Royal British Legion shares never-told-before Manchester stories of Second World War ‘Forgotten Army’ soldiers

Manchester locals have spoken about their grandparents who fought in the ‘Forgotten Army’ during the Second World War on the recent anniversary of VJ Day – Victory over Japan Day.

Ibrahim Chishti, from Oldham, grew up with his grandfather Mohammad Sharif, who would share tales of his time serving in the Far East during the Second World War.  

Earlier this year he spoke at a Royal British Legion exhibition aimed at honouring those ‘Forgotten’ soldiers who bravely fought in WW2 including Burma. 

The exhibition was launched by the RBL and think tank British Future last year during the national commemorations to mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War and it visited Oldham in March as part of a national tour. 

Born in Rawalpindi in modern day Pakistan, Ibrahim’s grandfather Mohammad joined the British Indian Army at just 16 and served in the infantry and as a tank driver, mostly stationed in Aden. 

While on tour fighting the Japanese forces, he was stabbed in the back with a poison dagger – causing an injury that led to his medical discharge and that would stay with him for the rest of his life. 

Ibrahim recalls his grandfather describing the brutal warfare in the jungles of the Far East saying, ‘you couldn’t see the enemy, but they were always there.’ 

Pictured above Oldham resident Ibrahim Chishti with photograph of grandfather, Second World War soldier Mohammad Sharif. © Royal British Legion. Photo by Teri Pengilley.

Photograph of Ibrahim’s grandfather Second World War soldier Mohammad Sharif.

After his injury, Mohammad continued to support the war effort by mending the uniforms of other soldiers, a skill he would use when he later resettled in the UK and opened a tailors in Sheffield called ‘Suit Yourself Tailors’.  

He settled in Oldham in his later years. In the photograph above, Ibrahim wears a suit made by his grandfather. 

Ibrahim said: "When I learned about my grandfather’s service, I felt completely in awe. This is what they did to protect all of us, leaving their homes and potentially never going back to them." 

Another Manchester local, Zohaib Afzal shared the astonishing story of his grandfather Dost Mohammad who served in the Indian Army Medical Corps during the conflict. 

Pictured above: Dost Mohammad, grandfather of Manchester local Zohaib Afzal, in service uniform.

Like Ibrahim’s grandfather, Dost also fought on the Indian front against Japanese forces.  

One day, while setting up their camp, they were ambushed by Japanese soldiers. They were each lined up in a firing squad and fired at one by one.  

When Dost heard the shot meant for him, he dropped to the ground and held his breath, faking his own death. Miraculously, when he woke up, he discovered another of his fellow soldiers had also survived the terrifying ordeal. 

For months after VE Day on May 8, 1945, war continued to wage in the Asia-Pacific region, with most soldiers coming from modern day India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. It was not until VJ Day on August 15, 1945, when the Japanese forces surrendered that the Second World War finally ended.   

Although around 2.5 million South Asian soldiers served in the Second World War, research by British Future revealed that just half of Brits - 52 per cent - know that South Asians served at all.  

Descendants of South Asian Second World War soldiers are invited to submit stories of their own family members who served to the My Family Legacy website, to contribute to a growing archive.   

Antony Metcalfe, Head of Community Engagement at the Royal British Legion, said: "Victory in the Second World War would not have been possible without the courage and sacrifice of the British Indian Army and Allied forces from across the Commonwealth and beyond, whose service helped shape modern Britain. 

“The Royal British Legion is proud to be touring the Forgotten Army exhibition, helping to ensure these stories are remembered and the vital contribution of these servicemen and women is never forgotten." 

Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, added: “Our national traditions of Remembrance can bring today's modern, diverse Britain together ever more powerfully when we commemorate all of those who served to secure the freedoms that we enjoy today."