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"