Buckam Singh, Once Forgotten Sikh Canadian war hero
World War 1 Medal discovery reveals story of Canadian Sikh war hero based on article at sikhmuseum.com
The story of one of the first Sikh Canadian WWI soldiers has been uncovered with the discovery of his Victory medal.
Sandeep Singh Brar an avid Sikh historian purchased the medal from a dealer in England and quickly realized its historical significance. The medal revealed a fascinating story of heroism and tragedy.
"Buckam Singh (who signed his name Bukkan, which also appears on his tombstone) came to B.C. from Punjab in 1907 at age 14 and eventually moved to Toronto in 1912/1913. He enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the spring of 1915. He's one of the earliest known Sikhs living in Ontario at the time as well as one of only 9 Sikhs that we know of that served with Canadian troops in WWI", says Singh Brar.
Private Buckam Singh served with the 20th Canadian Infantry Battalion in the battlefields of Flanders during 1916. He's a genuine Canadian hero because not only did he serve, but he was wounded twice in two separate battles says Singh Brar. One of the interesting discoveries included the fact that after being shot Private Buckam Singh received treatment at a hospital run by one of Canada's most famous soldier poets the Doctor Lt. Colonel John McCrae.
While recovering from his wounds in England Private Buckam Singh contracted tuberculosis and spent his final days in a Kitchener Ontario military hospital, dying at age 25 in 1919. His grave in Kitchener Ontario is the only known WWI Sikh Canadian Soldier’s grave in Canada. It's sad that he never got to see his family again and died forgotten, but it is exciting that his heroic story is now being reclaimed and celebrated.
While his attestation papers show his signature to be Bukam or Bukkam, his name at the top of the page is listed as Buk Am Singh, which would account for the initials B. A. on the medal. His home on that page was listed as Makilpur, Hishiar and his mother was listed only as Chandi. His tomb stone, unusual for a fallen Sikh warrior, lists his home in Punjab as Mahilpur. In the newspaper reports of his death he was listed as Bukum.
PTE. BUKUM SINGH, the first Sikh to enlist with an Ontario battalion has been twice wounded since he went to the front. He was engaged as a farm hand for W. H. Moore, of Rosebank Ont., when the call came for active service. He was reported injured for the first time two months ago. His name appears among the wounded in to-day's list. Bukum Singh came to Canada from Punjab in 1907. After mining in British Columbia he came to Toronto about two years ago. He went overseas with a Kingston battalion. The Toronto Daily Star Aug 9, 1916
External links
- sikhmuseum.com photos and pdf documents
Gallery
Attestation papers for Pte Buckam Singh - page 1
Attestation papers for Pte Buckam Singh - page 2
The relevant page for the Toronto Daily Star Aug 9, 1916 - PTE BUCKUM SINGH - listed as a war wounded
The relevant section of the page for the Toronto Daily Star Aug 9, 1916 - PTE BUCKUM SINGH - listed as a war wounded
