Remembrance Day as seen by grand daughter of a Veteran

Remembrance Day
Dear Brig Kamboj,
I am herewith forwarding a mail from my daughter. My grand-daughter and her classmates in Class 3 in Canada have sent me a card and a candy on Remembrance Day (Remembering the veterans). The class teacher wanted a message from me! A very touching gesture. And does anybody ever think of veterans here?
With warm regards,
Col SV Ramachandran (Veteran)

Hi kaka
sending snaps. hope u get them. also email miss Assunta
Will try and take a printout of your email and maybe something for the kids in the afternoon
very nice of them
love
Priya
Slideshow of Photos drawn by Priya

Dear Col Ramachandran
Deeply appreciate the sentiments of children and their teacher.
With regards to you and Mrs Ramachandran.
Chander Kamboj
Related News
Veterans young and old honoured at Ontario Remembrance Day ceremonies

Lieut Colonel Pritam Singh Jauhal Second World War Veteran

I call Col Pritam Singh Johal, settled in Canada, "ONE MAN ARMY". He is 85 if I am not wrong, may be more and still going strong. He is doing tremendous work for the Veterans and thier families in Canada,
During J and K operations he provided excellent communications in Naushera, Jhangar and Rajauri sectors.
We wish him many many more years of excellent health and service to the Veterans.
Lt Gen Harbhajan Singh (Retd)

Lieut Colonel Pritam Singh Jauhal Second World War Veteran, Founder President Indian Ex-Servicemen Society British Columbia, Canada: click here

Allied World War Veterans Will Receive Veterans Allowance

On June, 2009, the Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, introduced changes to the War Veterans Allowance Act, extending to low-income Allied Veterans and their family members. With this new legislation, we are giving Allied World War Veterans more choices, more options, and more hope of living out their lives with respect, comfort, dignity and honour, the Minister added.

Under this legislation, low-income Allied War Veterans of the World War I, the World War II and the Korean War who have lived in Canada for at least 10 years, and continue to do so will have access to War Veterans Allowance and associated assistance and health benefits.

An Allied Veteran is a Veteran who served with the forces of any nation including India, allied with Canada during the First World War and the Second World War. The eligibility has also been extended to include those who fought for Allied Forces in the Korean War.

To qualify for these benefits, these low-income Allied Veterans must:
* have served with Allied Forces in the First World War, the Second World War or Korean War
* have lived in Canada for at least 10 years; OR lived in Canada prior to enlisting;
* live in Canada now.

Programs under this amended legislation would include:

War Veterans Allowance - Guaranteed monthly income to meet basic needs.

Assistance Fund- Financial assistance in times of emergency that affect health and/or safety.

Funeral and Burial- Financial Assistance to ensure a dignified funeral and burial for Veterans.

Treatment Benefits- Coverage ranging from hearing aids to prescription drugs to dental and vision care.

Veterans Independence Program- A home care program that includes care services, access to nutritious meals, housekeeping, grounds maintenance and other services.

Long-Term Care- Care in a facility for those who are no longer able to stay at home.

Family members may receive the War Veterans Allowance and the Assistance Fund, and survivors may receive housekeeping and ground maintenance to help them remain in their own houses.

Like all Veterans Affairs programs, eligibility for these programs is based on a variety of factors, including location and duration of military service, income and the nature and extent of health conditions. Implementation is expected in January 2010.

Once finalized, eligible Allied Veterans and family members may receive payment for benefits back to October 14. 2008. “We need to extend these benefits as soon as possible,” added Minister Thompson. How to apply:
* Call 1-866-522-2122 (English) 1-866-522-2022 (French).
* Have your service record information on hand.
* You will be mailed an application as soon as possible.
* More information is available on -line at www.vac-acc.gc.ca
Lieut Colonel Pritam Singh Jauhal World War II Veteran
Founder President Indian Ex-Servicemen Society British Columbia, Canada

Date: Saturday, 8 August, 2009, 6:02 PM
Sir,
I came across a 93 year old WW II veteran in dire state.He took part in the Burma Campaign as a signaller,spent nearly a year and a half in Japanese jails as a POW. On repatriation after the war ,he was retrenched without any pensionary benifits.I notice thro' your blog that Govt of Canada has come out with a scheme of honoring their WW II veterans.Do we have any scheme like that? Can somebody suggest a door where he can knock to derive some financial benifit that would sustain him thro' the fag end of his very meaningful life.His name is sgmn Narayanan Nair.Please oblige.
Rgds,
Lt Col Rajan Mannil (Retd)
Jabalpur

Articles by WWII veteran Lt Col Pritam Singh Jauhal

Welcome to Sikhs and their familiesby Parish Priest
Col Jauhal with Priest of the Church
Please click on links below for reading the the full text of the articles:

Attack On Rajouri Surroundings In J & K In 1948
Apology from Surrey city council
Discrimination Against Allied World War Veterans In Canada
Sikhs lent help in birth of nation. Do Canadians know?
Sikhs And Christians Gather To Mark Brotherhood Week
Veteran sheds a tear for his brave colleagues lost in battle
Other articles in the Blog

Lt Col Pritam Singh Jauhal (Retd) World War II Veteran
Founding President Indian Ex-Servicemen Society British Columbia

We thank Lt Col Pritim Singh Jauhal for sharing with us his combat experiences as well his proactive activites which has earned him great honour and prestige as veteran in Canada. Every Ex- Servicemen needs to emulate his zeal and passion for selfess service to the society. He is indeed a role model for our ESM organisations.

Open Letter To The Media After Successful Fight Against Newton Legion

After my successful fight against the Newton Legion of the Royal Canadian Legion during 1993/94, I issued a well-deserved and urgently needed “Open Letter to the Media”.

I would like to thank all those who have supported me, and other Sikh Veterans in connection with the events which occurred at the Newton Legion, Surrey, B.C Canada, on last Remembrance Day. Without your support:-

we would not have received the Public Apology on B C T V from the President of Newton Legion and a Press Release from the Royal Canadian Legion.

the Dominion Command of the Royal Canadian Legion would not have amended its by-laws to treat the head-dress of the Jews and Sikhs faiths as religious, and to allow the Jews and Sikh Veterans wearing their respective religious head-dresses admission, into all areas of 1720 Legion Branches across Canada, effective November 28, 1993.

I would especially like to thank Penny Priddy MLA who stood with us throughout this ordeal. I would also like to thank other Politicians, especially the Media and hundreds of thousands of Canadians who supported us. Words cannot express my gratitude to all of those Canadians who have worked with me tirelessly to ensure that the discriminatory rules framed and practised by some of the Royal Canadian Legion Branches across Canada, were changed by the Dominion Command, the highest Legion Authority, in Canada. Through this experience, I have learnt that the vast majority of Canadians are wonderful and tolerant people.

Lt Col Pritam Singh Jauhal (Retd) World War II Veteran
Other connected articles:
Veteran victory for religious tradition
Veteran Remembrance Day

British Govt Honoured Indian World War II Veterans In Canada

Five Indian retired World War II Veterans Namely Lt Cols Pritam Singh Jauhal and Inderjit Singh Gill, H/Lt Harnam Singh Sihota, Sub Maj Gurdev Singh Grewal and Hav Waryam Singh Bains were among few Caucasian Veterans presented “Veterans Badges” during a specially arranged colorful ceremony held at 240 Crescent Beach Legion, Surrey, Canada on July 9,2005. The Indian Veterans being members, were recommended for the Award by their 6 Cloverdale Legion. The Badges were presented to eligible Veterans by Mrs Leslie Maudsley, President Ladies Auxiliary Legion Royal Canadian Legion, White Rock, Canada.

Promoting an understanding of the significance of the contributions and sacrifices of World War II Veterans, 2005 was declared as “the International Year of the Veteran” to thank and honour Veterans who fought for their Countries in World War II. Throughout this Commemorative Year, civilians of all Countries actively remembered, honored, celebrated and learnt about the sacrifices of their Veterans.

The British Govt attaches great importance to identifying , recognizing and thanking World War II Veterans who through their commitment and sacrifice in the War years, helped to save the World from tyranny. The freedom that people take for granted was won for the World by the brave Veterans, who put their valuable lives on the “Line of Fire” voluntarily and willingly, the least caring for the safety of their aged parents, young wives and tiny kids, leaving them at the mercy of others.

On behalf of Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II, the Govt of United Kingdom, Ministry of Defence decided to issue beautifully designed “Veterans Badges” to all World War II Veterans who fought in the War as a part of the Commonwealth Forces. In Canada, those badges were presented to eligible World War II Veterans through Royal Canadian Legion, on receipt from London, England.

The badges are required to be worn by their recipients with pride on High Streets, in the Buses, in Public Places and of course at Commemorative Events over the coming years when dressed in civilian attire. By doing so, they will remind the Citizens of their Countries to say “a heart-felt Thank You” for the victory they won and for the freedom people now take for granted. Light Refreshments were served to all recipients of the Badges and a Group Photo taken at the end of the Ceremony, which went extremely well.

Lt Col Pritam Singh Jauhal (Retd) World War II Veteran
Founding President Indian Ex-Servicemen Society British Columbia
Fleet Air Arm Archive 1939-1945

Legacy of Honoured Veterans of World Wars

World Wars Veterans were remembered with formal photographic portraits just in time for last Remembrance Day. I had the honour to be among Canada’s Cloverdale Legion, World Wars Veterans, photographed with medals.

The Lower Mainland Region of Professional Photographers of British Columbia, voluntarily made phonographic portraits by donating their time and expertise for the photography. They also found suitable donors to assist them in the production of portraits. The Portraits have since been made and displayed at various locations throughout the Lower Mainland, Canada and also presented to individual Veterans. A hard bound album of all portraits has been created and kept by The Royal Canadian Legion and the Canadian Archives as a visual record of the legacy of our honoured Veterans.

For next Remembrance Day and as the continued commitment of Canadian Forces around the World to establish peace, this project has definitely added awareness of our aging Veterans’ sacrifices made for all Canadians who enjoy freedom in peace today. Here is a quote from Grey Vowels, President British Columbia /Yukon Command, the Royal Canadian Legion, “ We consider the Veterans’ Portraits Initiative, by the Professional Photographers Association of British Columbia, Lower Mainland Region, as a poignant and memorable community contribution, in preserving the proud and stellar legacy of our Canadian Service Men and Women. It is a legacy and accomplishment of utmost importance, one of peace, freedom and Canadian values. We applaud the Region of Professional Association of British Columbia’s leadership and proud to be associated with this partnership.”

Does every Canadian know how many Canadians sacrificed their lives in the World Wars I and II? The official figures being 60,000 and 40,000 respectively are scary indeed. While enjoying life in peace in Canada, don’t forget that it is a gift from our heroes who fell during the Wars, had their limbs amputated, leaving them unfit for the rest of their lives and those who were lucky to survive.

Lt Col Pritam Singh Jauhal (Retd)
Founding President Indian Ex-Servicemen Society British Columbia
Cloverdale Legion

Canada Honours An Indian World War Veteran

Promoting an understanding of the significance of the contributions and sacrifices of all Veterans, 2005 was declared By Canada “The Year Of The Veteran” to thank and honour all Veterans who served in their Country in times of the war, military conflict and peace. Throughout this special commemorative year, Canadians actively remembered, honoured, celebrated, and learnt about the services and sacrifices of Canada’s Veterans.

I put my life on the line during World War II in Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Egypt and Libya as part of the 8th British Army under World famous Field Marshal Montgomery, from August, 1940 to December 1942, to defend the Commonwealth and protect the Democracy, in which different people could live together and enjoy freedom in peace. Since my immigration to Canada on April 16, 1980, I have been actively advocating with Veterans Affairs Canada, on behalf of Indian World War Veterans settled in Canada who are incapable of doing so, due to lack of knowledge and education. As a result, all officials of Veterans Affairs Minister Canada are aware of my service records including my serving along with Canadian officers in the International Commission for Supervision and Control Vietnam from March 1961 to December 1961.

I was interviewed at my home by Mr A. Neil Robinson Counsel, Legal Services , Veterans Affairs, Department of Justice from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (P. E. I). The interview lasted lose to 4 hours and covered the experiences and achievements during my entire life. I was grilled with numerous searching questions which I could only answer from my memory. My service in World War II, Indo-Pak wars, Indo-China war. Peace Mission to Vietnam were extensively covered. My 7 years service in Central Reserve Police as a Commandant, dealing with insurgents was gone into thoroughly.

I was given to understand that my entire interview will form part of Canada’s Archive and will remain on record permanently for future Canadian generations to remember and learn from my services and achievements. I was provided edited copies of my interview. I was honoured to receive letter dated July 14, 2005 from the VAC which read as follows:-

"On behalf of Veterans Affairs Canada, I would personally like to thank you for your participation in the Heroes Remember Project. By sharing your personal stories and recollections, you have helped create a portrait of a nation’s history through the eyes of those who have served. Your willingness in helping us preserve this rich legacy for future generations is greatly appreciated. Should you experience any problem with our copies of the interview, please do not hesitate to contact us by mail or by calling our toll-free number 1-800-443-0394. Sincerely, Signed Stephen Ogden , Project Director, Heroes Remember Project- Canada Remembers”.

Lt Col Pritam Singh Jauhal World War II Veteran
Founder President Indian Ex-Servicemen Society British Columbia
Veteran Affairs Canada
Other articles by Author in the Blog

Our Prayer: We are truly proud of your lifetime achievements. This has been rightly honoured by the Canadian Government. Your interview and deeds have been recorded for posterity and generations to come. We salute you, for preservation of World Democracy. Our fervent prayer and hope is that our Government at least attempts to emulate the Canadian Government by honouring our own Officers and Jawans who have laid down their lives for Integrity of the Nation.