Nov 10, 2013 : KITCHENER — Most Canadians who hear the story of Pte. Buckam Singh would agree he's a hero.
Twice wounded in action, Singh was one of just nine Sikh soldiers known to have fought for Canada in the First World War.
But for Sarabjot Anand, an officer cadet at Kingston's Royal Military College, Singh is also a true trailblazer.
Anand is one of the first two turbaned Sikhs to study at the military college since its founding in 1876.
"He was the leader in opening the doors for us," Anand said following Sunday's Sikh Remembrance Day ceremony in Kitchener.
The ceremony is held annually at Singh's grave in Mount Hope Cemetery. His is believed to be the only military grave in Canada of a Sikh soldier from the world wars.
After contracting tuberculosis while recovering from his wounds in England, Singh was brought to a military hospital in Kitchener, where he died in 1919.
Nearly a century has passed, and the Canadian Forces have become one of the most multicultural military organizations in the world, said Anand, who hopes to serve as an air force communications and electronics engineer.
"I'm a proud Canadian," he said. "I want to make this my career."
Speaking to the assembled crowd, Cmdr. Timothy O'Leary of naval reserve division HMCS York said the tradition of service in the Canadian Forces begun by Singh and his peers is well-entrenched today.
"I am in awe of these individuals," he said. "I'm humbled to be here today."
Among the special guests in attendance was Capt. Daulat Singh Deol, who served in the Second World War with the British Indian Army and turns 103 in January.
Buckam Singh's story came to light a few years ago after Brampton's Sandeep Singh Brar purchased Singh's Victory medal from a dealer — and, to his surprise, discovered that he had been a Canadian soldier.
Brar's research led him to Singh's grave in Kitchener. The annual service at the once-forgotten marker now stands as a tribute to not only Singh and his fellow Sikh soldiers, but to all of those who have served for Canada.
"For a diverse community that is a minority, it is a great (source of) pride to know we have our own connection to Canadian history," said Gursev Singh, a local teacher and community liaison for the ceremony.
"We're very happy to see we are contributing members of a country we've adopted."
Singh said there is a long tradition of military service among Sikhs, exemplified in Buckam Singh's desire to enlist back in 1915.
"We are ready to sacrifice and give for freedom and for liberty," he said.