Chanan Singh Dhillon

Lieutenant-Colonel Chanan Singh Dhillon (September 13, 2011) was a Punjabi Indian Sikh World War II hero and veteran. He served in the British Indian Army and the independent Indian Army for years.He is best known for his brave escapes and encounters during the war. He died on September 13, 2011 due to prolonged illness.

Career In 1939, at 20, he enlisted in the British Indian Army. Though he had wanted to become an officer, his limitations in English prevented him from doing so hence, he joined as an NCO. He later took English classes and gradually became a fluent speaker. He was posted to, among other places, Lahore and then Kabul. When WW2 broke out, he was promoted to Naik ( a non-commissioned officer) and given a special 'E' badge embroidered on a red background due to his fluency in the English language.

He served the Bengal Sappers as a Junior Commissioned Officer till he was granted a commission as a commissioned officer in the Indian Army on 27th November, 1960. Eighteen years after his capture, He rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Indian Army.

Retirement in 1975 Dhillon retired, following his retirement, he became president of the Indian Ex-services League (Punjab and Chandigarh), in India.

He campaigned for the full recognition of the sacrifices and courage of the Indian-subcontinent, African and Caribbean origin soldiers who fought in WW2 for the allies and the British. The London Memorial Gates are recognition of this goal. On August 1, 2001, Queen Elizabeth laid the foundation of the memorial, and she inaugurated it the next year, on November 6, 2002.

Death

Lt. Col. Chanan Singh Dhillon died after a prolonged illness on 13 September 2011.