Shillong, September 25: A Meghalaya Legislative Assembly delegation led by Speaker Thomas A. Sangma has discovered the graves of three more Garo men who served with the 69th Garo Labour Company during the First World War at the Pieta Military Cemetery in Malta.
The delegation paid homage to four men from Garo Hills buried at the Commonwealth-maintained cemetery. Until the visit, the grave of Khew Marak, who died on June 15, 1918, was believed to be the only known grave of a Garo member of the 69th Garo Labour Company at Pieta. During the visit, the delegation identified the graves of three others — Ading Marak, who died on June 10, 1918; Sangjim Sangma, who died on June 19, 1918; and Join Marak, who also died on June 10, 1918.
The discovery has brought to light a little-known chapter of Meghalaya’s history and its connection with India’s contribution to the Allied war effort during the First World War. Men from Garo Hills were recruited into the 69th Garo Labour Company and deployed overseas to support Allied military operations through tasks such as road construction and transportation of supplies.
Paying tribute to the four men, Speaker Thomas A. Sangma said the visit was significant for Meghalaya as it helped identify the resting places of Garo men whose service and sacrifice had remained largely unknown.
The delegation also included Deputy Speaker Limison D. Sangma, Deputy Chief Whip Ronnie V. Lyngdoh and Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Marthon J. Sangma. Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Secretary Malthus S. Sangma and Deputy Secretary Raja Kharpuri were also part of the delegation.
The visit to Malta formed part of a post-conference study tour following the delegation’s participation in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference in Cape Town, South Africa.
The visit to Pieta Military Cemetery was facilitated by the High Commission of India in Malta, allowing the delegation to pay homage and document the graves of the Garo men who had served overseas during World War I. The discovery of the three additional graves is expected to add to efforts to preserve and recognise the wartime history of Garo Hills and Meghalaya.
