At Remembrance-time the thoughts of many turn to the service and heroism of those who served in the First and Second World Wars.

Less thought is perhaps given to those who served with the Allies from other parts of the world, not least South Asia, from which many of those coming to Blackburn in recent decades originated.

In the First World War 1,440,500 South Asians volunteered for military service, seeing action on the Western Front, Gallipoli and Mesopotamia. In all, 47,000 were killed and over 65,000 were wounded.

In the Second World War, nearly three million men from South Asia joined the fight against fascism -- in Asia, North Africa and Europe. Again, every one was a volunteer; they formed the largest-ever volunteer army. Without their contribution the Allied war effort may well not have succeeded, and certainly it would have gone on much longer.

Of the 27 Victoria Crosses awarded during the Burma Campaign, no fewer than 20 were won by men from South Asia

There is a plan to erect Memorial Gates at Constitution Hill in London to commemorate the contribution of South Asia, Africa and the Caribbean to allied efforts.

The Memorial will look as much to the future as to the past, as so many of the descendants of those who fought for Britain are now living in this country. They are an integral part of our multi-racial and multi-cultural society.

These gates will be a long overdue recognition of the enormous contribution of those brave men and women. Further details of this project are available from Len Hay, Director Memorial Gates Trust: len@haynm.demon.co.uk

JOHN CORBYN, (Vicar of St Gabriel's), Pleckgate Road, Blackburn.