Barker V.C.

Ginger. · 7 November 2001, 10:53 PM

In the book a member of Barker's C Flight 28 Squadron is mentioned.He is 2nd Lt. Hardit Singh Malik who flew with a specially crafted leather helmet to fit over his turban.Was he ever photographed wearing this remarkable garment?

8 November 2001, 01:45 AM

Wait a minute, that name sounds Indian, and he wore a turban. Wouldn't he have a bit of a problem wearing cowhide? ???

MikeW · 8 November 2001, 02:06 AM

Rex,

if he wore a turban he was a Sikh, it's Hindus that have the problem with cows.

Ginger,

I've only seen photographs with the turban, I think there was an article in an old C&C GB that might be worth digging out.

Mike

8 November 2001, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Rex,

if he wore a turban he was a Sikh, it's Hindus that have the problem with cows.

Mike

Oh, thanks for clearing that up. I'm just an ignorant American, we don't see many turbans in my neighborhood!
:-/

WFS · 8 November 2001, 03:02 AM

The name Singh also shows that he was a Sikh. They all use it.

Wayne

Michael · 8 November 2001, 03:20 AM

In this case, yes, he was a Sikh. Other Indians also use Singh as a name, especially the Dogras.

There were a number of Sikhs who enlisted in the CEF. I don't know whether they got an exemption to wear the turban (I doubt it). The clerks who took their enlistments really didn't know what to make of them. Harnam Singh see:
http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gat3/100697a.gif
http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gat3/100697b.gif
ended up as Herman Singh. His particulars are so garbled that it is hard to tell whether it was a joke or not.

Hari Singh was an Indian Army vet who re-enlisted. Definitely a Sikh, but he is listed as Salvation Army http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gat3/100698a.gif

Several of them are listed as "Church of England". John Singh must have made an issue of it, because he is listed as "<s>sick</s> Sikh temple".
http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gat3/100696b.gif

Cigogne · 8 November 2001, 05:42 AM

In an old copy of Windsock magazine I just saw a picture of Hardit Singh Malik standing next to a Sopwith Camel. It is in the issue that had the plans feature of the AEG J.I (circa 1993).

Also,

Indra Roy was another gallant pilot who came from India. He served with No. 56 Squadron for part of his time.

Michael · 8 November 2001, 05:46 AM

Further information on Indian pilots can be found at the Indian Air Force website:

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Legends/index.html

Graeme · 8 November 2001, 11:35 AM

Indra Lal Roy arrived at 56 Sqn on 30 October 1917 and departed on 6 November following a crash in SE5a B567. After further training (and getting a reversal of the medical opinion that pronounced him unfit for flying) he ended up with 40 Sqn on 19 June 1918.

Graeme

EdStevens · 8 November 2001, 12:11 PM

On a vaguely related note, did any Gurkhas ever serve in the air? Or would it have been too far removed from the hand-to-hand combat at which they excel to have any appeal?