Statue For The "Flying Sikh"

**flash** · 03-03-2021 14:03

Group Captain Hardit Singh Malik became known as the "Flying Sikh" during World War One flying Sopwith Camels on the Western and Italian Front and he wore a specially designed helmet that fitted over his turban that also earned him the soubriquet of 'the Flying Hobgoblin' ! He was renowned as the first Indian to fly as a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps & flew with William Barker VC.
He was one of only two Indian pilots to survive the war, despite being wounded and crash-landing in October 1917 when his aircraft was found to have been hit more than 400 times... ! Two bullets remained in his leg for the rest of his life.
Malik later went on to a distinguished career as a diplomat and became India's ambassador to France in the 1950s and a statue of him is to be erected to represent the contribution of ethnic troops in the war.
It is planned to be almost 17ft (5m) high with its plinth to be installed near Southampton's Sea City Museum by April 2023 so something to look out for if you ever visit.

https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/sto...irst-world-war

https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sh...-Pilots-in-WWI

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardit_Malik

This is a good pdf of Malik's history:
http://www.hmdt.org.uk/hmdtmusic/tre...ngh-Malik-.pdf

**Hedeby** · 03-03-2021 14:09

What a fantastic idea, what a hero. Finally some good news regarding statues

**Gangleader147** · 03-03-2021 14:11

Great bit of history, thanks Flash.

**Stumptonian** · 03-03-2021 14:18

Originally Posted by Hedeby

What a fantastic idea, what a hero. Finally some good news regarding statues

Definitely!

Group Captain Hardit Singh Malik

Thanks for posting, Dave.

**Sauerkraut** · 03-03-2021 14:21

Good to see some long overdue recognition.

**malachi** · 03-03-2021 14:22

Very cool. Great pics, Dave!

**Teaticket** · 03-03-2021 14:48

Great nugget of history. Good to see he will be honored with a statue.

**zenlizard** · 03-03-2021 14:48

Great bit of history, and the recognition is long overdue.

**gully_raker** · 03-03-2021 16:02

Thanks Dave for posting that.
Great tribute to a ground breaking WW1 pilot.

**Windy Jack** · 03-03-2021 16:06

This is good to see.

**flash** · 03-04-2021 00:29

Saw this on the local TV news a couple of days ago, expected it to make the national news but maybe the budget got in the way so thought I'd share it here.
I have added a link to a pdf of a brief history of Malik at the end of the first post.