The 15th Punjab Regiment: A story of faith, fighting, and ultimately, the separation of comrades-in-arms

A pre-1947 teak plaque carved with the unique emblem the 15th Punjab Regiment.

The emblem of 15th Punjab depicted a crescent moon intertwined with a chakra, for the faiths that composed the unified regiment. The crescent moon represented the Muslims, and the chakra – a traditional Sikh throwing weapon – represented the Sikhs. Together these men fought alongside each other and helped beat the Imperial Japanese Army in Burma in 1945 to oblivion, winning two Victoria Crosses and numerous other gallantry awards on the dusty road to Rangoon - now Yangon. Then in 1947 the Sikh and Jat soldiers joined the army of independent India, while the Muslim soldiers joined the army of independent Pakistan. And the state of Punjab? It too was split in half and divided between the two countries.