Indian soldiers who died during World Wars I and II remembered

Zainul Dawood and Staff Reporter|Published 6 months ago

From left at the Wall of Remembrance: Warrant Officer Lionel Moodley (retired), Warrant Officer Kogie Chetty (Retired) and Colonel Kantha Archary from the South African Air Force who made the unveiling. I Supplied

Durban — The South African Indian Legion of Military Veterans held its annual Women's Day High Tea at the Ditsong National Museum of Military History in Parktown, Johannesburg.

Among the guests were Colonel Kantha Achary of the South African Air Force; Warrant Officer Kogie Chetty (retired) of the South African Navy; Kaleen Smith, the wife of General Lawrence Smith of the Council of Military Veterans South African; and Jennifer Moodley, the wife of the chairperson of the South African Indian Legion of Military Veterans. Also in attendance was the 1st Princess runner-up for Miss Deaf SA, Miss Lauren Portia Naidu, and guests.

The event commenced with a welcome by the chairperson of the South African Indian Legion of Military Veterans, Warrant Officer Class 1 Lionel Moodley (retired) of the South African Air Force, followed by a lecture on Women and War, by Legionnaire Vinesh Selvan (PRO).

Thereafter, Achary unveiled the Wall of Remembrance and the sounding of the Last Post was played. The Wall of Remembrance was erected 2 weeks ago in memory of fallen Indian soldiers who perished in service during World War I and II.

The guests were then treated to a high tea of finger lunch and designer cakes, followed by social activities and numerous prize give-aways.

The South African Indian Legion of Military Veterans held its annual Women's Day High Tea at the Ditsong National Museum of Military History in Parktown, Johannesburg. I Supplied

Many commented on the programme’s uniqueness compared to other Women’s Day events, calling it highly informative and uplifting to learn of the role of women in wars, especially Indian women.

“Some of the highlights of the lecture focused on women in uniform, women in factories building weapons while the men went off to war and women who took care of the home and children,” Selvan said.

Fallen soldiers on the Wall of Remembrance included two South Africans who joined the Royal Indian Air Force but died separately in aircraft crashes. One was pilot officer Dharamraj Aheer Gordeen and the other navigator/gunner Sergeant Mohamed Ali Khan Darling, both of KZN.

“The sons of Caroline Augustine perished in the World Wars, the older son in WW I and the younger brother in WW II. Corporal Muthaya Ramsami of Magazine Barracks was killed in an aircraft bombing raid.

“The South African Indian Legion also has aspirations to erect a Wall of Remembrance in Durban and Cape Town,” Selvan said.

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