WWI soldier who saved Captain’s life honoured at Brighton station

• Southern joins national ‘Routes of Remembrance’ campaign, paying tribute to war veterans
• Thousands of wounded Indian soldiers fighting in WWI were brought to Brighton to be treated at local hospitals
• The rail operator is highlighting this historical link with an inspirational story of sacrifice
• A poppy wreath has been laid at Brighton station to honour the story of Manta Singh and Captain Henderson

Southern Rail has joined forces with The Veterans Charity on the nationwide ‘Routes of Remembrance’ campaign, which sees poppy wreaths touring the country’s railway network to honour the fallen.

One poppy wreath in particular made a special journey to Brighton today to bring to life the remarkable tale of Subedar (Lieutenant) Manta Singh and Captain George Henderson.

At the start of the First World War, Manta Singh’s regiment became part of the 3rd (Lahore) Division sent to reinforce the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) fighting in France. After long months of trench warfare, in March 1915 his regiment entered the Battle of Neuve-Chapelle, which is said to be one of the bloodiest battles of WWI.

During the fierce fighting, Manta Singh saw that his friend and comrade, Captain Henderson, had been severely injured. It was in this moment that he bravely risked his own life to carry Captain Henderson to safety.

Carrying out this act of heroism put Manta Singh in the line of firing and caused him his own injuries – as he was also shot. As with many other wounded Indian soldiers at the time, he was brought to Brighton for hospitalisation. The town’s most famous hospital was the Royal Pavilion, which was rapidly adapted as a hospital for Indian sick and wounded from France and Flanders.

A certificate signed by the Chief Resident Officer at the Kitchener Indian Hospital in Brighton lists Manta Singh’s wounds as ‘one, gunshot wound, left leg, two, gangrene of leg and toxaemia.’ Tragically, he did not survive his injuries and sadly passed away on 15 March 1915.

Without this act of heroism, Captain George Henderson would not have survived the war. To show his thanks to the Singh family, Captain Henderson travelled to Punjab to meet Manta Singh’s son, Assa. He helped Assa Singh secure a job in the same British Indian Army regiment as his father and over the years, the sons of Manta Singh and Captain Henderson became the best of friends.

Even to this day, the third generation of both families – Jaimal Singh (grandson of Manta Singh) and Ian Henderson (grandson of Captain George Henderson) remain friends. Today, Southern’s Head of Stations, Nick Parker, joined Ian as he travelled by train from his hometown of Oxted to Brighton to pay his respects.

Ian Henderson, grandson of Captain George Henderson, added: “Manta Singh risked his life to save my grandfather and without him, I wouldn’t be here. These strong connections have allowed our families to remain friends for three generations – my mother even helped both of Manta’s sons learn English.

“Every year, I travel to Brighton to pay my respects to Indian soldiers that died fighting for Britain. It’s incredibly important to remember our veterans and I’m proud to re-tell my story with Southern for the Routes of Remembrance campaign.”

Railway colleagues joined Mr. Henderson as he laid a wreath beside the ‘Silent Soldier’ silhouette at Brighton station. The silhouette was supplied in 2018 by the “There But Not There” non-profit organisation that supports military veterans’ charities.

100,000 railway workers were enlisted to help the war efforts and by the end of the First World War, 20,000 had sadly lost their lives. The railway remembers them in memorials across the country.

Nick Parker, Head of Stations at Southern, said: “The railway played a crucial part in WWI and WWII, not only moving equipment and rations around the country, but transporting healthy and wounded troops too. In fact, it’s very likely that Manta Singh would have been taken on the train from Southampton to Brighton to be treated, so we’re proud to be honouring his story with a wreath laid at Brighton station.

“It was a privilege to travel with Ian today as he embarked on his very own route of remembrance on behalf of his grandfather. We have a large community of ex-military in the railway and it has been fantastic to work with The Veterans Charity in the lead up to Remembrance Day itself.

“Our stations and colleagues will be observing the two-minute silence on Armistice Day and there will also be a Memorial Service taking place at Brighton station,” he added.

Danny Greeno, CEO of The Veterans Charity, said: “Routes of Remembrance is our way of keeping Remembrance moving and honouring those who have fallen as a result of serving in the Armed Forces. There are strong links between the railway and the military and it’s great that Southern has been able to bring this fantastic wartime story to light by travelling with Ian to Brighton so that he can pay his respects.”

Davinder Dhillon, Chairman of the Chattri Memorial Group, commented: “Twelve thousand Indian soldiers like Manta Singh who were wounded on the Western Front were taken to buildings especially converted into hospitals, like the Royal Pavilion, across Brighton. It’s important that we continue to raise awareness about this history because for decades, Indian soldiers were largely written out of the story. Manta Singh’s name is recorded at the Chattri Memorial and it is poignant to be remembering the sacrifice he made in the lead up to this year’s Remembrance Day.”

Wreath-laying ceremonies and memorial services will take place with Southern, Great Northern and Thameslink colleagues at Victoria, St Pancras, Brighton and Kings Cross stations.

Ends

Notes to editors:

• The Veterans Charity was founded in March 2008 to support UK Veterans of all generations and deliver rapid support to hundreds of Veterans and their families every year
• Routes of Remembrance is a unique event which sees wreaths and tributes travelling all over the UK to honour and remember those who have fallen as a result of serving in the Armed Forces. More information can be found at https://www.veteranscharity.org.uk/remembrance
• Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has signed up to the project to help transport poppy wreaths and raise awareness of the campaign
• The historic London Brighton & South Coast Railway was central to the war effort. More than a third of its workers – around five and a half thousand men – left to join the war, and over 500 did not return
• The company also transported 30,000 soldiers and delivered the bulk of the British army's stores and munitions, about 7 million tons, to the troops on the continent
• To find out more about the story of Subedar Manta Singh and Captain George Henderson, visit: Chattri Memorial | Sikh Soldiers World War I (sikhmuseum.com)
• Manta Singh’s name is remembered amongst fellow Indian fallen the Chattri Memorial, just outside of Brighton. To find out more about the Chattri Memorial in Brighton, visit: Chattri Memorial Group
• Last year, GTR marked the 100^th anniversary of the Unknown Warrior’s journey to Victoria station. Read more here: https://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/govia-thameslink-railway/pressreleases/rail-teams-honour-unknown-warrior-at-victoria-100-years-on-3050026
• GTR is offering ticketless travel for passengers attending the Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London (or travelling locally to other services of remembrance)
• Ticketless travel will be accepted for current serving military personnel in uniform or on presentation of a current Ministry of Defence issued identity card. (Must be travelling to any London Terminal Station on either Saturday 13 November or Sunday 14 November and returning from any London Terminal Station on Sunday 14 November)
• Veterans are entitled to discounted travel throughout the year with a Veterans Railcard: https://www.veterans-railcard.co.uk