Ancestor of K6 hero wants to come to Kingussie to thank family of devoted grave-tender Isobel Harling
Strathy news of a Kingussie woman’s legendary lifelong devotion to tending the graves of Indian Army soldiers who perished while undergoing Highland training in WWII has reached the great grandson of one of the men in remote Pakistan.
Efforts are now being taken to see if he and his family will be able to come and pay their respects to the late Isobel Harling BEM for the devotion she showed to the men’s memory.
Muhammad Sharif Awan has contacted the Strathy from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the north-western region of his country:
The great grandson of Dadan Khan, a member of Force K6 buried at Kingussie cemetery wrote to the Strathy to share his excitement at discovering the true story:
“While reading an article on your website I found that a lady, namely Isobel Harling who died at 100 actually took great care of war graves at Kingussie cemetery.
“I actually want to get in touch with her family because she had done so much for the graves.”
“I was unaware of all the events and I had no clue. I would be very humble and honoured if you help me to contact the family of Mrs Harling. I shall be highly obliged.”
Mr Awan has contacted the Commonwealth War Graves Commission with hopes of visiting the grave 83 years after his death.
“We had no information where he was until reading the Strathy. I want to visit the grave but I don’t know whom to approach and I don’t have any official letter as well . I would be very pleased if you help me out and guide me in the right way in this regard.”
The Strathy contacted Mrs Harling’s daughter, Gaynoll Craig, who was elated: “How wonderful and unexpected! Mum always wondered about the Indian soldiers families.”
She confirmed on Tuesday: “I have been in touch with Colourful Heritage and the Commonwealth and Foreign Office to see if there is any sponsorship scheme's that will assist him to get here to visit his great grandfather's grave.”
“What an amazing find has made its way to us in Scotland,” celebrated Saqib Razzaq, project officer with Colourful Heritage.
“It appears Mr Muhammad Sharif Awan is the great grandson of Dadan Khan and he has presented some very interesting documents such as the telegram informing the family about Dadan Khan.
“I was pleased to discover that he is aware of our ‘GlaswegAsians in WW2 exhibition’ at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and our plans for Scotland’s 1st National Memorial to the British Indian Army outside Kelvingrove.
“I am copying in the founder of Cultural Heritage, Omar Shaikh and once we have discussed and gone through attachments we will make contact with Mr Awan in the next week or so.”
