Buckam Singh and Sikh Canadians in the First World War

Private Buckam Singh

Buckam Singh, labourer, soldier (born 5 December 1893 in Mahilpur, Punjab, India; died 27 August 1919 in Kitchener, Ontario). Buckam (also Buk Am, Bukkam, Bukkan) Singh came to Canada in 1907, at the age of 14, and became a miner in British Columbia before moving to Toronto in 1912 or 1913. Although he was very young when he immigrated to Canada, he was already married, but because of harsh immigration laws he could not bring his bride with him. In 1915, Singh enrolled in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He was working as a farm hand in Rosebank, Ontario, when he was called for active service and joined the 20th Battalion.

Singh was wounded twice, in separate battles, and is said to have been treated by Dr. John McCrae, who wrote the poem “In Flanders Fields.” Singh was sent to a hospital in England to be repatriated to Canada. While in England, he contracted tuberculosis. He died in a Kitchener, Ontario, hospital in August 1919. He was buried in Kitchener’s Mount Hope Cemetery — the only known First World War Sikh Canadian soldier’s grave in the country.

Commemoration of Sikh Canadian Soldiers

There is little published information about the role of Sikhs in Canadian military service during the First World War. The discovery of Buckam Singh’s Victory Medal led to his reclamation by his community, which commemorates him with an annual Remembrance Day service, and to interest in discovering the history of Sikh soldiers in Canada.

The largely undocumented story of Sikh Canadian soldiers was told by filmmaker David R. Gray. The 2012 documentary, Canadian Soldier Sikhs: A Little Story in a Big War, for OMNI Television, uncovered the stories of Buckam Singh and these other forgotten men.

Sikh Canadian Soldiers of the First World War

• John Baboo of Winnipeg, originally from Punjab, India. He was wounded at Vimy Ridge.
• Sunta Gougersingh, originally from Punjab, India, who enlisted in Montreal and served in the Quebec Regiment. He was killed in action 19 October 1915.
• Hari Singh of Toronto, originally from Punjab, India, who served with the Reserve Battalion, Royal Canadian Dragoons.
• Harnom Singh, alias Harry Robson, of Chilliwack, British Columbia, possibly born in Juarez, Mexico. His parents were possibly from Singapore and India. He served in the 143rd Railway Construction Battalion.
• John Singh of Winnipeg, born in India. He served in the 108th Overseas Battalion.
• Lashman Singh, born in India, and enlisted at Smiths Falls, Ontario. He served with the 75th Battalion and was killed in action on 24 October 1918.
• Ram Singh of Grand Forks, British Columbia, born in Punjab, India. He enlisted in Vancouver.
• Sewa Singh of Vancouver, born in Dinjutah, India. He served with the 1st Canadian Reserves Battalion.
• Waryam Singh, born in Punjab, India, and enlisted at Smiths Falls, Ontario. He served with the 38th Battalion, Eastern Ontario Regiment.