A new commemorative stamp by Canada Post, unveiled at the 18th annual Sikh Remembrance Day event in Kitchener’s Mount Hope Cemetery, pays tribute to Sikh Canadian soldiers who have served in the country’s military since the First World War. Named “Private Singh,” the stamp features an illustration of a Sikh soldier honoring fallen comrades, with a backdrop depicting the grave of Pte. Buckam Singh, the youngest Sikh Canadian to enlist in the Canadian army during that era.
Sandeep Singh Brar, curator of Sikh Museum.com, emphasized that the stamp serves as a means to educate Canadians about a lesser-known aspect of the nation’s history. He highlighted the dual representation showcased on the stamp, reflecting the past and present service of Sikh individuals in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Brar shared that despite initial rejections, only ten Sikhs were allowed to enlist in the Canadian Army during the First World War, with Singh serving in the 20th Canadian Infantry Battalion in Europe. Wounded in battle and later succumbing to tuberculosis in a Kitchener military hospital, Singh was laid to rest with full military honors at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Singh’s grave remained unnoticed for almost a century until Brar discovered his war medal in an English pawn shop, leading to the establishment of the annual Sikh Remembrance Day ceremony at the site. Brar collaborated closely with Canada Post in developing the stamp, which he believes effectively acknowledges the historical and contemporary contributions of Sikh soldiers to Canada’s military landscape.
The stamp’s unveiling underscores the diversity within Canada’s population and recognizes the significant role various communities, including Sikhs, have played in shaping the nation’s history and military heritage.