Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-03-23
BATTLEFIELD VISIONS.
Sikh Soldiers See Their ST.
George"

BY st. Niha1 Singh. in the London
Spectator.


BY st. Niha1 Singh. in the London
Spectator.
Many Sikh officers and soldiers who
have taken part in recent battles relate
leader on the battlefield urging them on
to charge the foe. These accounts are
by no means the I~ndianized versions Of
the tales told about ST. George appear
ing before the British troops at Mons.
Many Of the Sikhs who tell Of their eX-
%periences do not know a word Of Eng
lish, and never heard that their British
comrades had seen visions Of their pa
tro saint. The statements of the
Sikhs, therefore, refer to an experience
all their own.
According to one account, Guru
Govind Singh-whu LIVED in the 18th
century and who infused the martial
spirit into the Sikhs-appeared on the
battlefield riding a beautiful white
charger with a long, flowing tail. He
wore a Respondent aigrette fastened
to his turban which waved above his
head like the white plums" of Navarro.
a veritable oriflamme to the followers
1t may be recalled hat the Guru is in
yariably depicted in sikh annals n
shown in old paintings riding a white
horse and wearing a large aigrette. One
of the faVorite names by which Sikhs
of this age remember Guru Govind
Singh is HE with the aigrette."
According to a second version, "the
photo of Guru Govind Singh" was the
only thing that the Sikhs. advancing in
a bayonet charge, saw to their right.
left and front" The words quoted are
fl ON the account given by Subadar
Undian Major) Sardar Narain Singh
Of the Fourteenth Sikhs. who received
six bullet wounds while engaged in ac-
ton in Gallipoli, from which he has re-
Gently recovered. He says that the
vision Of Guru Govind Singh appeared
before the Sill oldiers just as the
hug1e sounded March," and they
brandished their bayonets. He declares
that he cannot explain in words
1.-THE spirit his holy sight infused in
us. 1t emboldened us to march on,
piercing through the abdomen of the
enemy, unmlndful of the havoc being
wrought by the horrid machine gun.
We shouted Sat Fri Akal' Good is
t;meless'-the battle cdy Of tbs Sikhs).
and chanted the Shabads (hymns) of
Halla (attack), as if ours was a nuptial
procession. those among us who fell
wounded or dead we minded never, as
the only thought before us was devo-
ton to the Buru. who was so omnl
present in the march, n adherence TO
government"
The 249th anniversary of Guru Co
vino Singh's birth occurred less than
q week ago, and was celebrated by the
Sikhs at the depot for wounded In
dams at Mil~ford-on-Sea. as. indeed. II
is celebrated every year by the Sikhs
wherever they may be. The celebra-
ton was largely organized by Jena
dar Qndian l~ieutenant) Arjan Singh,
who, in his own case, shows how truly
the Signs believe that the founders OF
their religion gave India to the British
and are ready to make any sacrifice In
order to strengthen the British cause
When the hostilities commenced ArJan
Singh was in Argentina, engaged on a
plantation. He Immediately gave uI
his position in order to come to
| Europe to rejoin the Sikh regiment ir
which he had formerly served. am
which had been ordered to France. Inc
| ship which brought him to Liverpool
carried on board a large number o.
Britons who We're hurrying home te
| Join the colors. Arjan Singh. at thell
| request, drilled them throughout tn
! VHVapa