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As Britain prepares to honour its war heroes, a new campaign is calling on British Asian families to record and share the untold stories of their ancestors who fought for Britain during the Second World War — a contribution that remains largely unrecognised by half the UK public.
British Asian families across the United Kingdom are being encouraged to share the stories of their relatives who served in the Second World War, as part of a nationwide initiative to preserve the memories of the “greatest generation” who fought for freedom.
The My Family Legacy Project, backed by the Royal British Legion, seeks to build an online archive documenting the experiences of Asian veterans to highlight the shared histories and sacrifices of Britain’s diverse communities. The initiative is a collaboration between the think tank British Future and Eastern Eye, the British Asian newspaper.
Despite the scale of their contribution, a recent Focaldata poll found that half of the UK public are unaware that over 2.5 million people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka served in the British armed forces during the war — forming the largest volunteer army in history. Even among British Asians, only 60% knew about this remarkable legacy.
The campaign aims to fill this historical gap by inviting families to upload stories, photos, or even just names of their ancestors and relatives who served in the world wars.
🕊️ Remembering Forgotten Heroes
To mark the launch, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP, Chair of the House of Commons Defence Committee, hosted a UK parliamentary memorial event on November 4 to honour two veterans whose courage symbolises this shared history — Havildar Maj Rajinder Singh Dhatt MBE, who fought valiantly in the Battle of Kohima, and Sgt Muhammad Hussain, who joined the army at just 16 and fought in the fierce Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy.
Both stories have been added to the My Family Legacy archive as a tribute to the bravery and unity of Commonwealth soldiers.
Dhesi emphasised the importance of acknowledging their role in Britain’s wartime history, saying that the contributions of Black and Asian Commonwealth soldiers — including his own Sikh ancestors — must not be “airbrushed or ignored.”
💬 Voices of the Next Generation
Family members of the honoured veterans expressed a deep sense of pride and urgency.
Ejaz Hussain, grandson of Sgt Hussain, said:
“It’s imperative that the stories of the greatest generation are recorded. Their shared history — people of all backgrounds fighting for one common cause — serves as the ultimate metaphor for how we must remain united as a country.”
Similarly, Amrit Kaur Dhatt, granddaughter of Maj Singh Dhatt, stressed:
“It’s so important to capture the stories of Commonwealth and ethnic minority soldiers like my grandfather’s, because they were left out of mainstream history. I fear that today’s society hasn’t learned enough from history.”
🌍 A Legacy to Remember
The My Family Legacy Project aims to ensure these stories are preserved not just as historical records but as powerful reminders of courage, unity, and sacrifice that transcend race, religion, and nationality.
By collecting and sharing these untold narratives, the project hopes to inspire future generations to value diversity, honour shared struggles, and remember that history is richer when every voice is heard.
