My Correspondence With Queen Elizabeth II

By Lt Col Pritam Singh Jauhal (Retd) World War II Veteran

On reading an Invitation by Newton Legion in local Community Newspapers, I decided
to take part in its Remembrance Day Ceremonies in 1993. Prior to the day of
ceremonies, I visited the Legion and obtained clearance for wearing my turban
during the Parade. When I reached the Assembly Area, I met four World Ware II
turbaned JCOs and ORs.
The Veterans took part in the Parade March and other connected ceremonies at the
Legion’s Cenotaph. The Parade then marched to its Lounge. As soon as I attempted
to enter the Lounge, two Attendants posted at its Doors stopped me and said “Sir
you cannot go in because you have a turban on your head.” My pleas of being an
invited Guest were ignored. The Legion President was called. In the meantime four
other turbaned Vets also joined me outside the Lounge. The President told me
point-blank that “as per the Legion Bylaws, you cannot go inside the Lounge with a
turban on your head“. Despite my best efforts to explain to him the special
importance of an invited guest and symbol of turban for a Sikh, the President did
not budge. Some elderly Legion members who listened to my arguments with keenness
asked the President to take the invited guests inside the Lounge with respect but
to no avail. Many B.C. Ministers, MLAs and Surrey City Councillors who were to
make speeches inside the Lounge walked out in protest. They informed the Media
which took over in large numbers.
As a retired Lieut Colonel, I could not tolerate my public insult. While handling
the local, national and international Media giving details of the incident, I
wrote the following personal letter to the Queen of Canada:-
“I have the honour to state that my father fought for the British Empire during
First World War and I in the Second. I served in the 8th British Army under World
famous Field Marshall Montgomery. I took an active part in the very famous battle
of El Alamein. I saw thousands of my comrades laying down their extremely valuable
lives. I was lucky to survive.
I retired from the Indian Army as a Lieutenant Colonel after close to 40 years of
meritorious service in the British and Indian Army. I was awarded 13 medals and
stars. I immigrated to Canada in 1980 and am a Canadian Citizen.
I read in Community Newspapers an invitation from Newton Legion to all Allied
World War II immigrant Veterans to attend the Remembrance Day ceremonies on
November 11, 1993. I decided to attend.
On November 11, 1993, wearing my 13 medals and stars, I marched along with 1500
Veterans to Cenotaph where prayers were offered for the War Dead, Wreaths were
laid, Last Post and Reveille were sounded and two minutes was observed. The Parade
then marched to the Legion Lounge. I was stopped at the Doors and not allowed to
enter he Lounge unless I remove my turban I was told that a 1946 Bylaw forbids
head-dress in side the Lounge. I tried to reason out with the Legion President
explaining in detail, some of which were as under:-
(a) I came on invitation to attend the ceremonies. I should therefore, be treated
as a Guest with respect and decency and allowed to complete the ceremonies inside
the Lounge.
(b) Turban for a Sikh is not merely a head-dress, but a religious symbol and a
Sikh never removes it.
(c) Many Sikhs invited to Buckingham Palace over the years were not asked to
remove their turbans. They joined the king/Queen for banquets and dinners with
turbans on their heads.
(d) A Sikh pays his respects by saluting a Dead Body with turban on his head.
(e) A Sikh dies and is cremated with a turban on his head.
I regret to state that all my explanations fell on the deaf ears of Newton Legion
President. Ignoring my pleas, he went inside the Lounge leaving four other Sikh
Veterans and I standing outside the Legion Doors.
I had never for a moment imagined that when I retire and am 73 years of age, I
shall be insulted, embarrassed and humiliated in public and my religious feelings
will be hurt by asking me to remove my turban and that too at the hands of fellow
Veterans. I felt completely distressed and have been placed on medications by my
Physician.
I most respectfully request for forgiveness in case this letter causes any
inconvenience whatsoever.”
Lt Col Pritam Singh Jauhal (Retd)