UK envoy pays homage to WW-I heroes from Ludhiana
KILA RAIPUR (LUDHIANA) : The walls of buildings at Mehma Singh Wala village near Kila Raipur were adorned with Indian and British flags on Thursday as local residents waited for a special guest.
As soon as British deputy high commissioner Andrew Ayre arrived to pay homage to the 70 Mehma Singh Wala men, who are believed to have fought in World War I, he was given a rousing welcome by the villagers.
“I am deeply moved by the hospitality of Punjabi people. I feel honoured to be part of this event. Let us not forget the heroes from this village who sac- rificed their lives during World War I,” Ayre said after unveiling a memorial plaque.
“As we mark the centenary of the war, it is important to keep such sacrifices alive in the minds of people,” he added.
Of the 70 soldiers who participated in the war, five had died in the line of duty.
Later, he paid obeisance at the village gurdwara. He also visited the village stadium where he interacted with students. The village has a large number of NRIs.
The event was organised by the residents of the village with the help of Maharaja Duleep Trust and UK-based NRI Jaswant Singh Grewal.
Gurpreet Singh of the ‘1914 Sikhs’ campaign claimed that such an event was held for the first time in Punjab.
OF THE 70 SOLDIERS, HAILIING FROM MEHMA SINGH WALA, WHO PARTICIPATED IN WAR THAT LASTED FROM 1942 TO 1945, FIVE HAD DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY