"In the last two world wars 83,005 turban wearing Sikh soldiers were killed and 109,045 were wounded."....Except they weren't. Unfortunately the facts in this quote don't add up at all.
Following is a long (but interesting) explanation why.

This quote has been frequently repeated by journalists, UK Parliamentarians, the Mayor of London, the BBC and countless Sikh websites, exhibitions and books over the last 18 years. It is accepted as absolute and accurate truth.

The reasons for its popularity might be that the numbers are so precise that they feel studiously accurate or it might be that it was uttered by a British General of the Indian Army or it might be because the full quote leaves any Sikh reader with chest-bursting pride;

"Finally, we that live on can never forget those comrades who in giving their lives gave so much that is good to the story of the Sikh Regiment. No living glory can transcend that of their supreme sacrifice, may they rest in peace......

"In the last two world wars 83,005 turban wearing Sikh soldiers were killed and 109,045 were wounded. They all died or were wounded for the freedom of Britain and the world ..with no other protection but the turban, the symbol of their faith." Gen.Sir Frank Messervy KCSI, KBE,

Unnoticed for over 50 years this quote was published in the book 'Warrior Saints' (authored by me and Parmjit Singh) in 1999. I recall very clearly the day that Parmjit showed me his research from the IWM where he found those now famous sentences.

We realiased immediately that we had something that would change the understanding of our history. In this case, if true, the Sikh contribution to the two World Wars was as significant in terms of the loss of life as that of the fighting men of Scotland. An incredible thought.

Our due diligence extended to ensuring that we were working with first editions, & checking any 'errata'. The accurate nature of the numbers and that Messervy was an old India-hand was enough to expect that he wouldn't make a schoolboy-error in his statistics.

That it was in the foreword of an authoritative regimental history implied the author would have pored over every word. We accurately reproduced in our book and it rapidly captured the imagination and over the last 18 years its become an accepted and eagerly repeated fact.

However, in recent years during a deeper study of the Sikh contribution to WW1 it has become apparent that Messevry was wrong. Very,very wrong. This isn't military-historian pedantry on my part. Messervy's numbers make no sense whatsoever, they are multiples out from the truth.

(NOTE: Enumerating dead combatants from war is a crass and simplistic measure of the Sikh contribution to the wars. But it has become culturally engrained in the British psyche to do so and for that to act as a surrogate for sacrifice.)

In our research on WW1, Parmjit Singh & I estimate that around 8000 Sikhs were killed. In WW2 a very conservative estimate is 10-13,000 Sikh servicemen killed. (ref the brilliant @CWGC ). Totalling around 20,000 Sikh men killed A very long way from Messervey's assertion of 83005

Was he confusing the total Indian dead with Sikhs? Weird for a man who knew the Indian army inside out, (160,000 Indians were killed in both World Wars). Did he confuse Sikh Regiment as being all Sikhs ? Was it a simple typo? Did he confuse all turban wearing soldiers with Sikhs?

Whatever the source of the error, it is very wrong. In the second edition of Warrior Saints (forthcoming) we won't repeat that quote. For those using this quote, please do so with caution, and armed with its background be ready to counter the challenge you will get.

That said (and this is the important bit) Sikhs made up a disproportionate percentage of the Indian Army, more often in combat roles than support roles. Sikhs readily volunteered and supported Britain in two World Wars in locations and in battles that were critical to its success

Sikhs made up vital parts of the proto-Independence movement and disproportionately opposed the wars and British Imperialism. Sikhs have fought with and fought against the British over 200+ years - it's a fascinating, nuanced, conflicted and complex history.

We, as Sikhs, need to write our own stories, research and present our own history, do that with utter integrity and balance - not be beholden to others and unafraid of the contradictions that this throws up.

People often ask why the publisher Kashi House ( @KashiHouse ) was created, a publisher dedicated to Sikh and Punjabi arts, culture and heritage - this long explanation is one of the reasons.