Remembrance wreath laid on grave of 'untouchable' Indian First World War soldier Sukha at Brockenhurst

A WREATH was laid on the grave of an “untouchable” Indian First World War soldier in Brockenhurst.

The dedication was carried out by Harmeet Singh Brar, chair of the Friends of the Indian Soldiers Memorial (FISM) group, at Sukha’s grave in St Nicholas Churchyard.

Having served as a cleaner in the army camps in France and in the Lady Hardinge Hospital in Brockenhurst, Sukha died there from pneumonia in January 1915.

As a low-caste Indian with only one name from a village in Uttar Pradesh, he was classed as “untouchable” and could not be cremated at Patcham.

Sukha could also not be buried in the Muslim burial ground at Woking as he was Hindu.

But the then vicar of St Nicholas ruled he should be buried in Brockenhurst as he had died for England.

Mr Singh Brar was joined in the wreath-laying by fellow FISM member and Milton Heritage Society chairman, Nick Saunders, and parish council chair Cllr Michael Harris.

“Sukha was classed as an untouchable and when he passed in the UK none of the Indian soldiers would count him as theirs due to his class,” Mr Singh Brar said.

“However, the kindness shown by the people of Brockenhurst ensured he will be remembered.”