Jogendra Nath Sen

Jogendra Nath Sen (Bengali: যোগেন্দ্রনাথ সেন) (1887 – 22 May 1916) was an Indian private soldier in the British Army who fought in the First World War. He is believed to be the first Bengali soldier to have died in the First World War.[1]

Jogendra Nath Sen
Jogendra Nath Sen
Nickname(s)Jon or John
Born1887
Chandannagar, French India
Died22 May 1916 (aged 29)
Somme, France
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1914-1916
RankPrivate
Battles/warsBattle of the Somme, First World War

Early life

Sen was born in Chandernagore, a French colony in Bengal.[2] His mother was a widow and his elder brother was a doctor.[3] Sen travelled to England in 1910.[2] He took admission in the University of Leeds. During his studies he took up a job in Leeds Corporation Electric Lighting station in Whitehall Road. Sen completed his B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering in 1913.[2] He could speak seven languages.[4]

Career

After completing his studies, Sen was staying in Grosvenor Place in Blackman Lane in Leeds.[2] In September, 1914, he enlisted in the 15th West Yorkshire Regiment also known as the Leeds Pals Battalion.[5] Sen was the only non-white in the 15th West Yorkshire Regiment.[4] Sen was very much respected by his peers in the army. He was called as Jon Sen or John Sen.

Death

On the night of 22 May, Sen was in action as the member of a wiring party that was heavily bombarded. Sen was hit in the leg by a shrapnel. When he was being dressed up, he was hit again in the neck and he died instantly. He was buried at the Sucrerie Military Cemetery in Colincamps in Somme, France.[4] His personal items were sent to his brother in India who later donated them to the Intitut de Chandernagore in Chandannagar.[3]

See also

References
  1. Researchers, Leeds Pals Volunteer (2018-11-19). The Leeds Pals: A Handbook for Researchers. History Press. ISBN 9780750990172.
  2. "Private Jogendra (John) N. Sen 15/795". Leeds Pals. Stephen Wood. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  3. Ghorai, Jayeeta (17 July 2015). "Leeds remembers its forgotten Indian war hero". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  4. Roy, Amit (7 March 2015). "'Jon Sen', through bloodstained glasses". The Telegraph. Kolkata. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  5. "Blood-stained glasses relate story of 'Jon Sen', first Bengali to be killed in WW1". Business Standard. 8 March 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
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