Anyone travelling to the city of Lichfield set in the heart of England cannot but notice the imposing cathedral that towers above the skyline. Although but a few miles away from the bustling metropolis of Birmingham it is a serene city, quintessentially British.

No casual visitor, least of all the eclectic mix of cultures that represent modern Britain and especially the Sikhs, is aware of a regimental monument located in the cathedral. There, amidst the serenity of the cathedral, stands a monument to those of the Staffordshire regiment who had fallen during the bloody Sutlej campaign of 1845-1846.

Atop the marble monument are Sikh battle standards from the battles of Ferozeshah and Sobraon, now decaying but still a poignant reminder of a shared past which is still so recent.

The battle standards were to assume a contemporary significance recently as on June 30, 2001, some one hundred and fifty years after the Staffordshire regiment of the imperial British Army had encountered the Khalsa armies on the battlefields of Punjab, Sikhs once again prepared for an "invasion" of the regimental barracks at Whittington, Lichfield. This was not a hostile action but a joint exercise in recruitment.

The army had titled the day "Warriors Challenge" and that is precisely what it turned out to be. Undaunted by vehicle breakdowns some one hundred miles from the final destination, fifty-four young Sikhs turned up at the barracks to join in the days activities.

It was an event organised by the Commander of Regional Recruiting, Lt. Col. Lawrence Anderson, with the collaboration of the acting commanding officer of the Army Training Centre, Major Tim Saunders.

The purpose was to allow the very people who represent such a rich pool of talent for the British Armed forces to get hands on experience of what army life promised. The mix was intriguing - ranging from undergraduates, including one from Oxford, to those 16 year olds who were just recovering from GCSE exams.

Most of the youngsters turned up in casual outdoor wear whilst a noticeable few donned the conspicuous "chola" (tunics) with their Sri Sahibs (miniature swords) dangling elegantly at the side.

In the brief introductory session a representative of the Maharajah Duleep Singh Centenary Trust set the theme. The Trust, as part of its work in preserving Sikh Heritage and promoting Anglo Sikh history was instrumental in liasing with the Army in staging the event and it rapidly became clear that this was not some public relations inspired photo opportunity.

The issue of greater Sikh representation in the British Forces was at the forefront of the Trust's inaugural "Portrait of Courage" lecture at the Imperial War Museum last year and this was part of that same process. This initiative was equally serious and focussed. The aim was to vitalise and reconnect the Sikhs with that inalienable part of their psyche, which had moulded them into legendary soldiers: Warrior Saints.

The motivation was also clear. It came not from policy documents and consultants imploring diversity in recruitment. The foundations for Sikh representation in the British Army had been laid in the trenches of the World Wars where they had been gallant and steadfast, fighting on foreign shores. It was now time to start building on those foundations before they decayed through a strange mix of apathy, ignorance and political correctness.

As the groups dispersed to tackle the various tasks the excitement became immediately discernible. A group of relieved non participants, including Sikh community representatives, accompanied by the regional Commander, Brigadier Andrew Meek, followed on behind. Assault course, weapons handling, outdoor survival, communications, climbing course and field medical rescue all provided a variety and an interesting array of activities, which each group tackled with gusto.

By lunchtime the spirits were soaring higher than even at the start as the teams started to gel amongst themselves and the rapport with their Army instructors and team leaders started to take hold.

As the Sikhs mingled with experienced serving officers the enthusiasm was evident. These were young Britons who represented a potential valuable intake for the British Army. Their impressions and concerns were both legitimate and relevant and the Army demonstrated a clear desire to engage and listen. Issues like that of the turban and other religious/cultural concerns will need to be resolved but they do not represent intractable challenges. They merely require sensitive handling together with an appreciation that it is the faith of the Sikhs that makes them such formidable soldiers.

The day came to a close with inter team sports where again the youngsters excelled. But it was not just a matter of physical ability and exertion. It was also about spirit and courage.

In one particular instance the assault case presented a challenge of three consecutive gymnastics horses. The idea was to vault them each at a time with perhaps a few strides in between.

One Sikh in flowing chola decided to conserve energy and from the top of one box attempted to leap directly onto the other. He very nearly made it and undoubtedly with more training he will but it was more than a physical leap. It demonstrated a leap of imagination and character. Some of the Army instructors gasped at his audacity but his actions were clearly borne of the same audacity and bravery, which saw Nand Singh of the Sikh Regiment leap from bunker to bunker in Burma whilst under severe enemy fire when winning his Victoria Cross.

The resolve displayed in that memorable citation of over 50 years ago was evident that day in Whitington.

On another occasion a rather exhausted and clearly out of shape Sikh was struggling to negotiate the final lap of the assault course. He looked to his teammates for a signal, which would allow him to retire hurt, but with a clear conscience. What he got instead was a volley of encouragement invoking the Lion spirit of the Sikh Khalsa never to give up. As he collapsed at the finish it had clearly done the trick.

At the end presentations were made to the winning team and the individual who had negotiated the assault course in the fastest time. In his closing address, Major Saunders commented that it was clear to him and his staff that the participants had demonstrated a spirit and enthusiasm that upheld the martial tradition of the Sikh nation. They were encouraging words but even more importantly they were based on objective professional observations and were true.

Finally Lt.Col. Anderson stepped forward and suggested that the Sikhs too may wish to show their appreciation of the Army Staff with the customary three cheers. As he cleared his throat for the first words a resounding "Jo Bole So Nihal. Sat Sri Akaal," bellowed from amongst the ranks. It was totally spontaneous but nevertheless awesome.

The same immortal battlecry of the Sikhs had been heard in Gallipolli, Flanders, Neuve Chapel, Ypres, Monte Casino and many other battlefields where the Sikh has made unparalleled sacrifices. How wonderful and fitting that it should be heard again in the recruiting grounds of the United Kingdom.

Harbinder Singh (Rana) is Projects Director of the Maharajah Duleep Singh Centenary Trust. He wishes to acknowledge the assistance in this project of Nirmal Singh (Dhesi), Amandeep Singh (Madra) and the British Organisation of Sikh Students.