Category: VJ Day 80

Honorary Captain Gian Singh VC: A Legacy of Courage from Punjab to Buckingham Palace

His story, rooted in the earth of Punjab and culminating in the highest recognition for valour, is a testament to courage and devotion to service.

The Lascars: Seafaring Roots of Modern Britain

The Lascars – thousands of seafarers from the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, the Arab world and Africa.

Sylvia Manasseh – from the Women’s Auxiliary Corps in India to teacher and sculptor

Sylvia Manasseh today lives in South London and reflects on her long life, and her years serving in India during the war.

South Asia’s War and 1945

This year has seen commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The most destructive and lethal conflict in history lasted six years, and drew in almost every nation of the world.

Captain Yavar Abbas: A Filmmaker’s Route Through War and Empire

Yavar Abbas’s remarkable journey began in a princely state in India, and navigated through the fierce currents of the Second World War, partition and a distinguished career as a writer and filmmaker. It offers a unique perspective on service, identity and world-changing events.

Begum Pasha Shah: A Trailblazer in Indian Military History

Begum Pasha Shah etched her name in history as the first Muslim woman to join the Women’s Auxiliary Corps (WAC) in India.