Commemoration of Pte Sarn Singh's death centenary in Adelaide

On Friday June 16, the Governor of South Australia hosted a historic reception in Adelaide, to mark the centenary of the death of a decorated Australian soldier Private Sarn Singh.

Serving members of ADF of Punjabi origin, with the Governor of SA and his wife

Serving members of ADF, many of Punjabi origin, with the Governor of SA and his wife Source: SBS

Pte Singh was a member of the Australian Imperial Force during WWI and he was killed in action in Belgium on June 10, 1917, while serving in the 43rd Infantry Battalion.

Pte Sarn Singh is one of 12 Indian Anzacs who were enlised in the AIF during World War I. He and Pte Nain Singh Sailani were  the only known casualties, both dying in the line of duty in the battle of Messines, in June 1917.

It was quite historic that the Governor of South Australia, the state the Pte Sarn Singh belonged to (he enlisted from Adealide), held a reception at Government House, followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the War Memorial, and by a memorial lecture by Prof Emeritus Margaret Allen.

To hear a summary report of the day, please click on the audio link embedded in the image above. The report includes grabs of interviews with Hon Hieu Van Le, Governor of SA, Harjit Singh of ASHA, Prof Emeritus Margaret Allen, Col Doug Langreuhr, ex RAAF officer Kuljit Jassal, and Leading Aircraftman Maninder Singh. 

More video interviews by SBS Punjabi, including those with Capt Sandeep Bhagat and Corporal Jagmeet Singh are shared below:

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2 min read
Published 20 June 2017 10:36pm
Updated 26 June 2017 8:58am
By Manpreet K Singh

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