Pupils remember brave multi-national brigade

The Jullundur Brigade fought in some of the bloodiest battles of the conflict.

Children have worked to write and design a teacher’s resource book, to be used across the UK, about the role of the Jullundur Brigade and the wider Indian Army during the First World War.

The book will be available digitally for all primary schools to download and used to help children understand the shared sacrifices of their Sikh, Muslim, Hindu and Christian forebears, who served and fought alongside each other.

It was launched at a conference at Preston Guild Hall, attended by pupils from Freckleton Church of England Primary School, Bispham Endowed CE Primary and St Nicholas Primary, Marton.

County Councillor Marcus Johnstone said: “This project is a really important reminder of the common heritage shared by so many of our communities, regardless of where our origins may lie.

“The teachers’ resource book that the children are producing will provide a lasting legacy for the project and bring the lessons of the Jullundur Brigade’s story of shared sacrifice to a much wider audience.”

Brigadier PS Rafferty MBE, Colonel of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, said: “The Jullundur Brigade was made up of Christians, Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims.

“Its history and its experiences of people from different backgrounds, races and religions living and fighting alongside each other have real lessons for us all today.”