ARTICLES
O
SLIM SAHIB
n the 13 March 1942 there was a historic and uniquely 6th Gurkha moment during the withdrawal from Burma. It happened at Prome, the ancient Burmese city on the banks of the Irrawaddy. The military situation for the British was dire. Japanese forces had already taken Rangoon and their columns were now streaming towards the eastern borders of Assam. Only the remnants of the Burma Corps stood between them and their ultimate prize – India. Its two divisions were exhausted by a long and demoralizing withdrawal in which they had been continuously beaten back by the Japanese. They were almost a defeated force, physically and in spirit. It was on the morning of the 13 March that Major
General WJ Slim had flown in from India to take over command of the Corps. The exceptional coincidence of his appointment was that his two principal division commanders would therefore be – Bruce Scott and Punch Cowan. In Slim’s words: “by a trick of fate (we) all came from the 1st Battalion 6th Gurkhas. We had served together for twenty-odd years; we – and our wives – were the closest friends; our children had been brought up together in the happiest of regiments. I could not have found two men in whom I had more confidence.”
1st Battalion officers and wives Christmas Day 1923 Rear: Lt TN Smith, Lt WK Phillips, Capt WJ Slim MC, Lt IN Macleod, Capt HRK Gibbs Standing: Jem Janaksing Pun, Jem Maniraj Gurung, Jem Gul Hussain, Sub Indrabahadur Gurung, Sub Kharakbahadur Rana, Sub Nandasing Gurung, Jem Pirthabahadur Gurung, Sub Dhanbahadur Gurung. Sitting: Capt JB Scott, Mrs Hackett, Mrs Glynton, Lt Col GM Glynton DSO, Mrs Scott, Maj HMM Hackett
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