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A distinguished voice of remembrance lends public support to our memorial initiative.
The Freedom Fountain initiative is honoured to receive the public support of Captain (Ret.) Yavar Abbas, a 105-year-old World War II veteran, 11th Sikh Regiment, and acclaimed filmmaker. Captain Abbas, who documented pivotal moments of the 20th century and later produced award-winning films, met with members of our team to discuss the project’s aims and governance.
Meeting Captain Abbas
Inspired by a recent BBC Radio 4 interview with Captain Abbas, our team reached out and was invited to meet him. Representatives Abdul, Piero and Colleen attended, presenting the project’s purpose, oversight and timeline. Captain Abbas conducted a clear-eyed review of our plans, asking precise questions about responsibilities, budgeting and public communications. When he learned that the sculpture design work is being donated, he expressed heartfelt appreciation to Colleen, underscoring his respect for voluntary contributions to the public good.
Having witnessed the consequences of global conflict first-hand, Captain Abbas spoke movingly about the duty to remember. His reflections on sacrifice and responsibility resonated deeply with our team and reaffirmed the importance of an inclusive memorial in Cambridge.
Captain Abbas recommended that our materials consistently use the historic name “United British Indian Army (1898–1947)”. We are implementing this across our website and documents to ensure accuracy and context. He also encouraged us to seek national partners, including the National Memorial Arboretum and the Royal British Legion, and has offered to write to relevant institutions to support those conversations.
Recent recognition: meeting the King
In August 2025, during the 80th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum, Captain Abbas went “off script” to salute King Charles III for attending despite undergoing cancer treatment—an emotional moment that moved the King and Queen Camilla to tears and drew wide national coverage. After the ceremony, the King spent time speaking with Captain Abbas and his family. (The Independent)
Next steps
Captain Abbas has formally expressed strong support for the Freedom Fountain. He has indicated interest in visiting Cambridge with his wife and in hosting a film evening, potentially featuring excerpts from Faces of India. He has urged us to maintain momentum on registrations, planning and stakeholder engagement, and will remain in contact as we progress.
We are profoundly grateful for Captain Abbas’s endorsement and counsel. His involvement strengthens our commitment to a memorial that honours the service of the United British Indian Army (1898–1947) and reflects the shared values of remembrance, unity and peace.
— The Freedom Fountain initiative
P.S. The BBC also covered Captain Abbas’s royal moment online: The 104-year-old WW2 veteran who moved the Queen to tears.
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We recently visited Castelluccio Valmaggiore — the birthplace of our colleague Piero D’Angelico, Commander of the Order of St George — for a ceremony celebrating international friendship and shared remembrance. Our trip deepened cultural ties between Italy and the UK and set out our vision for the Freedom Fountain Initiative, which we — Abdul-Kayum Arain, Piero D’Angelico, and Mihail Stoyanov — are proud to lead. Our visit was also covered by the Cambridge Independent: "Cambridge delegation bolsters Italian ties as Freedom Fountain initiative discussed".
Our delegation
We travelled alongside Cllr Baiju Thittala, Mayor of Cambridge, and Robert Dryden, Grand Master of the Order of St George, with us—Abdul-Kayum Arain (Chair of Cambridge Muslim Trust and Chaplain at Anglia Ruskin University), Piero D’Angelico (Founder of the Cambridge Gateway from India and Commander of the Order of St George), and Mihail Stoyanov (Chair of Little Bulgaria UK charity and Knight of the Order of St George).
We were warmly welcomed by Sir Pasquale Marchese, Mayor of Castelluccio Valmaggiore, who conferred honorary Italian citizenship on Mayor Thittala, Robert Dryden, and Abdul-Kayum Arain, recognising their cultural and charitable work, including the Cambridge Gateway from India, a restored heritage landmark celebrating our city’s multicultural story.
What we’re building: the Freedom Fountain
We presented our plan to create a memorial in Cambridge honouring the 1.5 million soldiers of the British Indian Army who served in the First World War and the 2.5 million who served in the Second—the largest volunteer force in military history. More than 50,000 Indian troops fought in Italy during WWII; 5,782 made the ultimate sacrifice.
Shared remembrance, shared purpose
Mayor Pasquale Marchese endorsed our vision and pledged support for a parallel memorial in Italy to honour the Indian soldiers who helped liberate his country. Addressing 29 Italian mayors, military leaders, and more than 200 guests, Mayor Baiju Thittala echoed our conviction that remembrance must live not only in books but in our civic spaces.
A solemn tribute followed, as members of the Italian Armed Forces laid flowers for the United British Indian Army alongside Italy’s fallen—a potent reminder of our common humanity.
Where we go next
We held constructive meetings with the mayors of Andria, Barletta, Trani, Margherita di Savoia, and Bari. Each expressed enthusiasm to work with us so this story of service and solidarity can be told across Italy. We are grateful for the warmth and partnership shown by our Italian friends. Our journey from Cambridge to Castelluccio Valmaggiore reaffirmed a simple truth: remembrance can bridge nations. Through the Freedom Fountain—and the relationships it inspires—we will help ensure the legacy of the United British Indian Army is honoured in Cambridge, in Italy, and in the shared conscience of a grateful world.
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On Friday 21 March 2025, we welcomed neighbours, traders, friends of Mill Road and invited guests to Ditchburn Place to share our plans for the Freedom Fountain — a memorial to honour the fallen heroes of the United British Indian Army (1898–1947) of the First and Second World Wars.
Why here, why now
Our aim is simple: to recognise, in the heart of diverse Mill Road, the extraordinary service of those who fought for the freedoms we share today—soldiers drawn from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, South-East Asia and across the Commonwealth. The memorial is planned for the gardens at Ditchburn Place, beside the Cambridge Gateway from India (installed in 2023), creating a coherent place of remembrance and reflection.
What we presented
We shared early visuals for a pink-marble fountain design that includes subtle “bullet-hole” motifs—each representing a Commonwealth nation—as a quiet reminder of sacrifice. The concept grew from conversations between Piero (on behalf of Mill Road traders) and the Mayor of Cambridge, Cllr Baiju Thittala. As Abdul put it, the memorial is intended to be a sustainable, educational and unifying symbol for Cambridge for generations to come.
With gratitude to our guests and supporters
We were honoured to be joined by:
- The Mayor of Cambridge, Cllr Baiju Thittala
- Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner
- A representative of the Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Julie Spence
Linked community activity during the same period included a multicultural Iftar at the Guildhall (Monday 24 March 2025), supported by the Mayor, Cambridge Mosque Council, Islamic Relief, Anglia Ruskin University, Citizens Cambridge, Mill Road Traders, the Ethnic Forum, Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue, The Karim Foundation, Knights of St George the Martyr, the Cambridge Pakistan Cultural Association, the Bangladesh Cultural and Welfare Association of Cambridge, Little Bulgaria UK, and others. We are grateful for this broad coalition of goodwill.
What the Freedom Fountain stands for
The memorial will honour the largest all-volunteer force in history—around 1.5 million who served in WWI and 2.5 million in WWII—while telling a shared story of courage that connects Cambridge to Commonwealth histories. Our hope is for a space that invites learning, remembrance and everyday encounters across communities.
Next steps
We will continue engagement with residents, heritage groups and partners as design and planning progress, and we’ll share updates and future drop-in dates publicly. Thank you to everyone who came, asked thoughtful questions and offered practical suggestions—we felt the care, curiosity and pride that make Mill Road special.
Cambridge Independent article -
— Abdul, Piero and Mihail
The event was covered by the Cambridge Independent newspaper - "Visitors learn about plan for Mill Road memorial fountain"