An Interview with the CIGS

background of mangrove. The mangrove was very thick either side of the position, which prevented landing some distance away to work the flank, and the exposed mangrove roots prevented a fast direct approach. Crouching in the lead boat as it slowly approached the reported firing position I muttered the subaltern’s prayer: “Please, God, this is my first command – don’t let me mess it up!” The Almighty was apparently able to divert his attention from running the galaxy to arrange for the Indonesians to retreat when they saw us coming – and they only left their footprints in the sand.

This was my fourth day on the job! How lucky can one man get!

On the following day the local Tawau newspaper ran with the headline: “Police Ambush by Indons: to graduation. Derek Organ of our 1st Battalion was Brigade representative at Sandhurst, he was also Swimming Officer and as I was in the team and also captain of water polo I got to know him quite well. If you haven’t heard of water polo it’s that very un-sahib like game where you do nasty things to your opponents under water, all the while hoping the referee doesn’t notice. Field Marshal Slim had been brought back in late 1948 from retirement, by Prime Minister Atlee, to take over as CIGS from Field Marshal Montgomery, the first Indian Army Officer to hold the post. He quickly reinstated permanent cadre (it is said previously opposed by Monty) for the four Gurkha Regiments and Colin Scott of the Intake 5 was posted to our 1st Battalion as the first officer to benefit from the system, he was followed by six officers from Intake 6 , including Demi Walsh who also went to the 1st Battalion. Army pursuit in Swamp!” But there was little time to rest on any laurels. On the following Saturday Ralph Reynolds announced he would be visiting some of his other responsibilities, the coastal towns of Lahad Datu and Sandakan, to the north. The trip was to be by a scheduled Dakota of Borneo Airways and would take four days. I drove him to the airport at Tawau and his parting words were “John, whatever you do, don’t lose the airport – it will take the Navy four days to get to you.” Heady words for a twenty-year-old – in charge of the defence of an entire country – but nothing the source of my inspiration, General Sir John Nicholson, would have worried about. So, here’s to the memory of General Nicholson Saheb! And, to all those Nikal Seyns out there: Namaste!

It was mid 1951 and Intake 7 was getting close

John Conlin

the eight contenders for the two places available to Intake 7. We had been whittled down by Derek to something a bit more manageable from the original forty-four present at the first meeting. We all travelled to Whitehall to have our personal interview with the CIGS in his office in the Old Building of the War Office as it then was.

I remember my interview, a daunting experience, went something like this:

CIGS. “So you think you are good enough to join my Regiment do you?”

I thought if I said yes he would think me presumptuous and if I said no that would be the end of it so I said: “I hope so, Sir.”

The CIGS replied, “I hope so too because if you are not the Gurkha soldiers will see through you in two weeks.”

apparently went well enough. We were fortunate that four of us were accepted, one to each Regiment. Perhaps we should remember that had Slim not been called back from retirement to be CIGS the Brigade would been officered on the basis of three-year secondments from British Regiments and not the Permanent Cadre from which we all benefitted, as I’m sure did our Gurkha soldiers.

In 1960 the UK Gurkha Contingent, comprised of a rifle company, which formed G Company of the 1st Greenjackets (Ox and Bucks), the Demonstration Battalion at the School of Infantry, plus an outstanding combined military pipes, drums and bugle band also drawn from all units of the Brigade, a total of 230 all ranks, which took part in activities all over the country. One in particular included marching down Edinburgh’s Princes Street with the Greek Evzones and the Royal Highlanders of Canada to the skirl of pipes , across the bridge, into the Auld Toun, along the Royal Mile and up to Scotland’s War Memorial, at the very top of the Castle, where we did a very moving combined wreath laying ceremony before GOC Scotland and a large number of distinguished Scottish guests.

Our very last parade, for the state visit of their Majesties the King and Queen of Nepal, involved marching from Horse Guards Parade and down the Mall. As 2i/c of the Contingent I was, as always, Tail End Charlie. We passed through the Palace gates and under the archway onto the lawn in front of a thousand invited guests, including Field Marshals Harding and Templar. We were inspected by the Queen and the King of Nepal accompanied by Viscount Slim.

As the Field Marshal passed me I would like to have said something like “I’m still hanging in there”, but of course I didn’t. The senior Gurkha Officer of the Contingent was Captain Lilbahadur of the 2nd Battalion and on parade, among others, were Lance Corporal Dalbahadur of the 1st and Rifleman Jaibahadur of the 2nd Battalions, both later Gurkha Majors as most of you will know. After an Advance in Review Order we marched past, followed by an impressively large contingent of retired officers from the Gurkha Brigade Association, displaying an unbelievable collection of medals. We marched back down the Mall and were dismissed on Horse Guards Parade. It was of course an unbelievable

experience for all of us, made all the better for me by the presence of the person responsible for my many happy years in the Regiment.

Neil Anderson

Her Majesty The Queen and His Majesty King Mahendra of Nepal inspecting the Gurkha Contingent during the state visit of the King and Queen of Nepal,1960