The Honorary Captain and the BBC

Gokul with his father, Kulbahadur, August 2020

THE BBC VJ75 PROGRAMME AND HONORARY CAPTAIN KULBAHADUR GURUNG MM

The email from Paul Corden on 19 June 2020 said, “The BBC are keen to contact any Gurkha veterans from Burma in World War II; do you know any?” Paul had done a secondment with 6 GR from 1990–92, but was now very involved with the Chindit Society of UK and he explained that the BBC were putting together a programme to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the victory over Japan. I immediately thought of Kulbahadur Saheb who had presented the British Officers with their 200th Anniversary Badges in Pokhara in 2017. I emailed his son Gokul, who had served with us in 6 GR, but was now settled in Swindon, UK to ask about his father. It transpired that Gokul was actually in Nepal, having been caught by the Covid-19 restrictions at the end of his visit from

Filming the interview in Gokul’s house in Pokhara, 7 July 2020

UK and he replied that his father was alive and well and very happy to be involved with the programme.

Developments came thick and fast! Late on 24 June, while at home in New Zealand, I received a phone call from Matt Ramsden, a BBC Producer Director of Studio Events. He was very excited about the possibility of a filmed interview with Kulbahadur, including the events of the battle of Mogaung. I explained that Kulbahadur, while happy to be involved, spoke little English, but that his son, who spoke excellent English was with him and that Matt should contact Gokul direct. I passed on Gokul’s contact details plus some background on 3/6 GR’s wartime record. This resulted in an 11 item questionnaire as a basis for the interview and it was clear that Matt was interested in Kulbahadur’s personal story; “what was it like in the jungle, what were the hardships that he and his friends faced?” He was keen to show viewers the realities of war.

We also got involved with the Chindit Society, their Chairman, Paul Shenton, and Historian, Steve Fogden, both of whom, along with Paul Corden, provided lots of wonderful background information covering Kulbahadur’s service in Burma with the Chindits,

including the citation for his Military Medal. This was awarded for his outstanding bravery in the battles around Mawlu as part of the White City Block during March of 1944. The citation was signed by his commanding officer, Lt Colonel H A Skone, on 29 March 1944, although it was only gazetted in April 1945 and until these discussions it appeared that Kulbahadur did not know what actions his decoration was actually for.

With Kulbahadur’s responses to the questionnaire, which were amazingly detailed and frank, and Paul Corden’s really helpful additions to put the answers into perspective, and with outstanding work from Gokul, by 28 June Matt had his story. From the many emails flying about over these few days, Gokul was spending long hours with his father and learning a huge amount about his wartime service.

But now, in the midst of a Covid-19 pandemic which was seriously affecting Nepal and with limited time before the programme on 15 August, would it be possible to arrange the interview? In the end, the BBC arranged for a TV crew from Kathmandu to do the interview at Gokul’s house in Pokhara. They arrived at 8 am on 7 July and were finished by 2 pm. It was a very hot and humid day. The crew were dressed in full protective clothing and masks, sprayed everything with sanitiser, and were clearly struggling with the conditions; they described it as a “sauna”. Kulbahadur too must have been very uncomfortable in his full winter-weight Service Dress. The crew apparently needed an extra day’s rest in Pokhara before returning to Kathmandu, but as I believe everyone who has seen the programme will agree, the results were excellent and Matt made it clear that he was delighted; “so special to have his story on tape which will be a very important part of the VJ75 programme.”

For the programme, Kulbahadur’s age was important, but as many readers will know, the age of Gurkha soldiers of his vintage is not simple. Although his date of birth was 17 June 1919, he enlisted on 11 October 1938 and was of course recorded as 18 years old. So for the military, he was 100 years old in October 2020, but in reality was 100 in June 2019 and was a remarkable 101 when being interviewed for the programme. Equally, Kulbahadur’s rank; how to refer to him plus his regiment were confusing for the BBC. It seems that he was a Havildar (Sergeant) during the fighting around White City, was promoted in the field to Jemadar (Lieutenant), finished his service as a Subedar Major (Gurkha Major), promoted to Honorary Lieutenant and was now an Honorary Captain. Simple really! He started his service in 2/6th Gurkhas and transferred to 3/6th Gorkhas before going to Burma during the Chindit Expedition. In 1947, at Indian Independence, 3/6th Gurkhas as a unit transferred to the Indian Army and became 5/5th Gorkhas, and it was in 5/5th Gorkhas that Kulbahadur completed the rest of his service. Interestingly, when we visited 5/5th Gorkhas in 1990, for their 50th Anniversary celebrations, they still referred to themselves as “the Chindits” and proudly wore a chinthe on the left sleeve of their Service Dress uniform.

Attention then turned to the Daily Telegraph, where Lt General Sir Peter Duffell, late 2 GR, had been asked to write an article for VJ75, linked to the BBC programme, about the Gurkhas contribution to the war in the Far East. He was keen to include details of Kulbahadur’s service, as possibly the only Gurkha veteran of the

Kulbahadur Gurung MM as a Jemadar in 5/5th Gorkha Rifles, 1960

Kulbahadur during his interview outlining life as a Chindit

Burma Campaign still alive and so Gokul was called on again to delve into his father’s amazing memory. In the end, Sir Peter’s article failed to make the newspaper, being relegated to the Telegraph website, which was a great pity because it was an excellent piece and covered the Gurkha contribution to the victory in the Far East exceptionally well.

Finally, the big day – 15 August 2020 – arrived and the VJ75 Commemoration programme was aired on BBC 1 at 8 pm, hosted most beautifully by Joanna Lumley OBE; an inspired choice and an Honorary Member of our Association. Her father, Major Jimmy Lumley, had fought in 3/6th GR throughout the Chindit Campaign, initially as a company commander and then as second in command at Mogaung and would certainly have known Kulbahadur. The programme included a variety of presentations; many of them about Gurkhas, but the highlight for most people was the interview with Kulbahadur Sahib. He was just outstanding in every way. It was gratifying that all the efforts of the many people involved had come to fruition and created something very special; in particular, Paul Corden, Matt Ramsden from the BBC but especially Gokul, who did such an amazing job teasing out his father’s story so that we could all enjoy it.

Although not part of the story of the BBC VJ Programme, I believe that it is worthwhile summarising what we learned about the extraordinary service of Honorary Captain Kulbahadur Gurung MM during the research for the programme.

Kulbahadur enlisted on 11 October 1938 and I believe was initially posted to 2/6th GR. By 1943 he was a Havildar and a Physical Training Instructor at the War Time Army Training School. Having received a letter from 3/6th GR Subedar Major Mansing Gurung, he asked to be released and joined the Battalion just after October 1943 in Jhansi, training as part of 77 Brigade in the Chindit Division.

On the night, probably of 8 March 1944, Kulbahadur landed behind Japanese lines in Burma with 3/6th GR in a Dakota at the jungle strip of Broadway which had been prepared by Engineers who had landed by glider a couple of days before. 3/6th GR then marched for four days to Mawlu where they

set up a defensive block on the road, river, railway junction as part of what would be called White City. It seems that his first action was on 17 March in the bayonet charge up Pagoda Hill led by Brigadier Mike Calvert, and it was over this period that his Company Commander, Captain Arnott, standing next to Kulbahadur was shot and killed. 3/6 GR was split into two columns, 36 and 63, and Kulbahadur’s C Company was in 63 Column. This was part of a major attack in the Mawlu area on 27 March, capturing the village and killing some 50 enemy using flame throwers, kukris and grenades. This action was the second part of Kulbahadur’s citation for the Military Medal.

63 Column was a “floater column” tasked with operating outside the defensive perimeter, to attack Japanese forces before they could attack White City, clearly a dangerous and arduous mission. They were tasked to attack the town of Kadu, north of White City, which they reached after four days march, only to be then ordered back to White City as the defences there were under attack. Having marched back, with actions on the way, they found the defensive position encircled and had to fight their way in to join 36 Column. 3/6 GR were based around White City for around seven weeks, or as Kulbahadur remembers it, three long months, with, as he clearly stated in his interview, “battles with the enemy every day and those who died, died, and those who survived, survived.” He described this as the hardest period of his time in Burma. Kulbahadur was commissioned in the field at this time with the rank of Jemadar. As part of 77 Brigade 3/6th GR were then tasked to move north, and it was assumed they would make their way back to India, in line with the original Chindit concept. However, they were quickly ordered to capture the town of Mogaung, some four days march further north.

Kulbahadur was in A Company, now as a platoon commander, and after being involved in the very difficult attack on Pinhmi Bridge was in the thick of the 23 June attack on the town of Mogaung itself. He lost 14 men from his platoon, coming under fire from the Red House (Lal Bangla), which was eventually taken by B Company commanded by Michael Allmand and including Tulbahadur Pun, both of whom were awarded a Victoria Cross. Kulbahadur’s A Company then went on to capture the Mogaung Bridge, the other strategic objective in the town. Having visited the site, I believe that the capture of Mogaung was a most exceptional feat of arms. The Battalion was on the lightest scales, having been operating on their feet for over three months, were not equipped for conventional war, were undernourished, many with chronic illness, and had lost over half of their number; it was an amazing victory.

It is clear that Kulbahadur was involved in a number of legendary battles in Burma, including a lot of close quarter fighting and killing many Japanese. It is wonderful that he came through unscathed, despite the three bullet holes in his backpack and mess tin, plus two bullet holes in his Gurkha hat and that he is still alive and able to tell his extraordinary story. He had a most successful career in 5/5th Gorkhas after the war and from his photograph taken in 1960 was clearly a tough, no nonsense and distinguished Gorkha Officer.

Duncan Briggs