World War, 1939-1945

Group photo with Phangan Singh Gill standing in the Canadian army during the second world war. Gill is standing second from the right. They are dressed in uniform and the photo was taken outside.

Creator: Ghadar Party

Creator: Binning, Sadhu

Creator: Hundal, Sukhwant

Originally published in Watan

Interview with Indar Singh Gill about his experiences moving to Canada. Indar Singh Gill's uncle was already a resident in Canada therefore, he helped Indar Singh with the government documentation. Eventually, with his uncle's guidance, Indar immigrated to Canada in the year 1930, when he was only 17 years old. Gill's uncle used to feed them even though he did not have a job. Indar Singh used to stay at Mayo Lumbers. He was then sent to Kamloops to pick tomatoes for three months, $54 was his wage. In 1932, he started to work at Kapoor Lumber Company. Indar Singh took over the lumber mill after the previous lumber owner retired. At one point in the interview, Indar Singh speaks about the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, and talks about the forced removal of Japanese Canadians. This is a full-length interview recorded on January 6th, 1994.

Certificate of discharge addressed to Piara Singh for his service from 8-11-1944 to 15-5-1947 as a third grade, instrument mechanic in the Indian Army's I.E.M.E unit, DEMOB Battalion, Jubbulpore during World War 2. While serving he won a war medal and was characterized as "very good" by the Lieutenant of I.E.M.E. The certificate is issued to him for ease in obtaining civil employment following his discharge.

Image of a line of eight sikh soldiers wearing gas masks in front of a sikh officer without a gas mask.