At War’s End

THE 6TH GURKHAS AT THE END OF WW2

In 2020, during the VE75 and VJ75 commemorations, we remembered those who fought and died to bring about peace and the end of the Second World War. In the BBC programme on VJ75, presented by our own Joanna Lumley, I’m sure many of us were very proud to see Honorary Captain Kulbahadur Gurung MM being interviewed about his experiences as a Chindit in Burma with the 3/6th. Our Chairman has written in more detail about this elsewhere in this edition. But where were the men of the Regiment’s four battalions at the end of the war and what were they doing when the news that Germany, and subsequently Japan, had formally surrendered?

Having been in the Middle East from August 1941 and then fought from August 1944 in the Italian campaign, the 2nd Battalion were the first to know that the war had ended in Europe. After their successes on the Gothic Line, then at Medicina and the bitter fighting on the Gaiana Canal in April 1945, the 2/6th, still under command of 43rd Gurkha

2nd Battalion Officers, Abbottabad 1946 (on return to India after the war) Standing (Back): Jem Dalbahadur Gurung, Jem Udbir Gurung, Jem Kharkabahadur Ale, Capt PVR Rao IAMC, Jem Chakrabahadur Thapa MC, Lt GH Walsh, Jem Harkabahadur Gurung IOM, Jem Damarbahadur Thapa, Jem Chitrabahdur Bura, Jem Deoman Gurung. Standing (Middle): Lt J Thorp, Jem Chandrabahadur Thapa, Lt SD Silvey, Jem Sherbahadur Gurung, Lt JA Allen, Jem Kharkabahadur Gurung, Capt JB Cameron, Jem Tamadhoj Gurung, Lt G Forsyth, Jem Bhadrasing Gurung, Lt RC Neath. Standing (Front): Jem Nandaraj Ghale, Capt RH Tuck, Jem Jambasing Gurung, Major GF Maltby MC, Sub Chandrasuba Gurung, Maj WL Greenwood, Sub Nandalal Thapa, Capt WE Murdie MC, Jem Hastabahadur Thapa, Capt KA Hasler, Jem Jangbir Gurung. Sitting: Sub Raghu Gurung, Maj GR De La Rue Browne, Sub Gajbir Ale, Lt Col WM Amoore DSO, Sub Jitbahadur Thapa, Maj JE Dennys MC, Sub Manbahadur Thapa MC. On ground: Jem Kharka Gurung, Jem Bansiram Sharma. (Away from the Battalion: Maj RW Ingall DSO, Lt WD Graham, Sub Maj Narbahadur Gurung Bahadur OBI MC, Sub Kajiman Gurung)

Lorried Infantry Brigade, were involved in pushing the German remnants North across the Po River and beyond. Having helped mop up in Padua, news of German capitulation in Italy came through on 2 May. On 9 May, the unconditional surrender of Germany was announced. After a pleasant but all too brief break on the coast beyond Vienna the Battalion was ordered to move to Trieste as local Yugoslavian trouble was brewing. Things quietened down and it became a period of training, patrolling and visits of senior officers to the Battalion. One visitor was the Commander 13th Corps, General John Harding, who was to become Colonel of the Regiment in 1951; this was the first occasion he had met the 6th Gurkhas. The campaign in Italy had cost the Battalion some 560 casualties, but it earned eight battle honours and more awards than any of the other three battalions.

On 9 July, after a year of almost continuous hard fighting, 2/6th sailed from Trieste back to the Middle East. Still under 43rd Brigade, they remained there for frontier protection duties in Syria until eventually sailing back to India in February 1946. Their march back into Abbottabad was met with a terrific welcome. After a pleasant stay, the Battalion marched out of Abbottabad for the last time on 15 May 1946. Major Wynn Amoore DSO who had acted as CO with such success for the previous eighteen months had handed over to Lieutenant Colonel Richard Proud.

With families joining them, Secunderabad was a happy station. On 13 November, the C-in-C, Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, visited the Battalion and presented twelve decorations. In 1947, with the impending partition of India looming, the Battalion moved to Delhi and was involved in Internal Security duties during the serious communal unrest. During the formal hand-over of power to India, it played a major part in the ceremonies including the lowering of the Union Jack flying over the Red Fort of Delhi. The Adjutant, Captain Roger Neath, took possession of the flag and it remained on display in the 2nd Battalion until placed in The Gurkha Museum. The 2nd Battalion joined the 1st Battalion in Malaya in February 1948 as part of the British Army. The Regiment’s other three battalions all served in India and Burma during the war. The 3rd and 4th Battalions were raised during 1940 from a nucleus of the 1st and 2nd Battalions. When the Japanese surrender came on 15 August 1945, all three battalions were engaged in operations in Burma. After a frustrating wait for action they played a major part in Bill Slim’s 14th Army defeat of the Japanese in Burma.

The first into action was the 3rd Battalion. They earned their fame as Chindits under 77 Brigade in the gruelling three-month long Operation Thursday (March to June 1944) behind Japanese lines, culminating in the battle for Mogaung. The cost had been high, totalling 485: 20 BOs (11 killed), 14 GOs (6 killed), 451 GORs (108 killed). In addition to two VCs (Captain Michael Allmand and Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun), two DSOs, three IOMs, six MCs, four IDSMs, twelve MMs and three American Silver Stars were earned during this short time. On return to India, the Battalion had a much-earned long period of rest,

Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck presenting medals at the 2nd Battalion parade in Secunderabad, 1946. Adjutant Captain RC Neath is on the left.

Tulbahadur with family after receiving his VC from the Viceroy HE Field Marshal Lord Wavell at a special parade in the Red Fort, Delhi on 3 March 1945 3/6th Jemadar Rikhiram Ale IOM and Naik Balbir Pun being presented with the America Silver Star by Major General Merrill

recovery, leave, reinforcement and reorganisation. On 3 March 1945, at a special parade in front of the Red Fort Delhi, watched by his family and 100 of his comrades of the 3rd Battalion, Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun, now Havildar, was presented with his VC by the Viceroy, Field Marshal Lord Wavell.

Before the Chindits were disbanded, a final 77 Brigade parade took place during which the US Major General Merrill presented three American Silver Stars, two of them to the 3rd Battalion, the first Gurkhas to receive this award. On a later occasion, Subedar Deolal Pun also received the American Silver Star. The 3/6th then moved to Ranchi and became part of the newly formed Indian Airborne Division under 23 Brigade commanded by Brigadier Lance Perowne who later became GOC 17 Gurkha Division and MGBG in Malaya from 1952 to 1955.

By June 1945, 3/6th were back in Burma, still under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Freddie Shaw. Under 89 Indian Infantry Brigade of 7 Indian Division they saw action in the defeat of the Japanese in Burma. The Division was soon withdrawn in preparation for the invasion of Malaya. The formal surrender of the Japanese took place on 15 August. After delays, in October the Battalion moved by air to Bangkok. Duties in Siam included the unpleasant task of guarding both Japanese and Korean prisoners, many who had been guards on the infamous BurmaSiam railway, and ‘Jifs’, the hardcore of Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army. In December, the Battalion arrived by sea in Malaya to conduct duties in aid of the civil power. The stay in Malaya was short-lived as orders came through to return to India in February 1946. After a further period of support to the civil power in the uneasy conditions of post-war India, most of the Battalion took the ‘opt’ to transfer to the Indian Army and became the 5/5th Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force). The 5/5th proudly keeps its Chindit heritage to this day.

The 1st and 4th Battalions, respectively under 64 and 62 Brigades of 19 Indian Infantry Division, had to wait until November 1944 and the start of 14th Army’s advance to retake Burma to see action. The 4th Battalion had its first encounter with the enemy on 6 December and the 1st Battalion on 4 January

3rd Battalion Officers, Landi Kotal Khyber, 1941 Standing: Paul Griffin, Sub Motiram Thapa, Taffy Davies (killed Burma), Johnny Hill, Birman Grg (next SM), Fairfull-Smith (MC Burma), SJ Punter, Sitting: Hubert Skone (CO), SM Mansing Gu rung, Jock Arnott (killed Burma) On ground: SO Punter, Dog ‘Peter’ (Jock Arnott’s mongrel), laying behind dog NK, John Lucas QM (MC Mogaung), James Ritchie Away: Bob Dales (BM Khyber Bde), ‘Prince’ Coldicott (2IC, just left and Freddie Shaw later CO was on his way), Dickie Barber (on leave), David Butler (on course, killed in Burma) and Ian Christie (getting married). (This was the last photograph taken of 3/6th officers before they became Chindits.)

1945. Both Battalions took part in the bitter fighting to secure a bridgehead across the Irrawaddy river. Subsequently, the 1/6th took part in the capture of Mandalay while 4/6th swung east to lead 62 Brigade towards Maymyo and its eventual capture. These two key locations secured, 19 Division continued south to pursue the retreating Japanese forces. The Battalion was heavily engaged in operations to cut off and clear Japanese forces remaining in Burma. The Japanese rarely surrendered and each encounter had to be followed through to the final elimination of every enemy soldier.

When the Japanese surrender was announced on 15 August, the 1/6th had just taken the town of Shwegyin, two miles to the east of the Sittang River and some 100 miles north-east of Rangoon. Offensive operations quickly altered to the preparation of prisoner-of-war camps and defensive patrolling with orders to avoid casualties. A happy time was spent in Shwegyin until the end of the year with sport, escort duties and some dacoit chasing filling the days. The fishing was excellent and the local jungle teemed with game to the delight of the soldiers. After a move to Meiktila at the end of 1945, in March 1946 the Battalion moved back to Mandalay. Dacoit hunting continued until a further move in 1947 to Mingladoon, near Rangoon. From 1944 until 1947 the Battalion has been commanded by Lieutenant Colonel ‘Sailor’ Dykes MC. The 1/6th remained in Burma until it moved to Malaya on transfer to British Service on 1st January 1948.

1/6th officers, Mandalay, 1946. BOs sitting from left: John Phillips, Pat Patterson MC (2IC), Lt Col ‘Sailor’ Dykes (CO), Bill James, Ken Colquhoun MC. Between Patterson and the CO SM Hon Lt Pahalman Gurung MBE OBI, and beyond the CO is Subedar Nainasing Gurung.

the 4th Battalion moved to Pegu to join 99 Indian Brigade. In April 1946 it returned to India, first to Allahabad (on the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh) for an uncomfortable period of guards and duties in the heat of summer then to Kamptee (near Nagpur, Maharashtra) with a better climate and work. At the end of the year, orders for disbandment arrived. On 22 January 1947, the 4th Battalion marched into Abbottabad for the last time. On 28 January a final parade was held on the Polo Ground at which the Peshawar Area Commander presented a number of decorations. Formal disbandment took place on 28 February, so ending six years during which it added greatly to the Regiment’s honour and history.

Throughout its time in Burma the Battalion had been commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth RossHurst. Operations in Burma had cost five officers and 95 other ranks killed and 317 wounded. Decorations earned were: 1 MBE, 9 MCs; 12 MMs and 5 IDSMs.

Any account of the Regiment at the end of the war would be incomplete without mention of the Regimental Depot at Abbottabad. At the start of the war in 1939 no Gurkha regiments had training battalions or centralised depots like the rest of the Indian Army. In the summer of 1940, Training Companies of the two regular battalions formed a combined Depot and by November the Regimental Depot came into being, eventually becoming the 6th Gurkha Rifles Regimental Centre. The commander and architect of this transformation was Colonel Hugh Walsh OBE. With a small number of clerks and training staff from the two regular battalions he created the

Centre. In the five years of unrelenting demands for trained manpower, it enabled the four active battalions to achieve the successes that made the name of the 6th Gurkhas famous in various theatres of war. In 1943, the Centre reached its manpower peak of over five thousand personnel spread over three separate locations. In addition to organising trained battle casualty replacements for four battalions, the Centre had responsibility for men on leave, categorisation, rehabilitation and pensions of casualties and looking after many hundreds of families.

At the end of the war the Centre turned its resources into a Demobilisation and Resettlement Centre. By this time Colonel Norman Eustace DSO had taken over from Hugh Walsh. In 1947, the home of the Centre and that of the Regiment was to be handed over to the 5th Gurkha Rifles who had enjoyed Abbottabad alongside the 6th for forty-seven years. The cantonment had been our home since the 42nd Gurkha Rifles arrived from Assam in 1900. After a special memorial service in St Luke’s Church, the Regiment’s memorial tablets were removed and taken with the Regiment to Malaya. Today, the Regiment’s memorials are displayed in RMA Sandhurst, both in the Royal Memorial Chapel and in the Academy’s Indian Army Memorial Room. In early August 1947, the main body of the 6th Gurkha Rifles remaining on that day left Abbottabad for the last time.

Brian O’Bree

4th Battalion Officers on disbandment, February 1947 Back: Jem Lilbdr Pun, Jem Amardhoj Grg, Sub Dhansing Grg, Sub Nandabdr Ale, Jem Panche Thapa, Jem lndrasen Suba, Jem Bhawansing Thapa, Jem Dalbdr Rana IDSM, Jem Pahalsing Grg IDSM, Sub Tulsing Thapa, Jem Ransing Grg MC, Jem Gajbdr Grg Middle: Lt ML Jackson, Lt MR Garrard, Jem Thalbdr Ale, Lt JM Neilson, Sub Gangamani Rana, Lt RA Seymour, Lt OE Thompson, Sub Gopal Thapa, Capt AW D Moodie, Jem lmansing Thapa, Lt A Watson, Lt GJB Campbell Sitting: Capt J Phillips, Sub Pahalsing Thapa, Maj GIM Turnbull MBE, Sub Maj Gange Rana OBI IOM, Lt Col KW Ross-Hurst, Maj WK Froggatt MC, Sub Dilbdr Rana, Maj CSF Carroll MC, Sub Ekbdr Grg MC, Capt MB Adams