Havildar Major Rajindar Singh Dhatt MBE
By Amrit Kaur Dhatt
My Baba Ji [grandad] was an absolute legend. He was a very simple man, incredibly wise, gentle and disciplined. He had a passion for poetry and a love for gardening. He was full of warmth and humour, and you always felt safe in his presence. He believed in hard work, treating everyone with respect and the importance of eating well and staying active. He never complained in life and always had a ‘can do’ attitude. By far, the strongest man I’ve ever known.
Baba Ji joined the British Indian Army in 1941, a few months after turning 19-years-old. He enlisted as an infantry but was selected as a physical training instructor. In 1943, he was promoted to Havildar Major and was sent to fight in Kohima and Imphal, in the north-east of India. These are known as some of the bloodiest battles of World War Two. He was later drafted to Burma where he was stationed when the Second World War ended.
He remembered the 15th August 1945 vividly and how relieved he felt when it was announced that the Japanese had surrendered. He remained in the army until 1949 when he had to return home to his family due to the passing of his elder brother.
After the war ended, Commonwealth soldiers who had fought in World War Two were invited to apply for vouchers to settle in Britain. Baba Ji accepted this opportunity in the early 1960s, intending to work for a couple of years before returning home to his family in Punjab. To his surprise, he remained in Britain for the rest of his life, and laid the foundations for future generations of his family to flourish.
In early 2023, Baba Ji was diagnosed with cancer but chose to forgo treatment, continuing to live life to the fullest. Soon after, he was honoured with the Prime Minister’s Points of Light award for his community service. In 2024, he was awarded an MBE from King Charles in recognition of his lifelong efforts to highlight the sacrifices of Commonwealth soldiers during WWII, carried out through the Undivided Indian Ex-Servicemen’s Association, which he co-founded.
He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, just weeks after the 80th anniversary of VE Day in 2025, at the age of 103.
Not a day goes by when I don’t think of him. Knowing how fortunate I was to have him in my life, I spent the last decade or so recording a lifetime of his stories through voice notes and videos. Those recordings now bring me comfort – reminding me of his voice, his charm and his many sacrifices. He taught me so much about life. To me, he wasn’t just my grandfather, he was my soulmate and mentor. I honour him by keeping his stories alive.