learn more, or find out more.
“So, the more I found out about this contribution, the more I felt quite strongly and passionately about raising awareness about it.”
With a 17-year military career behind him, he began turning that interest into action during the centenary commemorations in 2014, establishing the UK’s first national Sikh memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
Major Singh-Sohal said: “In this day and age, I think it’s very important that we recognise that during the First and Second World Wars, people from all over the British Commonwealth stood up to volunteer, to serve, to fight in the cause of freedom and against injustice.
His work was recognised with an OBE in 2025 for services to the commemoration of Commonwealth soldiers’ contributions to Britain.
He added: “The world wars weren’t a white war.
“They were a war that all people of all faiths and backgrounds fought in. It’s something that can bring us all together.”
The Armistice Day tribute will also feature the King’s Gurkha Artillery Unit and the Sikh Ceremonial Troop, who will form a guard of honour before a two-minute silence at 11 am to remember those who lost their lives in conflicts past and present.
Major Singh-Sohal will pay tribute to those who served across the Commonwealth and highlight the bonds formed between soldiers from different backgrounds.
He said: “I think there was a lot more respect, mutual respect, and understanding within those who served at the time, because at the end of the day, they were brothers in arms.
“In the modern British Army, we’re quite privileged to have this connection continue.
“We’ve got a lot of serving soldiers and officers who are from Commonwealth heritage, and it certainly strengthens our military, that we’re able to draw upon this diversity of skills as well as understanding and knowledge in defence of Great Britain today.”
