6 GR Journal 99 by Marine Salvage

FAMILY AND EVENTS

JOURNAL

The

No 99.â&#x20AC;&#x201A; 2019

Â© Royal Collection Trust

FAMILY AND EVENTS

CONTENTS REGIMENTAL

ARTICLES

3 5 6 8 10 12 22 27 29 32 40 41 44 46 48

70 A Tribute to Lieutenant F Hugh Wallace 73 Borneo – Extracts from the Ops Officer’s Diary 75 Major Vyvyan Robinson MC – 6 GR’s Last Warrior 81 Memories of the Terai 88 Muzaffarpur Junction – A Terai Tale 92 Crocodile Bahini – Saving Nepal’s Gharial 96 From Terai to Pahar – Operation Khana Cascade 100 Some 6 GR Mountaineers – The Post Second World War Years 102 A Journey on the Camino Frances

50 52 54 56

The President The Incoming Chairman The Outgoing Chairman The Editor Regimental Memorial Project RGR Newsletters The Gurkha Welfare Trust KAAA Gurkha Museum Return to Nepal and Darjeeling GBA Lunch Great River Race Regimental Reunion Golf Book of Remembrance Ceremony, AGM and Reunion GBA Dinner The National Memorial Arboretum Remembrance Day Cenotaph Parade Shooting

FAMILY 58 Members’ Newsletters (Redacted) 59 6 GRRA 2019 Diary of Events 60 Obituaries

END PIECE 106 Book Reviews 109 Minutes of the AGM 112 6 GRRA Income and Expenditure Account Front Cover: Portrait of Lieutenant Hugh Wallace by Juliet Pannett. By kind permission of the Ruffell family. Inside Cover: 1962 portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II by Denis Fildes RN, commissioned by Officers of the 1st Battalion, 1960

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OFFICERS OF THE REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION President:

Brigadier John Anderson OBE

Vice-President:

Colonel Paul Pettigrew

Chairman:

Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Briggs

Secretary: Major Manikumar Rai MBE Finance Officer:

duncanria.briggs@gmail.com 101 Kings Ride, Camberley, Surrey GU15 4LJ Email: honsecretary@6thgurkhas.org

Major David Bredin

Editors Editor: Major Rick Beven Family News Editor and Social Secretary:

Captain Anne Griffith

27 Blenheim Road, Deal, Kent, CT14 7DB Email: rickbeven@hotmail.com griffharu@hotmail.com

Communications Officer: Captain James Herbert Committee:

Lieutenant Colonel Gavin Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Keeffe, Major David Bredin, Major Khusiman Gurung, Captain Nick Gordon-Creed, Captain Anne Griffith, Captain Gary Ghale

HQ Company Inter-Platoon Basketball winners â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Clerks Brunei 1973 Standing: Ichhabahadur Gurung, Uttam Kumar Chhetri, Rudrabahadur Gurung, Birbahadur Thapa, BMO, Mong Cheong Lepcha, Dhanman Limbu, Sonam Tshering Lama Kneeling: Passang Tamang, Mingma Tshering Bhotia, Naresh Gurung, Durgabahadur Sahi, Richen Wangdi Lepcha, Ratnamani Pradhan

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

John Anderson presenting Brian with a Gurkha statuette in thanks for his sterling work as Chairman 6 GRRA

ome of us thought that 2018 would be a relatively quiet year; it was not to be, thankfully. Those of us privileged to serve in the Armed Forces are well used to commemorations, where we can honour and reflect on the sacrifices made by our predecessors, but this last year saw the whole nation combine together to mark the One Hundredth Anniversary of the so-called “War to end all Wars”, the bloody and brutal waste of human life that was sadly but a precursor to another World War 21 years later. It was humbling to see the involvement of people from all walks of life, and in particular young children: a salutary reminder that

peace in the future now rests with them and that they now understand what the loss of some eleven million lives meant. The fact that over one hundred countries were represented at the Remembrance Services held in France was not missed. And our soldiers remain in harm’s way, a fact unheralded in the media. At present elements of 1 RGR are deployed on Op TORAL, part of the NATO mission to Afghanistan, and they will return in May 2019. Both Battalions continue to enjoy success in military and sporting competitions – even skiing, where the 1 RGR team won 11 medals in the Infantry

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ski championships, as well as winning the Army volleyball championship for the seventh successive year. Not to be left behind, 2 RGR, at present in Brunei, yet again won at Bisley, with a young Corporal winning the Queen’s Medal. Our Brigade continues to grow and by 2021 total strength will have increased by 32% since redundancy ended (from 2585 to 3423 posts), predominantly in the QOGLR and QGS. With the current poor recruiting figures for UK personnel, it is possible that these figures will increase further. The last year has also seen another major Anniversary, as the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association (KAAA) celebrated its 50th year of support for our pensioners in Nepal. Many of us will recall the start of this hugely successful venture, covered in detail elsewhere in the Journal. On behalf of all our soldiers, we thank the Kadoorie family for their incredible kindness and generosity. KAAA works very closely with our own Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT), which has grown out of all recognition and evolved to meet changing needs of our pensioners: GWT will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2019. Last year I reported on the progress in addressing the long-term future of both our Regimental Association and Trust, and most of you will have seen the rather long paper and, separately, the precis, both agreed at the recent AGM. With a declining active membership, difficulties in filling Committee/Trust posts and a falling attendance at both Regimental and Brigade functions, we cannot continue indefinitely and, like the other three antecedent Regiments, have had to address the continuation of our Association and the disposal of Trust funds. The endorsed proposals, which envision us being ‘housed’ within the Gurkha Brigade Association, are in effect a living will and members can be assured that they will be fully consulted before final decisions are made.

Members will be glad to hear that, following a suggestion from John Mackinlay, a small Committee under Mike Channing is investigating the possibility of erecting a suitable memorial in Nepal, and possibly the UK, to All Ranks of 6 QEO Gurkha Rifles. This is a much overdue recognition of the sacrifices made by our soldiers and I know that, if your support is needed, it will be forthcoming. In November Brian O’Bree handed over as Chairman of the Regimental Association to Duncan Briggs. Brian deserves our plaudits. He has served 29 years on the Association Committee, of which the last five years have been as Chairman. And that five years have been extraordinarily busy, with both the Gurkha 200 in 2015 and 6 GR 200 in 2017. Brian was not only a key player in the planning and delivery of our involvement in these events but was also fundamental to the development of our website and the final dispersal of our Regimental property, as well as spending 23 years as a Trustee in the Regimental Trust. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of our history and our members and his will be a hard act to follow. Thankfully we have one of the few who could do so in Duncan Briggs, and while it may be the end of an era as we bid farewell to Brian, it is with confidence that we welcome Duncan. It is always good to end with uplifting news; you should all know that Brigadier Gez Strickland DSO MBE, late of 6 GR and at present RGR’s Colonel of the Regiment, has been selected for promotion to Major General and will be taking over as Deputy Commander of a US Corps in 2019. I know that you will all join me in congratulating Gez and wishing him and his family a happy tour in America. Thank you all for your support during the last year. Jai Sixth! John Anderson

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LETTER FROM THE INCOMING CHAIRMAN

aving been largely out of the Regimental scene for over 20 years through work in Africa after retirement and then sailing, I was absolutely delighted and humbled to return to the fold and be voted in as Chairman of the Association at the AGM in November 2018.

tour in Zimbabwe and then MOD, I retired and had a wonderful second career in soft commodities, mainly in West Africa, before final retirement and beginning our sailing adventure of 12 years, which took us around the world. I feel really fortunate to have been wonderfully supported by my wife Ria, who I met in Brunei in 1972 and together we have three grown-up children.

I would first like to pay the strongest possible tribute to my predecessor, Brian O’Bree, who I believe has done an outstanding job during his tenure as Chairman, covering an exceptionally busy period. He made the most of his extremely long and deep knowledge of the Regiment, its people and kaidas, and will clearly be a very hard act to follow.

Over the next few years I very much look forward to serving the Regimental Association and offering something back to the Regiment which gave me so much; meeting as many members as possible, in Nepal, UK and elsewhere that I do not know personally and re-establishing links with those that I have had the privilege to know and serve with over the years.

Many members will know me, but for those who don’t: I was commissioned into 6 GR in 1965 before going to university and then posted to 1/6 GR in 1968. I served in the Regiment in various capacities; had the distinction of being MTO twice, served in Hong Kong, Brunei, UK, Germany, Northern Ireland as well as a couple of Staff Colleges. I took over as CO from John Anderson in 1987, commanding for three years including Belize, UK and Hong Kong. After a

At this stage I would particularly like to encourage everyone to attend our really wonderful reunions; the All Ranks in Farnborough in October 2019 and the Annual General Meeting and Memorial Service in Winchester in November 2019. Jai Sixth! Duncan Briggs

Duncan Briggs, Arthur’s Pass, Southern Alps, New Zealand

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LETTER FROM THE OUTGOING CHAIRMAN

nother visit to Nepal and one to Darjeeling could not have been a better way to start my final year as Chairman. It coincided with both the Nepal Central Branch’s annual reunion in Pokhara and Darjeeling’s delayed 200th Anniversary reunion, enabling me to see even more old friends. Details of the visit are elsewhere in these pages. Our President has mentioned his paper on planning for the future closure of the Trust and Association. While it is not something that many of us look forward to it will become a necessity within a few years. His paper provides a most comprehensive and helpful framework for whomever is at the helm when the time comes to make the decision. He deserves thanks from us all for his very detailed work. From my own experience as a former Associate member of the 4 GR Officers’ Association which closed in

2007, former members and family, admittedly now virtually all of us ‘sons and daughters of’, still gather eleven years on for an annual remembrance and reunion at Stoke Poges. I am sure we, the Sixth, will continue with our own annual reunion and the other self-organised events such as Cuttack Lunches, shoots and so on for many years and as long as the demand remains. Who knows, an enthusiastic member may even produce an online newsletter on our website? I don’t think we need to worry about our ongoing ‘fraternity’. The change of our Annual Reunion, away from Sandhurst in June to coincide with the 6 GR Book of Remembrance service at Winchester, I am very glad to report was a resounding success. The largest Annual Reunion attendance for a number of years proves the point. This too is recorded in more detail later on.

Darjeeling Branch 6 GR 200th Anniversary Reunion, 31 March 2018 Standing from left: Lt Kishore Pradhan, Sgt Krishna Rai, Cpl Ratan Lama, Capt Sonham Tshering Lama, WO1 Jagat Sing, Pierpaolo Lorenzo (guest), Hon Capt Bijoy Kumar Tamang, Maj Manbahadur Tamang MVO, Lt Dhan Kumar Dewan, Capt Topden Gyuamtso Bhutia, Capt Mong Cheong Lepcha, Capt Chandra Prakash Tamang, Capt Sange Yolmo 7 GR (Hon Member), Rfn Tashi Bhutia. Sitting from left: Mrs Ganga Pradhan, Mrs Nichen Lama, S/T Mrs Subhadra Chhetri, Mrs Pushpa Rai, Mrs Jagat Singh, Mrs Bharati Tamang, Lt Col BM O’Bree, Mrs Sangeeta Dewan, Mrs Norsang Bhutia, Mrs Purnamit Lepcha, Mrs Binu Tamang, Mrs Nima Lahmu Yolmo, Mrs Sashi Tamang.

At the Reunion Lunch I was given a beautiful copy of our historic ‘The Little Man’ statuette as a farewell present. It will be cherished greatly and, in the years to come, will remind future O’Bree generations of our very fortunate connections to Nepal. I am hugely grateful to all who so generously contributed. Finally, I want to thank those members who have played their part in the Committee over the last five years, especially our two very hard-working Honorary Secretaries, Richard Morris and Mani Rai. Moreover, I am very grateful to John Anderson, our President and

Trust Chairman, for his support. 6 GRRA has benefitted greatly from his wide knowledge of all matters Gurkha as former Chairman of the Gurkha Brigade Association and Trustee of the Gurkha Welfare Trust. Duncan is an old friend and is the right person to lead the Association in the future. I wish him well as our new Chairman. Jai Sixth! Brian O’Bree

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A QUICK NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

any years ago I was travelling on a bus from Baitadi to Mahendranagar in the Far Western Region of Nepal; we had just reached the excellent metal road that snakes through the pine-forested mountains outside Dadeldhura. The bus stopped at a prominent bend in the road and an old farmer in the seat behind me leant forward to inform me reverently “From this hill we can see Madesh.” Many miles below us the pale green of the Gangetic Plains stretched endlessly into Hind. It was another world. It was also the first time I heard the Nepali word for the Terai: ‘Madesh – my country.’ At the time I knew very little about the Terai and my experience was limited to a horrendous overnight bus trip from Kathmandu to Darjeeling with Jules Irens in 1992 and a visit to the National Park at Chitwan. But the Terai is vitally important to Nepal and therefore to the Brigade of Gurkhas. Even in 1992 many of our soldiers were retiring to the rich alluvial soils of the Terai that gave three rich harvests rather than the one difficult harvest of the hills. And there was better health care, transport and education.

That is why I wanted this year’s theme in The Journal to be the Terai. I had forgotten that the Brigade had been there before: that members of 6 GR had served and lived in Paklihawa, Dharan and the Line of Communications that stretched between Calcutta and Nepal. Brian O’Bree and Paul Pettigrew’s articles shed light on this period of our Regimental history whilst Phoebe Griffith’s fascinating article on studying gharial shows how our Regimental family is still deeply involved with this other Nepal.

I also attended the moving Annual Reunion and Book of Remembrance Service in Winchester in November when we remembered Lieutenant Hugh Wallace, the last British Officer in 6 GR to be killed in action. I had been struggling to find a cover for this year’s Journal. Whilst having coffee in The Gurkha Museum I saw a copy of the lovely portrait of Hugh that is on the cover of this edition; my thanks to the Ruffell family for allowing me to use it. After the huge bundo of the 200th anniversary – complete with a summiting of Everest by a young Officer carrying a 6 GR flag on the exact 200th anniversary of our founding – I thought 2018 might be a quieter year. It was not so as the many articles in this edition hopefully show. Sadly, there was no 6 GR Fishing Day last year so I have included this wonderful photograph of the mighty mahseer opposite. Rick Beven

“There he stood, the Mahseer of the Poonch, beside whom the Tarpon is a Herring and he who catches him can say he is a fisherman.” Rudyard Kipling

Right; Mahseer from the Karnali River caught in 1964 by Peter Byrne (From the photo album of Major Peter O’Bree)

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6TH QEO GURKHA RIFLES

REGIMENTAL MEMORIAL PROJECT

n the Spring of 2018, John Mackinlay produced a paper for consideration by the Association Committee recommending that, for so long as there remain sufficient former badged 6th Gurkhas to consider it, the evaluation of a proposal to create a permanent memorial to our Regiment should be undertaken; the memorial should be to all who served in the Regiment, and, indeed, to its distinguished, loyal and honourable service. John drew attention to the survivors of the 1939-45 War who set up the War Memorial Fund, later to become the War Memorial Trust Fund, eventually itself absorbed into the Regimental Trust: a principal object of that Fund (which is also incorporated into the objects of the Regimental Trust) was to create a permanent memorial or memorials to the men of the 6th Gurkha Rifles who fell in war or died later of their wounds. As the numbers of badged 6th Gurkhas declines, John argues that the time is now right for those of us who remain to give effect to that objective, albeit widening its scope as described in his paper. In November 2018 the Association AGM was preceded by the annual service of Remembrance round the black marble lectern in Winchester Cathedral (also commissioned by John Mackinlay) which holds the Roll of Honour of 6th Gurkha British Officers who gave their lives in the service of the Regiment. Whilst it serves as memorial to those officers, it does not, of course, serve as a memorial to the Regiment, or to all the men of all ranks and ethnicities who have served in the Regiment. The purpose of John’s paper was to broaden the objective established by the War Memorial and Regimental Trusts as mentioned above. Both the Regimental Association and the Trust considered that John’s paper merited detailed evaluation, and I have been asked to chair a Committee, which was established in late August 2018 and includes both British and Nepalese

members, to examine, and if agreed to be both practically and financially viable, to implement the proposal. I gave a brief explanation of the project to the Members present at the AGM, but, recognising that a fuller awareness of the proposal and the Committee’s deliberations, should be available to all Members of the Association, this short article is intended to provide that awareness; further reports will follow if the project progresses. The terms of reference of the Committee require us to examine the project in five phases; these fall within two basic phases: the first covers the desirability and feasibility of the project and the second, the planning, funding and execution of the project. To date (early December, 2018) the Committee have been examining the desirability of the project – in general this has been broadly accepted; however, that topic covers two important aspects: what sort of memorial, and where should it be created. The Committee both here and in Nepal are in the process, as I write, of completing their consideration of those aspects, with a view to evaluating the project’s feasibility by the early summer of next year. An important element in considering the type of memorial is the message the memorial is intended to convey – be it pride in a great regiment, recognising also the deeds of the 19th century predecessor regiments, recognition of service across the world in the two World Wars of the 20th century, its professionalism, and also, perhaps, that it was a close-knit family of lasting friendships. Those and other considerations will determine the style of memorial. As to where it should be placed, the current general consensus is that it should be in Nepal, in the Pokhara area, and the Nepal Committee are tasked with identifying a suitable location, which is accessible, potentially permanent and representative of the part of Nepal from which the large majority of our soldiers have traditionally been recruited.

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if agreed, could lead to the ultimate execution of the project. Mike Channing

Photo: Rick Beven.

It is the Committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aim to be in a position to present a proposal to the Association on which the Members will be asked to vote at the AGM in November 2019, before proceeding with the second phase, which,

Welfare Pensioner Mingmar Ghale 4 GR, 1943â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1946, outside his home in Tipling village, Dhading District, 2002

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ROYAL GURKHA RIFLES NEWSLETTER

FIRST BATTALION

018 was another eventful year for the First Battalion. In February, the Battalion deployed to Kenya on Ex ASKARI STORM before beginning the conversion to a Protected Mobility role in anticipation of their deployment to Afghanistan on Op TORAL. A (Delhi) Company continued to maintain 1 RGR’s commitment to 16 Air Assault Brigade by forming the Air Assault Task Force (AATF), taking part in a Brigade level joint exercise – Ex FALCON AMARANTE – alongside the French and an American airborne troop in the Caylus area in the south of France.

Ex ASKARI STORM In February 2018, 1 RGR deployed to Kenya on Exercise ASKARI STORM, a battle group level exercise that took place on various training areas up and down Kenya. This was the perfect opportunity to exercise the battalion on a testing light infantry exercise in an arduous environment before the battalion converted to a Protected Mobility role in preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan on Op TORAL 7. It was also a chance for 1 RGR to continue their integration into 16 Air Assault Brigade by working alongside engineer, artillery, logistics and other assets from the Brigade.

The exercise began with the company live firing phase in Archers Post Training Area which gave the Companies time to carry out their own realistic and challenging live fire training up to the platoon level, as well as rehearse and refine their SOPs in anticipation of the dry firing phase. Before this, the Platoon Commanders made their way up to recce routes and live firing lanes for the Companies, which for certain individuals made for an uncomfortable few days urgently trying to recall how to do traces under the stern eye of the SASC QMSI. Once the Companies, who had in the meantime carried out acclimatization training, joined them, the live firing began. Training increased in intensity from Close Quarter Battle ranges, through Individual, Pair and Fire-team Fire and Manoeuvre, up to Section and Platoon live attacks, utilising hastily constructed buildings to conduct live fire room clearance. The final few days of this phase was used to rehearse Company movement and attacks, with the use of DTES tracking equipment. This enabled Company and Platoon HQs to review company tactics in the After-Action Reviews and elevated the quality of training in this phase of the exercise. Following the live firing, the Companies moved into a six-day test exercise, consisting of three two-day

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Making Friends with the French A (Delhi) Company on Ex FALCON AMARANTE

Company HQ to build a reliable battle picture. This phase was among the most tactically testing of the entire exercise as the free-thinking enemy, supplied by the Second Battalion The Duke of Lancasterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Regiment, took full advantage of this freedom in order to test the Company defence from every angle. The final live firing phase involved a coming together of all the Battle-group assets for a Company day and night attack, including artillery and mortar fire as well as machine guns supporting the assaults. From here the Battle group came together to carry out the final rehearsal attack, a 24-hour shakeout which enabled Photograph by Tom Alexander

phases; enabling operations, defensive operations, and Company live firing. The enabling phase involved hasty attacks, operating among and alongside civilians, liaising with other assets and agencies such as EOD, and platoons spread out and operating independently from each other and Company HQ. It was an excellent way in which to develop mission command and encourage initiative down to Section Commander level, and the relentless movement and pace of operations ensured it was a tough 48 hours. The defensive phase relied equally on NCOs to maintain the accuracy of reports and returns to enable

Riflemen from Recruit Intake 18 at the end of their Induction Training, Rype Village, Lydd

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Battle group HQ to exercise with all the Companies for the first time to identify frictions in anticipation of the week-long test exercise in Laikipia training area.

DTES artillery, it was a suitably challenging end to the exercise, which culminated in a successful and synchronised battle group assault.

Laikipia offered a new set of challenges from Archers Post, with a cooler, hillier terrain, and a new danger facing the light infantrymen: curious and territorial wildlife, including lions, hyenas and elephants. Fortunately, local fauna caused no serious injuries! The exercise consisted of large-scale battle group operations, requiring communication over large areas, long distance night-time insertions and co-ordinated battle group attacks on complex objectives. The Battle group exercised alongside a Kenyan Defence Force company, which enabled far greater freedom of movement in the defensive phase, allowing some elements of both area and mobile defence to be achieved. A (Delhi) Company, acting as the CO’s ‘Chindit’ force, were devastatingly effective as they disrupted the enemy’s attacks before they reached the main defensive position. The final attack took place on an urban objective and despite the frustration felt by many when they were killed by invisible

The exercise was an excellent way for 1 RGR to confirm their light infantry core skills before deploying on operations. It tested the scope of the light role battle group to its limit, through the sheer scale of operations and the difficulty of terrain that challenged communications and command.

A machine gunner deploys on patrol during Op TORAL 7 in Afghanistan

Pre-Deployment Training After an extremely successful Ex ASKARI STORM the Battalion had little time to rest on their laurels. After a short break, 1 RGR had to shift focus towards the operational requirements of their imminent Op TORAL deployment. With a shortened time line the Battalion had to fulfil numerous mandatory training requirements as well as mentally prepare its soldiers for the intricacies and complexities of operations. No longer would the emphasis be on the conventional tactics, honed to a kukri edge in Kenya, with a shift to the behavioural judgement and understanding of

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complex operations, which would be so important in Kabul. The majority of the Battalion would be mounted in nine-ton armoured vehicles and, with many of the junior soldiers lacking even the most basic driving qualifications, training for Foxhound would be no easy task. As ever, the Riflemen and JNCOs took to the challenge with enthusiasm and confidence, meaning that some went from veritable zero-to-hero status in a matter of weeks. It was only after this challenge was overcome that the business of tactics could really begin. Ex KABUL DAWN was described as ‘your worst sixmonths in Kabul rolled into a neat five days.’ The pace of life for all those participating was feverish. Patrols would deploy only to be confronted with all manner of situations and challenges. The Quick Reaction Force was in a constant state of readiness as you could all but guarantee that, no matter what, the call to deployment was just around the corner. Despite this pace the Companies and Platoons excelled in the challenge, leaving commanders at all levels far more secure in the face of the ever-approaching deployment. It also presented an opportunity to test our inter-operability with First Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, who would be attached to the battle group in Kabul.

Op TORAL Overview The Battalion’s deployment to Kabul saw us joined by attachments from First Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, Third Battalion The Parachute Regiment, The King’s Royal Hussars, and a myriad of combat support personnel. Together the Battle group took on the role of Kabul Protection Unit (KPU). Many in the Battalion have experienced Afghanistan on previous tours. Op TORAL has been a very different challenge; overcoming some of the preconceptions of those with experience of Op HERRICK was an initial friction. After an extremely testing period of Pre-Deployment Training the 1 RGR battle group was clearly eager to hit the ground running. After a detailed and wholly impressive handover from The

Welsh Guards the Battalion was very much in the hot seat. The first rotation for many of those deployed would be in the role of Quick Reaction Force (QRF) and it was in this role that they faced their first challenge with the attack on Camp Anjuman, which saw elements of both B (Sari Bair) and C (Mogaung) Coy deploying to CASEVAC seriously wounded civilians and evacuate over 200 others. Now more than two months into deployment, the tempo that the Companies were operating at the beginning of the tour, has started to settle down. The danger of complacency is ever present though it is clear that the Multiples and Companies have now achieved a sustainable battle rhythm. The role of each Company is broadly similar, with the focus always being on the protection of NATO advisors, although there is some variation due to the differing vehicle platforms they operate. C Company, based at Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA), is operating primarily out of Civilian Armoured Vehicles, whereas B Company and attachments based in the New Kabul Compound (NKC) utilise Foxhound. Foxhound is an impressive vehicle, which allows greater freedom due to its increased protection. When not busy on missions or training, the Battalion has found new ways to challenge themselves. Whether it be the unseating of the undisputed Table Tennis champion of NKC by Rfn Samir or the winning of the operationally-focused international Close Quarter Battle Competition by 5 Pl, 1 RGR have found time to perform across the board. Unsurprisingly, there has also been a fair amount of hosting through the sharing of ‘messing’ with our international partners. This deployment is clearly not without its challenges and the Battalion has already been tested by numerous events within the city, but morale remains high and the output professional.

Op TORAL 7 During Op TORAL 7, C (Mogaung) Company detached a single multiple to be based out of the New Kabul Compound with B (Sari Bair) Company – The Police

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Liaison Detachment (or PLD). Whereas The Welsh Guards had dissolved the PLD role, CO 1 RGR was especially keen to re-deploy the capability and see Gurkhas back on the streets of Kabul, liaising with Afghan Police across the city. The PLD work under The Green Forces Fusion Cell (GFFC) to fulfil two functions: first, to protect the Senior Police Advisor and second, to coordinate intelligence for the Kabul Protection Unit (KPU) Intelligence Cell. Specifically, the PLD is tasked to generate an on-the-ground understanding of different areas within Kabul. To do so the PLD conducts aviation recces in Puma helicopters and daily Foxhound journeys across the city. Newly qualified CAT-C drivers have had the opportunity to drive a £1million, 7-tonne armoured vehicle as their first car! Moving in a three-Foxhound multiple, the PLD visit each of Kabul’s 23 Police Districts (PDs), occasionally up to 30 km from base and with the support from additional assets as required. A particular highlight are tasks to Paghman at an elevation of 2300m, with breath-taking views of the snow-clad Hindu Kush surrounding Kabul below and a frozen-over Lake Qargha.

The engagement between Afghan policemen and Gurkha soldiers was natural, facilitated by exchanges of favourite Bollywood song couplets and countless cups of green tea. Soldiers with more proficient Urdu were able to share useful information for mutual operational benefit.

Sports The commitment to operations has meant that 1 RGR has had fewer opportunities to take part in sports activities. However, eight Gurkhas from 1 RGR took part in Exercise FROSTED BLADE, the Infantry Alpine Ski Racing Championships in Val d’Isere in the French Alps, winning a number of individual silver and bronze medals. 1 RGR has also formed its own Mountain Bike Team (MTB), purchasing a number of specialised mountain bikes with the intention of taking part in the Army Mountain Biking Competition in the future.

Conclusion In summary, the majority of 1 RGR are still on Op TORAL in Kabul whilst A (Delhi) Company and elements of Headquarters and Support Company hold the fort in Sir John Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe. They have just been reinforced by a large number of Riflemen from Recruit Intake 2018. The Battalion is looking forward to reuniting in Spring 2019 in preparation for the 25th anniversary of the formation of The Royal Gurkha Rifles.

On task, the PLD liaise with Afghan National Police in a range of different settings from lavish, woodpanelled Colonels’ offices in district headquarters to broken, plastic garden tables surrounded by a single Jai 1 RGR! ring of concertina wire just off the Jalalabad Highway.

SECOND BATTALION

he Second Battalion have had a productive and rewarding year in Brunei, marking a period of some stability following the eight-month tour to Kabul in 2016 and the Unit Move of 2017. A full year in Brunei has seen the Battalion once again hit its stride in the jungle, with the development of jungle tactics at the heart of Company training. Achievements have

continued throughout the year, undoubtedly crowned by victory in the Nepal Cup football and both Major Units’ Champion and Queen’s Medallist at Bisley in the Army Operational Shooting Competition. January saw the Battalion return from leave to turn its focus to Junior Leadership Cadre (JLC) 18, with C (Tamandu) Coy leading. This year, C Coy used

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Training for jungle operations

Penanjong Garrison as the base for six weeks, taking 54 Riflemen through a broad leadership programme, utilising both the jungle training areas and the Royal Brunei Armed Forcesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (RBAF) own urban training facility within Penanjong Garrison. In April, B (Gallipoli) Coy supported the RBAF in conducting the 2nd Annual Regional Jungle Warfare Symposium in Brunei. This was a showpiece event for the RBAF, with attendance from 16 countries across the Region. The high point was a joint firepower demonstration alongside the RBAF, with HRH The Crown Prince in attendance. Overall, Defence Engagement with the RBAF continues unabated; carrying on the excellent relationship left by 1 RGR. Activities have ranged from conceptual lectures delivered to their Combined Staff Course, the delivery of Public Order and Urban Training Packages, to RBAF participation in the British Forces Brunei Skill at Arms Meet. The Battalionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focus on developing jungle skills has seen steady progress this year, from Platoon to Company, in readiness for a series of HQ and Battalion level exercises in 2019. The time spent re-familiarising with the jungle has paid dividends; of the two Jungle Warfare Instructors courses of 2018, Lt Liam Smith and Cpl Jivan BK (both 2 RGR) were

awarded top student. A (Amboor) and B Coy have both been fortunate to deploy on Company Group overseas exercises in 2018, ably supported by Sp (Imphal) Coy. A Coy spent six weeks in Tekapo, New Zealand, on PACIFIC KUKRI 18, where they were visited by the new Commander 11 Brigade, Brigadier Tom Bateman CBE and the New Zealand Defence Minister, the Hon Ron Mark, MP. B Coy were fortunate to spend a month in Sarawak conducting joint exercises with 13th Royal Malaysian Regiment in Sri Aman, south of Kuching. The Battalion have continued to have an operational output from Brunei, with soldiers deploying on Short Term Training Teams to places such as the Lebanon, Gabon, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Canada, Cyprus and Saudi Arabia. These deployments are vital in maintaining operational currency and experience for our JNCOs and Young Officers. Additionally, the Battalion provided valuable support to the Field Army, twice deploying a Force Protection platoon to British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), through Easter and Christmas. The Battalion were delighted to once again be announced as Major Unit Champions at the Army

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The Log Run during JLC 18

Ex PACIFIC KUKRI

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Corporal Bishal Rai, Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Medallist 2018

2 RGR show off their Regimental Silver

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Lt Colonel Jamie Murray with the Secretary of State for Defence

Operational Shooting Competition 2018 in Bisley. Cpl Bishal Rai of C Coy also won the Queen’s Medal as the top shot from across the Army. He joins C Coy CQMS, CSgt Sanjib Rai as the second Queen’s Medal winner in his Company! Success in sporting and military competitions continued, with a particular highlight being the return of the Nepal Cup to 2 RGR, after a gripping final against 1 RGR during the Brigade Bhela in Aldershot. The Cambrian Patrol team achieved a Silver Medal, despite dire weather in South Wales over their phase of the competition. The Regimental birthday saw the presentation of two awards; The Prince of Wales Kukri to WO2 Phurba Tamang and the Tuker Award to Capt Oscar Goldfinger. A Coy were the eventual winners of an extremely competitive Champion Coy Competition – C Coy narrowly missing out on making it a third year in a row. The year has also been one of an unprecedented number of visits, as interest in the Indo-Pacific region increases with the continued rise of the Chinese economy and disputes in the South China Sea. Alongside a visit from the Secretary of State for Defence, the Garrison has welcomed eight UK

General Officer visits, as well as separate visits from the US, NZ and Philippines Armies. Summer 2018 saw the handover of command between Lt Col Jamie Murray and Lt Col Dave Pack MBE, alongside the handover of Gurkha Major. Col Murray did not move far, taking on the role of Chief of Staff, British Defence Section Asia-Pacific in the Singapore High Commission. Lt Col Pack MBE, alongside his wife Abi and two sons, settled in well through a successful Dashain. Maj Gajendra Angdembe deployed to Kabul on finishing as Gurkha Major, where he is developing local forces through the Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs. Maj Rajkumar Rai made the short move from OC CSS (Cassino) Coy to Gurkha Major. The Second Battalion finishes the year in a fantastic position to build on the achievements of 2018. The arrival of 63 Riflemen from Recruit Intake 18, takes the Battalion almost to the point of being fully manned. With continued Gurkha growth across the Army, this will fall, but the Battalion is already reaping the benefits of wider Army experience to our soldiers – both in the skills that return and the building of our professional reputation. Jai 2 RGR!

Photo: Rick Beven

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Sergeant Sambahadur Pun, 2/6th Gurkha Rifles, 1956-1971, a veteran of Malaya and Brunei. In the background his wife is weaving cloth on a ‘hatsao’. Ramche village, Myagdi District, 2002

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Gurkha widow Kirkuli Ghale

THE GURKHA WELFARE TRUST “Gurkhas Living Out Their Lives with Dignity”

BIG CHANGES

OUR BRAND

s many of you will know, though we were previously known in the UK as The Gurkha Welfare Trust, our operational arm in Nepal has long been called The Gurkha Welfare Scheme (or GWS). This has now changed. We are one organisation and the new branding in Nepal reflects that. We have been in Nepal for almost 50 years and we will be there for many years to come, under the unified name of The Gurkha Welfare Trust. The increased visibility as a result of our new branding has meant that our beneficiaries are beginning to recognise the work we are doing around them – be it new access to clean water, the delivery

of medical care, financial aid or school buildings – and they’re seeing GWT as a mark of quality and in many areas setting the standard for others to follow. Our reputation has never been better. PENSIONER SUPPORT TEAMS

As the needs of our beneficiaries have changed, so have we. Last year we introduced our mobile Pensioner Support Team (PST) model. The PST model groups our staff into multi-disciplinary teams made up of drivers, doctors, other medical and welfare staff. These teams then journey into the hills with 4x4 all-terrain vehicles to visit our pensioners. They provide an opportunity for us to assess an individual’s vulnerability, to deliver their Welfare Pension and any other welfare and medical support

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we can give them. The teams can also deliver vital equipment such as beds and commode chairs, which provide comfort and dignity to our elderly pensioners. OUR AREA WELFARE CENTRES

Our network of 22 Area Welfare Centres across Nepal (and India) has now been divided up into five clusters â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which help in delivering support through our new more mobile approach (the Pensioner Support Teams) by pooling manpower and resources. Our staff structure has also been adjusted accordingly with an experienced Senior Area Welfare Officer (SAWO) leading operations across each cluster. NEW MEDICAL CLINICS

As part of our pledge to modernise and improve the standard of healthcare we deliver we have created five new state-of-the-art Medical Clinics at each of

our key Area Welfare Centres. These clinics have been equipped with some of the best medical kit in-country as well as modern pharmacies on the advice of clinical specialists. They offer a standard of care never seen before in Nepal. The clinics have already proved to be a huge hit with both Service and Welfare Pensioners. As well as the new equipment we have pushed forward with the recruitment of more specialist staff, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and more â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to ensure that the clinics are being utilised as best they can. With the addition of new equipment and staff comes new responsibilities. We have now streamlined the process behind all of our medical work, allowing clinics to feed claims into one central desk (our

A medical member of a mobile Pensioner Support Team

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Schoolgirls stand outside a GWT School

Medical Advice Cell), whether that be for primary or secondary healthcare cases. This comes on the back of the digitisation of thousands of our records â&#x20AC;&#x201C; allowing for staff anywhere in Nepal to access patient records. Not to be overlooked, we are also upgrading the clinical facilities at some of the more remote AWCs as well.

OUR ACTIVITIES RURAL WATER AND SANITATION PROGRAMME

Our water programmes continue to go above and beyond in delivering vital access to remote communities across the country. Over 100 new projects were constructed last year, which were made up of over 5,000 tap stands,

5,000 toilets and over 50 school tap stands. We also installed 11 simple drip irrigation systems. In total over 30,000 people benefitted from our programmes this year. We are in discussion with DFID on where to take the programme beyond 2020 (when our current contract concludes). This next phase is likely to include disaster mitigation work for remote communities, a topic we are well versed in following the work of our Earthquake Response Team over the last three years. SCHOOLS

Our schools programme builds and repairs schools in remote regions of Nepal to improve access to education and in turn offer a better future to Nepali children.

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One of our longest running programmes, our schools have benefitted thousands of young people. Last year was no exception, having completed the construction of 13 different schools. Looking forward we plan to reduce the number of schools that we build, but at the same time deliver a more holistic package of improvements including single-sex toilets and washing facilities to libraries and staff facilities. Fewer but better is the mantra. FINANCIAL AID

We continued to deliver our Welfare Pension to Gurkha veterans and widows not entitled to a British Army pension. At its largest distribution we gave the Pension to 5,325 people last year. The rate was NPR 10,500 per month (NPR 11,000 from July 18), which equates to approximately ÂŁ70.

Outside of our Welfare Pension we delivered other financial assistance to people in need. Children of Welfare Pensioners with a disability continued to receive our Disability Support Grant. Last year over 200 people received this. We also distributed just under 2,000 Emergency Hardship Grants to people who faced disasters such as flooding, landslides or fire. From this year we are also extending our home building programme to include the rebuilding of earthquake resilient homes for 100 Welfare Pensioners every year. MEDICAL AID

At our Medical Clinics across Nepal we saw over 100,000 cases last year. We also supported around 8,500 secondary cases, referring them and funding specialist care elsewhere.

Ex-Gurkha Indra Ghale in the Kaski Residential Home

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In conjunction with Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association we also delivered six medical camps in Gulmi, Damak, Dharan, Kaski, Gorkha and Chitwan. These camps provide simple yet life-changing procedures such as cataract removal and dental extractions. In total the camps treated over 11,000 individuals last year. IN THE UK

Back in the UK we were proud to achieve over and above all of our fundraising targets (by over 15%). We continue to be amazed at the generosity and dedication of our supporters. In November we were grateful for His Royal Highness Prince Harry’s support. The Prince hosted a Remembrance celebration at the State Apartments in Kensington Palace. Speaking at the event, His Royal Highness commented that “The Gurkha Welfare Trust provides the most incredible support to these men, their families and the communities in which they live; the charity doesn’t pretend to have all the answers but listens to what its beneficiaries need and provides it in the most efficient way possible.” On social media we were pleased to reach millions with our messaging, encouraging people to keep up-to-date with our work in Nepal and to donate via the newly designed website gwt.org.uk. The change

in website design has helped present our work in a more bite-sized way and makes it much easier for our supporters to donate to our work. In a bid to continue to provide access to our work in inventive ways we were also grateful for Bear Grylls for agreeing to voice a short cartoon for us. The video, available to view on our website, aims to educate people about our cause and tells the story of the Gurkhas in under three minutes. PLANS

Over the next few months we will continue to develop our comprehensive medical scheme in Nepal, focussing now on mentoring our staff and further raising standards. We will be extending a contract with leading industry specialists International SOS (ISOS) whilst at the same time we will seek to recruit an in-country Medical Director for Autumn 2019 to take over the work from ISOS at the end of their contract. Looking further ahead we will continue to work tirelessly to fundraise and raise the profile of our cause in the UK and to adapt to our beneficiaries’ needs in Nepal. With your support we will continue to ensure that Gurkha veterans, their widows and their wider communities can continue to live with dignity in Nepal. Adam Bentham

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A SILVER LINING KADOORIE AGRICULTURAL AID ASSOCIATION

50TH ANNIVERSARY wo momentous events happened in April 1968, one for me personally and the other for our wider Gurkha family.

I was 17 and I had flown to Hong Kong for my Easter school holidays to stay with my father “Bunny” Burnett who was the Brigadier of 48 Brigade. There was a 6 GR Ladies Dinner Night in the Gallipoli Officers’ Mess to which my father took me, and where I met and was charmed by John Anderson. John’s version of this story is less romantic. Apparently he was ordered by Colin Scott (the 2IC) to look after me... an order that was never rescinded! The second event happened at another dinner, this time in Government House. A cloud of redundancy hung over the Brigade of Gurkhas and my father sought to alleviate the awfulness of this by asking

Horace Kadoorie for help. To quote a letter from Horace “he wondered whether we could train the soldiers being sent back to Nepal in agriculture” at the Kadoorie Farm. The Kadoorie family kindly agreed. Nine thousand men were due to be made redundant. The one month Agriculture and Animal Husbandry course was so popular, and the numbers wishing to attend so great, that it was decided that resettlement farms were needed in both the West and East of Nepal. These were funded through the generosity of the Kadoorie family. My father was able to help with the logistical challenges. In November 1969 an RAF Hercules aircraft carried a load of Hong Kong bred pigs and 600 chickens and ducks to Nepal and only one duck was lost. This was the first of many gifts sent by Horace.

Sir Horace Kadoorie and Brigadier “Bunny” Burnett in British Gurkhas Dharan

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The Kadoorie Family during their 50th Anniversary Visit to Nepal

On one occasion a splendid bull calf was sent to the Resettlement Farm in Dharan. On his next visit Horace asked to see the calf and asked if they had named it. The slightly embarrassed response was, “Er, yes. Horace.” Horace was delighted! My father’s next posting was as Commander British Gurkhas in Dharan, Nepal. Here he took an active interest in the farms and thoroughly enjoyed Horace’s visits. After two years there my father was thinking of his own retirement, contemplating trout farming in the wilds of Scotland, when to his surprise, he was appointed Major General Brigade of Gurkhas back in Hong Kong. Meanwhile over the last half century the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association in Nepal has flourished. They widened their remit. For example the projects carried out in the past year included: • • • • •

5 Micro Hydro projects. Building 20 Trail bridges. 8 Drinking Water schemes. Vocational Training for 400 students. Funding 10 Medical Camps.

• Earthquake rebuilding of two villages. In addition they helped with cliff trackways, horticultural training, the provision of solar lighting and smokeless stoves. My gratitude to Christopher Lavender and Andrew Mills for the details above, and for the photographs of the 50th Anniversary Celebration visit by three generations of the Kadoorie family. I also thank Rupert Litherland, who wrote a book about my father, which also covered this era. But most of all of course I thank the wonderful Kadoorie family and their charitable foundation for all they have given to our friends in Nepal. My son Tom, after reading Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association, The 50th Anniversary (1968 – 2018), A Photographic Celebration, asked approximately how much the Kadoorie family had given in the last 50 years. The total is £69 million so far. Wow! Better than a silver lining. Surely gold. Louise Anderson

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Mr Donald Ruffell presents Gavin Edgerley Harris with the Elizabeth Cross and Pingat Jasa Malaysia of his late brother in law, Lieutenant Hugh Wallace

GURKHA MUSEUM

018 has been an opportunity for the Gurkha Museum to develop its education, outreach and engagement programmes across a wide field of military and civilian life. As a result, the Gurkha Museum now benefits from having a much higher profile in the museum world and across the Brigade of Gurkhas family. The year can be summarised as a series of new initiatives in education, heritage engagement and developments in trading.

Staff and Volunteers In August Christine Bernath was appointed Assistant

Director following four years as Curator of the Shropshire Regimental Museum and having held other posts before in military museums and with the departure of the Administrative Assistant in May, the vacancy was filled by Alison Burt-Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Arcy at the beginning of October. In December, all staff attended a short Nepali Language course provided by the Brigade Culture and Language Team.

Volunteers Volunteers continue to provide an important addition to help with the work of the Museum. This may be in the Shop, the Archives or stewarding Exhibitions.

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Having completed a successful Heritage Project with The Arts Society of Alresford (TASA) last year, we have commenced a further project on our Reserve Collection using the excellent volunteers provided by TASA.

Regimental Trusts for their meetings; these are most welcome and we are delighted to host such events. 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles Regimental Association and Trust are particularly supportive of their Museum, holding meetings and events here throughout the year. We welcomed the 6 GRRA AGM and Re-union here on 3rd November, Education and Outreach following their Winchester Cathedral memorial The Collections Officer started his time with us service. Before the Re-union lunch, Mr Donald in being part of developing a major educational partnership in the north of Hampshire. A project called Ruffell presented to the Museum the Elizabeth Cross and Pingat Jasa Malaysia of his late brother “100 Lives” run by The Hampshire Cultural Trust in law Lieutenant Hugh Wallace. We also hosted (HCT) saw the Museum, in partnership with HCT, The Queens Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment and three local the Gurkha Welfare Trust for staff visits and meetings throughout the year and the Director schools in Rushmoor District, educate and engage with schoolchildren in understanding Gurkha soldiers, was delighted to be part of the GWT Conference for Nepali Community Leaders held in London on their heritage and culture. What is of particular note 14th September. The Museum is most grateful for is the increasing number of Brigade Unit families’ the continued help and support of all members visits with large groups from The Queen’s Gurkha of the GBA, Regimental Associations and Trusts Engineers, 1 RGR and QOGLR. A Curry, Culture and in particular the financial support which is so and Craft day held at the Museum brought a huge response of young visitors, with nearly 200 attending important to us to develop and grow our ability to operate as a premier heritage centre. the sessions held in the McDonald Gallery on 23rd October, during half term.

Lectures On 4th May, Major Andrew Todd MBE gave his excellent presentation on the 2017 Brigade Everest Expedition, to a full house after which, the Museum was presented with the ice axe of Lieutenant Chris Boote, a member of the summit team. Other fundraising lectures were given by Gen Sir Peter Duffell, the Director and Maj Gordon Corrigan.

Exhibitions The Summer Exhibition was focused on the Gurkha contribution in the Great War and was formally opened on 1st August by the Colonel Commandant, Lt General Nick Pope with H.E. the Nepalese Ambassador and Mayor of Winchester as honoured guests. The Museum continues to develop its temporary exhibition space where displays on Afghanistan will be housed.

GBA and GWT The McDonald Gallery continues to attract Regimental Associations for their re-unions and

Commercial and Communications

Commercial activities have been increased significantly during 2018 with resultant improvement in trading income and profit. The Commercial Manager sought and obtained funding for a direct marketing campaign and this together with increased online marketing and advertising initiatives, has meant a busier trading year for the Museum. The Shop, Gallery, Admissions and Events continue to attract more custom, which bodes well for 2019.

Acquisitions We have had two important gifts of Himalayan heritage. Firstly we were gifted an ice axe and snow goggles of Tenzing Norgay and, as reported above, this was followed by the 2017 Gurkha Everest Expedition ice axe of Lt Chris Boote. Of particular note is the donation by artist Lt Colonel John Mackinlay of a triptych of three Gurkha soldiers: a 6 GR rifleman with a Queen’s Gurkha Engineer and rifleman 5 RGR (FF) on either side. Archive donations continue to arrive and such collections and photographs are most welcome.

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Triptych of Gurkha Soldiers by John Mackinlay

Friends of the Gurkha Museum Friends Membership is again down slightly on last year and stands at 597. This is mainly due to a review of older data being identified as no longer relevant. All due processes connected with the General Data Protection Regulations that came into force last May are now in place. Membership is affordable and I would urge all to join and enjoy the benefits of free entry and many discounts. The AGM and Tea held annually in May is to be commended as a way of learning more about the Museum and hopefully becoming more engaged.

Legacies At the end of the year we will be launching a Legacy programme to encourage more people with a desire to see the heritage of the Gurkha Soldier commemorated for future generations. The Gurkha Museum Trust

is a Registered Charity No. 1169920 and we would welcome any donation by way of a legacy to help us promote to as wide an audience as possible the heritage of Gurkha service to the Crown over more than 200 years.

Conclusion The long term aim of the Museum is to be an independent and sustainable Museum and in this aim we seek to develop the Museum in an appropriate way that will safeguard its future. We thank those who make up the Four Pillars of the Brigade in all they do for and on behalf of the Museum and we look forward to working together next year and into the future. Gavin Edgerley Harris

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RETURN TO NEPAL AND DARJEELING

March 2018

uring the summer and autumn of 2017 life in Darjeeling was very difficult. Since 1907 there have been demands by the ethnic Nepali population of the Darjeeling and surrounding hill districts of West Bengal to become a separate administrative area, or what is now commonly referred to as ‘Gorkhaland’. A decision in May 2018 by the West Bengal government that the Bengali language was to be imposed in all schools resulted in a flare up of violent protests and deaths. From June to September meetings and rallies were banned and internet access in the region was closed resulting in the postponement by our Darjeeling Branch of their 6 GR 200th Anniversary Reunion. When I emailed Honorary Captain Bejoy Kumar Tamang, the Darjeeling Branch Secretary, to say that I would be visiting Nepal in March and wanted to come to see them in Darjeeling, he kindly said that they

would rearrange their delayed 200th Reunion and hold it during my visit. But first Nepal, where I spent the first couple of nights in Kathmandu. After a courtesy call on HQ British Gurkhas Nepal and a briefing by the very efficient Gurkha Settlement Officer, retired Chief Inspector Rum Gurung (ex-Gurkha Singapore Police Service), responsible for briefing all who apply to settle in the UK, I met some old friends for lunch. Gopal with the help of Majors Gyanbahadur and Padambahadur managed to round up eight other retired GOs. These included three 86 year olds, Shibu, Uttamsing and Amarjang Sahebs to whom I gave 200th Anniversary badges and brochures as they were unable to make it to the Pokhara Durbar in 2017. That afternoon I went to the offices of Tiger Mountain Travel to personally thank Mana and Shyam who had handled bookings within Nepal so efficiently for many of us travelling out for the Durbar the previous year.

Kathmandu buros lunch Standing: Shibu’s brother, Padam, Narayan, Bhadre, Birbahadur, Premsher Sitting: Gyanbahadur, Amarjang Gurung, Shibu, Brian, Uttamsing, Gopal

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6 GRRT Annual Grant presentation to GWT(Nepal) Front from left: Capt Pimbahadur Gurung*, Maj Hemchandra Rai*, Maj Chandrabahadur Gurung, Maj Gyanbahadur Gurung, BMO, Gopal, Capt Bhuwansing Gurung, Lt Purnabahadur Gurung* * all GWT(N) as well as ex-6 GR

As in 2017, Kathmandu was still suffering under a thick blanket of dust from roads yet to be re-surfaced after being dug up to lay pipes for the much needed new water supply tunnelled through the hills from the Langtang region. I was glad to be away in the cleaner air of Pokhara. Rather than my preferred hotel, Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge, with a busy five days ahead, I decided to stay centrally at the Temple Tree. Day 3 was largely spent at the British Gurkhas Pokhara (BGP) camp, the scene of our very successful Durbar the year before. I was accompanied by Gopal, Major Gyan, Captain Bhuwansing and Lieutenant Purnabahadur, the latter two being the Nepal Branch Chairman and Secretary. We were given a comprehensive briefing by our own Major Hem Chandra Rai, Deputy Field Director of the Gurkha Welfare Scheme, the name of which has since changed to the Gurkha Welfare Trust (Nepal). This was followed by my presenting Hem with a cheque for £4,000 from our Regimental Trust. As the unused portion of funds given by the Trust to the Nepal

Branch for the 2017 Durbar cannot be sent out of Nepal, GWT UK agreed that our annual grant to them could be given directly to their field arm in Nepal. An interesting briefing by Major Sandy Nightingale RGR, the recently arrived OC BGP, included plans for female recruiting in the future to fall in line with the rest of the British Army. Then, Gopal and Major Chandra joined us at the Officers’ Mess to discuss the Association’s planning for its eventual closure in the future and its impact on the Nepal Branch. Their clear message was that our buros in Nepal would continue to hold an annual gathering for as long as they could, probably well after the Association and Trust was formally closed. After lunch, Gyan, Bhuwansing, Purna and I visited the Gurkha Memorial Museum just outside the gates of BGP. Our aim was to determine what needed doing to upgrade the 6 GR display. A good repaint and additions to the photograph collection was decided on. The Nepal Branch had already set aside some

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Nepal Central Branch Re-elected Committee From left: Sgt Moti, Capt Dholbahadur, Maj Lalit Chandra Dewan, CSgt Jaibahadur, Capt Bhuwansing, Brian, Gyan, Gopal, Maj Chandrabahadur, Lt Purnabahadur, Capt Kamalbahadur, Lt Arjunkumar, WO2 Premkumar, Rfn Bhobarsing, Capt Padambahadur (all Gurungs except Lalit) Five Former RSMs From left: Pahalsing Thapa, Sanbahadur Gurung, Thamanbahadur Gurung, Ghamansing Gurung and Tulbahadur Pun (all Hon Lt QGO except Ghamansing)

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of their own funds for this and our Trustees agreed to top this up if required. I have since prepared a list of as many Gurkha Majors as could be found in records, Army Lists and so on in The Gurkha Museum, Winchester. Together with as many of GMs photographs as could be found I sent these on a CD via Major Chandra, who happened to be in UK in October/November, to be taken out to Pokhara. As probably the most comprehensive list of our GMs in existence, I left a copy of it with photographs at The Gurkha Museum. Day 4 (Saturday 24th March) was the Nepal Central Branch’s Annual Reunion for our Pokhara area pensioners. It was held at Major Yambahadur Gurung 2 GR’s ‘Party Palace’ and some two hundred including wives attended. There was a re-election of the Central Committee and Captain Bhuwansing was persuaded to remain as Chairman. Among many old friends met there were Renuka, the former school teacher in 2nd Battalion in the 50s and 60s with her husband Major Keshav Tamang ex-10 GR and Colour Sergeant Jaibahadur Gurung whom I’d not seen since he was in the Signal Platoon in 1968 when I was RSO.

We found five former RSMs were present, the most senior of whom was Pahalsing who was RSM when both the Battalions amalgamated in 1969. Very kindly, I was presented with a beautiful framed gilt map of Nepal to mark my tenure as Chairman. Day 5 and 6 allowed time to make a number of visits in the Pokhara area. These included visiting Major Birkharaj Gurung who was in hospital recovering from pneumonia. Though he put on a brave for us he has been very down since the death of his wife last year; he sends salaams to all who remember him. We went to a house-bound 90 plus year old former 2nd Battalion MT Platoon rifleman, 45128 Gajbahadur Gurung, for a time in the 50’s the CO’s driver, to give him his 200th Anniversary badge and brochure. We were unable to contact one or two others but, to my delight, Major Jaibahadur Gurung, who could not make the Reunion, came and found me in my hotel. On Day 7 (28th March), I travelled to Darjeeling, my first visit since 1963 (as described in the separate article Memories of the Terai). Flying via Kathmandu to Bhadrapur in the far south-east near the border

Rfn Gajbahadur ex-2/6th with daughter, granddaughter and daughter-in-law

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crossing point at Kakarbhitta into West Bengal. At the airstrip I was met by Captain Sonam Tshering Lama (former Darjeeling Branch President), Captain Bejoy Kumar Tamang (Hon Secretary) and Mong Cheong Lepcha (Treasurer). We crammed into Sonam’s tiny car for the three and a half hour drive to Darjeeling, including the excruciatingly slow emigration and immigration formalities at the border into West Bengal at Panithanki, through Siliguri, past miles and miles of Indian Army barracks and tea plantations before the long winding climb up into the hills. As the flight on from Kathmandu was badly delayed we missed seeing Major Dhanman Limbu (Chairman) on our way through Siliguri as he had to keep his routine hospital kidney dialysis appointment. The following morning, I was picked up again by Sonam, Bejoy and Mong Cheong in a borrowed, much larger 4-wheel drive car as Sonam’s car had three flat tyres after the previous day’s rough drive from Bhadrapur. We drove for three plus hours through the hills to Kalimpong to meet Captain Topden Gyamtso Bhutia, Sergeant Krishna Rai and Rifleman Tashi

Bhutia. The first stop was the house of Corporal Uttam Kumar Chhetri who was paralysed following an earlier stroke. Resulting from the visit our Trust released an immediate small grant to cover the cost of Uttam’s physiotherapy until further treatment might be authorised by GWT (Nepal). Remembering Uttam as a young man and member of our victorious clerks’ basketball team in 1973 when I was Adjutant, it saddened me to see him in such a condition. Next stop was to Mrs Madhumaya Subba, who had been a midwife with 2/6th then 6 GR from 1961 until retiring in 1982 with only a basic midwife’s gratuity. Well into her 90’s and though delighted to see us still with a good memory, remembering my parents, especially my mother working with the families, she survives on the goodwill of other relatives as her son has moved away to Dharan to work. Now virtually unable to walk, as a result of an injury to her leg when working as a midwife which has worsened with age, she needs GWT support. After lunch in a local restaurant, with two other ex-

With Uttam Kumar and his wife in Kalimpong Standing from left: Krishna, Tashi, Mong Cheong, Sonam and far right Bejoy

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With Mrs Madhumaya Subba

6th joining us, and a visit to a gompa on the highest hill above Kalimpong around which the headquarters and units of an Indian Army mountain corps was smartly laid out, complete with its own golf course, we made the long twisting return drive back through the hills to Darjeeling. Day 9 (Good Friday) was spent on visits within Darjeeling. En route to the Area Welfare Centre (AWC) I was taken to see the premises of the British Gurkha Ex-Servicemen’s Association, formed in 1971. Effectively a small club, it is used regularly by all exBrigade pensioners who live locally to play cards and hold meetings. Smart boards list those who have been committee members. Our own Major (GCO) Harkasing Rai was President 1977-1981 as was Major Dhanman Limbu 2007-2009. Apart from three short breaks, the General Secretary since 1991 has been a 6th Gurkha starting with Major Dhanman and currently is Captain Bejoy who has done it on and off for nine years, as well as now being Secretary of the 6 GRRA Darjeeling Branch. The Treasurer’s post too has also been 6th – for the last four years Captain Mong Cheong, also

being Treasurer of our own Branch. We have been very well represented. At the AWC, the AWO, WO2 Deoprakash Basnet exQOGLR, gave Bejoy and me a comprehensive briefing. We requested he look into the cases of Uttam and Mrs Madhumaya of Kalimpong. Subsequently, we have heard that while GWT were already paying an allowance for a carer for Uttam unfortunately the rules did not allow for more; happily though Mrs Madhumaya is to receive a much needed welfare pension. We then visited the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. My brother and I visited there as schoolboys in 1963 and met Tenzing Norgay. The spot where Tenzing was cremated after he died in 1986 is now a fitting memorial to him. I was interested to discover if the HMI Museum shows in the history of the early Everest attempts the names of 6 GR’s Charles Bruce and Geoffrey Bruce; I was happy to find it does. To thank them for their excellent hosting during my visit, I then treated Sonam, Bejoy and

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Glenary’s lunch Darjeeling, from left: Bejoy, Sonam, Brian, Chandra Prakash and Mong Cheong

Mong Cheong to lunch at Glenary’s Restaurant, famous from the days of the Raj; we were joined by the current 6 GRRA Darjeeling Branch President, Captain Chandra Prakash Tamang. The Darjeeling Branch’s much delayed 200th Anniversary Reunion was held on Day 10 (31st March). Because it had been scheduled to coincide with my visit, it was too early in the year for a number of our pensioners who had not yet moved up to the cool of the hills to avoid the heat of the plains around Siliguri. So it was a smaller than usual gathering of twenty-seven who met in The Little Tibet Restaurant. After drinks and the customary speeches, I presented 200th

Anniversary badges and brochures to those who had yet to receive them, we watched James Herbert’s excellent 6 GR 200th historical film and then tucked into a delicious curry lunch. As always, it was a great pleasure to meet old friends not seen for a number of years. In particular, it was good to see Major Manbahadur Tamang who seemed to have recovered well from the illness which prevented him from joining us in Pokhara for the 2017 Durbar. Bejoy said how pleased they were that I could be with them as so few BOs visit Darjeeling. Paul Pettigrew, when Chairman, tried to come in December in 2007 but was prevented at the last minute because of ‘Gorkhaland’ related strikes and road closures. It was another flare up of ‘Gorkhaland’ protests and disruption to daily life which With Major Jaibahadur

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caused the postponement in 2017 of 6 GR’s Darjeeling 200th Anniversary reunion. Paul wrote a very good background to Darjeeling and the ‘Gorkhaland’ movement on page 43 of our 2009 Journal – well worth reading for those interested. In 2013, John Mackinlay did manage to make it to Darjeeling and see old friends; probably the first 6 GR BO to do so for some years. I enjoyed a very comfortable four-nights stay in Darjeeling at the old colonial Windamere Hotel on Observatory Hill. Bejoy Saheb’s daughter, who worked in the hotel reception, very kindly arranged for my room to be upgraded from the single one I’d booked to the very spacious Princess of Siam’s Suite in the main building. The place to be seen before breakfast was on the Mall Road circling around Observatory Hill where one joins others taking their morning exercise in the fresh early morning air. Sadly, visibility was not brilliant and I only managed a glimpse of the Kangchenjunga range through the murk and had no decent photo to remind myself of my first visit since 1963. I must have mentioned this at lunch at Glenary’s because, just before departure from the Windamere on my final morning, after my baggage had been loaded into a taxi, Sonam, Bejoy and Mong Cheong appeared bearing a large Das Studios framed photo of Kangchenjunga taken from Darjeeling as a farewell gift. Hurriedly, I managed to cram it into an already over-full suitcase. Despite the timing, it was a most thoughtful and much appreciated memento of an

enjoyable and useful visit. Bagdogra airport, just south of Siliguri, was a mass of humanity; it seemed that half the population of West Bengal had chosen to fly that day. At Delhi, the eight hour layover on my way via Doha to Pisa on Qatar Airways gave me time to reflect on my visit. I have to add that unless one is flying a better class than steerage, Delhi airport is not the best place to while away eight hours, especially on Easter Sunday; but what can one expect on April Fool’s day…? A busy twelve days as it had been, as to be expected on a ‘duty’ trip, it was, as always, a great pleasure to be able meet old friends, some of whom I had not seen since serving together. My main task though was to brief our buros on the planning for the future closure of our Association and Trust and to get their feedback. Already we had heard through the grapevine that there was talk in Nepal of 6 GRRA’s imminent closure; I was able to reassure them that nothing would happen in the immediate future. The clear message from both Nepal and Darjeeling was that even when the Association is formally closed they would continue to hold their reunions for as long as they possibly could. The Nepal Central Branch also hoped that there would be one final Durbar before closing the Association. “Hear hear” I say! Brian O’Bree

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GBA MEMORIAL SERVICE AND REUNION LUNCH Royal Military Academy Sandhurst 9 June 2018

One of three 6 GRRA tables shared with 4 GRRA. From left: Dr Danny Cesaretti and his friend Leigh, Helen Hickey, Brian Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Bree, Brian Hickey, Dammar Shahi, Jenifer Evans, Sterling and Annie Page (all three 4 GRRA) and Khusiman Gurung

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CALL TO OARS The Great River Race

8 September 2018

alk about situating an appreciation! What I should have done was to list a number of challenges and after a careful analysis of the various pros and cons, selected the Great River Race as the one to go for.

Why the Great River Race? Not only is it a spectacular event with over 330 boats from all over the world taking part, but it is a marathon running 21.6 miles from London Docklands up to Ham House â&#x20AC;&#x201C; therefore worthy of a Gurkha type challenge.

But noâ&#x20AC;Śinstead, I combined my new found fascination with all forms of rowing with the fun associated with the informal activities of the Cuttack Lunch and just thought it would be a good idea. Once again, Mr Cabernet assisted by Mr Armagnac played a key role.

The boats came in all different shapes and sizes ranging from a single sculler to Dragon Boats with 16 paddlers. As it is a major event, the Port of London Authority

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provides assistance in allowing the race to go through the City – an area usually off limits to small boats because of all the commercial traffic and tricky currents as the waters of the Thames get churned by the wind/ tide/ the bridges and the wash from the ferries and sightseeing boats – it can get very choppy resulting in unwary crews taking an early bath in the murky Thames water. First objective was to source a boat and having looked at the rental packages which came with some hefty pre-qualifying conditions, I decided to get my own boat built for this and future events. The AHOY Centre in Deptford offer a partnership deal whereby they (the apprentices) build their version of the traditional Thames Waterman’s Cutter which they then get to use for their courses/ events/ challenges when not required by me…which probably means they can use it for at least 10 months of the year. So Didi was commissioned with a delivery date which would enable some pre race training. Next step was to press gang a crew from within the Regimental Association. The Call to Oars was taken up by Alex Shaw, Charles Blackmore and Rick Beven and with a little persuasion David Bredin joined up although the race fell in between his various summer holiday commitments. With a little fatherly persuasion Henry Bredin and Jack Blackmore ‘volunteered’ and the crew was complete. After a lengthy wait, it was time to hit the water for

some training – a vital aspect as only Henry Bredin, Alex Shaw and myself had any actual rowing experience. The first session took place in early August and went remarkably well despite a few moments whereby David Bredin ended up being catapulted off his seat by his oar as it swung through faster than he was expecting. The second session took place two weeks before the race and we were able to practice in Didi – again it went well and the instructors at the AHOY Centre deemed the crew competent enough to undertake the race. The key person at this stage was Alex Shaw who as our cox took on the responsibility of navigating the boat in and around the river avoiding obstacles and other boats – a vital role. It is perhaps worth pointing out that the training sessions covered at most four miles around the Deptford/Millwall end of the Thames – for about 90 minutes each session. Yes, we were definitely ready. Race day arrived and our entry had already attracted considerable attention via a full page piece in the race magazine. We were joined by Eva who was going to be the passenger (one of the rules of the race is that each boat had to have a passenger) – Didi looked

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Having arrived in calmer waters, now was the time to let the boat glide on the tide and really show our pace. Alex drove us hard and exhorted us verbally to such an extent that other boats moved out of the way. Putney – Hammersmith – Chiswick – Barnes – Twickenham: bridges more usually associated with the other Boat Race came and went – just Kew and Richmond to go. The oars were getting heavy; backs were getting sore and energy levels were dropping (time for a quick stop!)

Nick raises the GWT flag

immaculate and with the Gurkha Welfare Trust flag flying from the stern, we certainly looked the part. As a faster boat, we were given a late-ish start time and after lots of jostling for the position, our time arrived and we set off in great spirits. The key is to stay with the stream (the race goes with the incoming tide) and Alex did a superb job in finding the fastest bits of water. We reached Tower Bridge in no time at all after which the waters got very choppy indeed; it was a bumpy and wet row all the way through the City and up to Westminster. Keeping on course and maintaining a good stroke rhythm was very challenging, especially for such a novice crew, but everyone stuck to it and fortunately remained on their seats!

…and with a final push we crossed the finish line in 3 hours 17 minutes – well under my forecast time of 3 hours 30 minutes. To put this into context, my club Weyfarers had entered a boat in the same category as Didi and with an experienced crew, they completed the course in 3 hours 11minutes. There was time for a beer at the end after which everyone had to disperse to their other commitments and the inaugural challenge for the Cuttack Legionnaires was over. Not only did we complete the event, over £5,500 was raised for the Gurkha Welfare Trust – a great result on all fronts. It will not end there – Didi will be put to use for other informal events for the Association as well having another go at the Great River Race 2019; you have been warned! Nick Gordon-Creed

Cuttack Oarsmen and Eva

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REGIMENTAL REUNION Farnborough, 8 September 2018 Photographs by Milan Tamu

fter the very successful Regimental 200th anniversary celebrations in 2017 at Kempton Park, this year we went back to our usual place, Samuel Cody College, Farnborough. On Saturday 8 September, the preparations completed by the fatigue party by noon, we were ready to receive guests. By 1400 hrs the hall was almost full of members and all beer lovers were standing by the bar exchanging old memories. Amongst the many highlights of the day was the address by the Chairman of the Association, Lt Colonel (Retd.) B M Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Bree (his last speech as Chairman) and a beautiful performance by the Sayapatri Cultural Group, Woking. The All Ranks Reunion is the annual event where all Regimental members get-together and have a chance to relive their past. It is a unique event for all soldiers and families. The bhela was a huge undertaking, characterized not only by the flawless delivery of a very full programme containing a variety of activities, but also by the sheer number of attendees. Members based around the UK accounted for around 400 of the total figure. As ever, the caterer supplied yet another delicious tipan-tapan and curry which was met with unanimous approval by the attendees. The event concluded with a raffle draw and entertainment by the famous dohori singer, Miss Mina Lama. She succeeded in bringing everyone on to the dance floor, a unique experience and one to be cherished by those who attended. The get-together was extremely successful and everyone now looks forward to the next reunion at the same venue on Saturday 5 October 2019. Jai Sixth!

Khusiman Gurung

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BRIGADE GOLF DAY 13 September 2018

Dammar Shahi, Rajendra Gauchan, Khusiman Gurung, Buddha Gurung, Jack Furtado, Richard Lowe and Clive Pettigrew

his year’s Brigade Golf Day took place at Weybrook Park G.C., near Basingstoke. This par 71 course, in first class condition, has undergone a series of construction projects during the last 10 years resulting in a very well drained parkland course with excellent greens. The strategic locations of the sand bunkers and water hazards, plenty of each, proved testing! The weather we all enjoyed was perfect. All this complemented by the superb admin before and during (and after) our day by Major Dammar Shahi, to whom we extend our sincere thanks for making it all a memorable event. Our compliments to all the Club staff too who were very friendly, and we rounded off with an excellent meal. The aim of the Golf Day, as Dammar has said, was the integration between the members of our Regimental Associations and that aim was accomplished.

Our 6 GR members seeking pleasure, and self respect with their golf were Rajendra Gauchan, Khusiman Gurung, Buddha Gurung, Richard Lowe, Clive Pettigrew, Jack Furtado and of course Dammar Shahi in his capacity as HQBG, 6 GRRA, RGR RA. We can only assume self respect was achieved by Dammar with his gross 77, thus winning the Overall Gross prize, Clive Pettigrew winning the Nearest to the Pin Front 9 and Rajendra’s 35 points being runnerup in Division A – congratulations to all and also our thanks to Colonel James Robinson CBE, Colonel Brigade of Gurkhas, who kindly attended to present all the prizes. This annual event takes place in the second week of September – let us hope please that more can attend next year, and thus have nearer 40 attendees than this year’s 30 in all. Jack Furtado

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A FAREWELL TO JACK

ack Furtado, has acted as our ‘Golf Rep’ for the Brigade’s annual competition with great enthusiasm and led the team to success on a number of occasions. He reaches 80 years young this July and has decided it is time to hand on the baton. On behalf of all 6 GR golfers who have benefitted from Jack’s organisation and leadership over the last 16 years we offer him huge thanks and wish him well for his forthcoming knee operations (“too much rugger for too long,” he says). Khusiman will take on the role from 2020 with Rajendra covering for this year’s competition although we still hope to see Jack’s jilly milly moja on the course for many years to come. Duncan Briggs

Those jilly milly moja!

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BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY, AGM AND ANNUAL REUNION Winchester Cathedral and Gurkha Museum

3 November 2018

he date for this year’s combined Book of Remembrance Service, AGM and Reunion had been set for Saturday 3rd November at last year’s AGM.

a cenotaph in the background (see inside back pages). We then made our way into the cathedral for the service. A small section of the cathedral had been reserved for our Book of Remembrance Service.

I had been looking forward it Inside, the Reverend Canon with great eagerness as I had Brian Rees, conducting the never attended it before. As service, welcomed us and the morning of the special day reminded us why we were there: dawned the first thing I did was to look out of my bedroom window to see if we “We are here to remember all the members would be blessed with propitious weather. To of the 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha my great relief it was a clear morning with Rifles, and Gurkhas generally, who have no ominous clouds in sight. With a happy The Elizabeth died over the years, especially those heart and a smile on my face, I left home Cross presented to who have died in conflicts, including both for Winchester. Diana Ruffell (née Wallace) in memory World Wars, the Malayan Emergency, Borneo Confrontation, Iraq and the very As I arrived at the Gurkha Museum I of Lieutenant recent Afghanistan war.” was glad to see other members were Hugh Wallace also arriving. After the usual cheery This year’s service was especially dedicated to mark greetings of salaam, namaste and good morning, we headed towards the cathedral via short cut alleyways the 55th anniversary of the death of Lieutenant Hugh Wallace of 2/6th Gurkha (chhor bato) which I never Rifles, who was killed on knew existed. The coffee operations in Borneo. He shop near the cathedral was the last British Officer had been designated as of the Regiment to be killed our RV for refreshments in action. It was wonderful and gaphsaph before the to see Hugh’s brother-inRemembrance Service. law, Donald Ruffell and We were soon lost in deep other members of Hugh’s conversations over hot family at the Service. After cups of coffee and tea and the opening prayer, Mike had to be reminded several Channing conducted a times to head off to the reading from Ephesians cathedral for the service. followed by the ‘Turning of the Page and Reading of At the cathedral we Names’ by Paul Pettigrew. had a group photo with In the Cathedral – Brian briefing the Canon

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David, Gary and Khusiman the cathedral coffee shop

Curry Lunch in the Gurkha Museum

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We then observed a minute’s silence to remember our fallen comrades. It was a poignant moment with a lone Gurkha piper playing a lament from the cathedral balcony. The wreath-laying was done by Donald and his late wife Diana’s sons, Neil and Alastair. After the service everyone slowly drifted out of the cathedral to the Gurkha Museum for the AGM. The AGM was conducted in the Gurkha Museum library, which only just accommodated the number of people attending. Updates were given on the present financial status of the Association, the upcoming Journal and the next one in line, the newly launched website, the future of the Association and the 6 GR memorial project. The President, John Anderson, also announced that Duncan Briggs would be taking over from the incumbent Chairman, Brian O’Bree.

drifting across the dining room signalled that it was time for lunch. With the delicious food consumed in no time, we then raised glasses to honour the Queen, Nepal and 6 GR. Donald Ruffell then presented the Elizabeth Cross, (given to Diana Ruffell in 2010) to the Gurkha Museum. This was followed by a short speech by the President, to thank Brian for all his very hard work and dedication for over 11 years to the Association. As a token of thanks Brian was then presented with a beautiful silver statue. It was soon time to leave. I had thoroughly enjoyed a warm, congenial and interesting day and I have no doubt that everyone else did too. I am already looking forward to next year. Jai Sixth! Hamro paltan, hamro pahichhan, hamro garba (Our regiment, our identity, our pride).

After the AGM, everyone mingled around trying to meet as many friends as they could. After the pre-lunch drinks (on a cash basis!) the aroma of curry

Gary Ghale

GURKHA BRIGADE DINNER

8 November 2018

he word ‘Memories’ has been a much used word over recent days – this is being written only a few days after the immensely moving events of the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice – but it is equally apposite in the context of the GBA Annual Dinner: a Mess Night to end all Mess Nights, complete with a piper to stir the memories. It was an occasion when so many retired and serving officers of the Brigade could meet, exchange memories of past service, learn more of the current and future role of the Brigade, and above all renew longstanding friendships. Our Association was represented by a dozen members whose service covered the period 1960 to 1994 and beyond, as 6th QEO Gurkha Rifles lost its individual identity and was absorbed into RGR. Whilst this was a gratifying turn out, enabling us to be represented on more than one table this year, I am sure we could do better, and would encourage more, particularly

of our younger members, to join in what is a very enjoyable evening. It starts, as is customary, with briefings before Dinner by HQBG, GWT and the Gurkha Museum; reports from the latter two are more fully recorded elsewhere in the Journal, and it is sufficient to record here that both are bullish for the future: the GWT’s recognition that the difficulties experienced by the ever ageing population of its Welfare Pensioners in making the journey four times a year to receive their pensions at a pension paying post, and the Trust’s decision to enable the payment of pensions to be made at the recipient’s home village, will make a significant difference to our pensioners. Motorcyclists and four-wheel-drive vehicles now carry both pension payments and medical aid to our pensioners’ villages. The Museum is looking to update its current displays to include events up to, and including, the Brigade’s

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The 6 GR table at the GBA Dinner

role in Afghanistan; at the same time it continues to seek assurance of continuity of tenure of its premises in Winchester. HQBG reported on the increasing strength of the Brigade, which in the immediate future will permit an swelling in recruiting to 300 per year, for the first time in many years. As readers will have seen in recent press reports, the Brigade will be introducing the recruitment of Nepali women from next year. Overall the increase in strength of the Brigade will be reflected across all units, but of some significance

will be the ability of the infantry battalions to move from two platoon companies back to three platoon companies. In due course we can look forward to a Brigade strength of some 4,000 persons. As always, the GBA Dinner was an uplifting occasion filled with memories of longstanding friendships and burgeoning hope for the future: I commend it to you all! Mike Channing

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The Gurkha Associations marching to the Gurkha Chautara

ACT OF REMEMBRANCE THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM

10 November 2018

he weather on Saturday morning as I drove up to Lichfield seemed foreboding: the rain was heavy, but as we neared the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, almost in the Centre of England, the rain stopped and the sun shone, creating a wonderful setting for our Act of Remembrance at the Gurkha Chautara. Under the auspices of the GWT North Midlands

Branch Chairman, Major Rob Cross and his team – including the National Gurkha Standard Bearer Dharma Rai (ex 7 GR) – we gathered in the Founders Room of the Arboretum Visitors Centre. In all, around 70 members of the Gurkha Associations, supporters of the GWT, as well as a QGO and seven serving GORs from Queen’s Gurkha Signals, including two pipers, were present; at least one retired member from each of the recent antecedent regiments also attended.

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Brigadier John Anderson reads the invocation in front of the Gurkha Chautara

After a coffee or two and a good ‘gaph’, we were marshalled onto Heroes Square by our acting Parade WO, John Lavrick, a Malaya/Borneo veteran and the Gurkha Legion officer for the Gurkha Veterans Association in West Midlands. At 11:35 hrs, marching behind the two pipers, we made our way to the Chautara where we formed a half circle.

GSPSRA, GWT and the Malayan Veterans. The formal ceremony was concluded by John Anderson leading us in the ‘Prayer for the Gurkha’.

Colonel David Hayes, President of the GBA, commenced the Act of Remembrance with a short briefing on the Brigade followed by RL Turner’s tribute to the Gurkha Soldier. Our own Brigadier John Anderson followed with the traditional invocation before the two minute silence. Wreaths were then laid by Association representatives, as well as

This event will be repeated annually. Do come along to this very moving event: we hope to have a better turnout from 6 GRRA next year on Saturday 9 November 2019.

There was then time to tour around the Aboretum, and in particular visit the central Memorial before retiring to the restaurant for a coffee and lunch.

David Bredin

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REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY CENOTAPH PARADE

11 November 2018

l Howard and I were spectators at the Remembrance Day parade in Whitehall in November 2000 and were surprised that there was no contingent of Gurkhas marching. I contacted the Royal British Legion who confirmed that they had no record of a contingent of Gurkhas ever marching on the parade. They told me that if I could round up 6 people, the number required in a marching file, I could apply to form a contingent. So, in 2001, I quickly rounded up a team from 6 GR consisting of me, Paul Pettigrew, Dai Hitchcock, Charles Blackmore, Naresh Gurung and Gam Bahadur Gurung. To add a bit of spice we added to our ranks Yam Bahadur Gurung (ex 2 GR and a Prison Officer in Brixton!), Fergie Anderson (ex S/Sgt QG Sigs) and Richard Shuttleworth (ex RN who had served on HMS Gurkha!). It was a great success, so we decided to gather a

bigger group and march next year, 2002, as the Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles Regimental Association. Dressed in our rifle green blazers and wearing our hastily acquired Hats Felt Gurkha, a total of 42 brave souls, including two lady members, proudly marched (a loose description) past the Cenotaph and did a snappy “eyes left”. This was followed by another snappy “eyes right” when we marched past HR The Duke of Edinburgh at the end. We had a good mention on the TV and David Dimbleby said, “Into shot nicely now, very proud that they are the only Gurkha regiment that’s off, the second time they’ve marched and, as ever, smart, proud, determined – the very best of the Gurkha Regiment’s spirit of the 6th Gurkhas. Those very distinctive hats of the 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles Regimental Association, to give them their full title”.

The 6 GR Marchers at the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice Cenotaph Parade

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Now, of course, it is a Gurkha Brigade Association contingent and encompasses all Regiments and Corps within the Brigade. This year the GBA contingent totalled about 65 with the 6 GR element consisting of Julian White, John Walker, Duncan Briggs, Ian Thomas, John Conlin, Brian O’Bree, Bob Richardson-Aitken, Paul Pettigrew, Jeremy Toyne, Sergeant Durga Bahadur Gurung and me. Initial excitement of being placed in Column A, with a supposed “first off – first back” element, was soon crushed when we found we were well and truly at the rear of the parade! We marched on to Whitehall only to be placed in a position where we could not see the big screen TVs. This meant that, apart from having to stand for what seemed like an eternity, we had no idea what was going on! Eventually, after having watched just about everyone else march off, including the FANY, French Foreign Legion and the Women’s Volunteer Balloon Corps, we stepped off in short, sharp jerky movements.

After the parade, Brigadier David Hayes decided that we should march in a column to Dai and Elizabeth Hitchcock’s house for the drinks and bhat party. This way we could cut through the crowds and Police cordon. It all ended up as a bit of ‘Grand Old Duke of York’, with the Chairman BGA holding his umbrella aloft, like a Japanese Tour Guide. We were directed this way and that by the Police who were worried we would interfere with a Boy Scout band who were plainly lost, but bravely playing on! Much thanks must go to Dai and Elizabeth for, yet again, allowing a bunch of hobbling old burhos to enjoy some post-march relaxation in their lovely house, with a superb bhat and drinks galore. Add to that Dai’s rousing speech in Welshali and a sing song of Gurkha favourites around his piano! True 6 GR comradeship! We are truly blessed to be part of the 6th Gurkha Rifles family. Jon Titley

Having completed our “eyes left” to the Cenotaph and handed in our wreath, we also accomplished a very smart “eyes right” to Her Majesty the Queen who had sensibly decided to adopt a seated position this year. Instantly recognisable in our HFG and rifle green blazers, we were greeted with much applause and “Here come the Gurkhas!” shouts from the assembled throng lining the route. HRH Princess Anne took the “eyes right” as we approached the ending on Horse Guards. She held a perfect Royal Navy salute as each and every column marched past her. I wouldn’t want to arm wrestle with her! Post parade photos, and chats with mates from other Regiments who had marched with their unit contingents, were accompanied by lots of knee bending and quips about needing WD40! Nam Sing Thapa at the cenotaph in Hong Kong

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Clockwise from left: Malcolm Macgregor, Dai Hitchcock, Jeremy Brade, Ian Thomas, Nick Fothergill; The guns outside Stanhope Hall – note 6 GR flag flying; Dai Hitchcock entertains Tina Blackmore and Kate Marais; Nial MacNaughton after being ‘blooded’; James Herbert being ‘blooded’; Ladies Dinner Night in the Grand Ballroom

SHOOTING: THE RUNGAPORE SYNDICATE

January 2019

wenty-four officers, wives and guests seated for a candle-lit black tie dinner, the magnificent ambience of the Grand Ballroom at Stanford Hall, a Gurkha piper playing Black Bear, the glow of Regimental camaraderie… it was the highlight of the year. It does not get better than that. Not, that is, until Jeremy Brade stood and spoke about the silver centrepiece before us. Hitherto lost to the Regiment, Jeremy re-discovered the “1907

candelabra” – presented to the Regiment that year by Lieutenants McLaughlin, Birdwood and Dallas, the last two being killed at Gallipoli – in an auction room in the north of England. How it got there and how it left the custody of the Regiment, no one knows. Tarnished black, the engraving barely discernible, it had been butchered in its conversion to an electric lamp fitting. Now it has been beautifully restored. The table went silent. Some of those present who had been on the Gallipoli battlefield tour in 2015 would

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have remembered visiting Captain Birdwood’s grave near Gurkha Bluff. After a full day’s shooting with 160 pheasant and partridge as the bag, along with James Herbert and Nial MacNaughton being ‘blooded’ for the first time; after a quiet Thursday evening the night before where people assembled in the library by the open fire, having come in from all over the country, and even from abroad in Jules Iren’s case (or Scotland in Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor’s case !); after Nick and Lucy Fothergill, ever-generous hosts, made us feel so welcome and set aside the two evenings in January; after Ian Thomas awarded the quaich to the piper; and after David Hitchock brought even

more life to the evening with an hour of jazz and blues recitals on the piano: it was a special Regimental Association occasion. It was not just about shooting. There were many non-shooters there: and two new shots (Herbert and MacNaughton). Instead, this was more about creating a setting for what, in effect, was a 6 GR Ladies’ Dinner Night. There was not one former officer who did not wish that others they served with might have attended: and hope they can do so next year in January 2020. Charles Blackmore

FAMILY AND EVENTS

DIARY OF EVENTS 6 GRRA DIARY OF EVENTS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2019 6 GRRA Committee Meeting

3 May

Cuttack Lunch

3 May

RGR Reunion and Army v Navy Rugby, Twickenham

4 May

GBA Memorial Service and Reunion Lunch, RMAS

8 June

The Patcham Down Indian Forces Memorial

9 June

GBA Bhela and Nepal Cup Final, Aldershot

13 July

GBA Golf Competition 6 GR All Ranks Reunion, Samuel Cody College, Farnborough

12 September 5 October

GBA Field of Remembrance Service, Westminster Abbey

7 November

GBA AGM and Dinner, Army & Navy Club

7 November

NMA Gurkha Chautara Memorial Service

9 November

Remembrance Day Parade, Cenotaph

10 November

6 GRRA Annual Reunion and AGM, Gurkha Museum, following Book of Remembrance Service, Winchester Cathedral

16 November

Cuttack Lunch 6 GR Shoot

6 December (TBC) January 20

FAMILY AND EVENTS

OBITUARIES 6 GRRA DEATHS AND OBITUARIES With great sadness the Association notes the deaths of the following members since the last issue of The Journal. FOSTER

Mrs Beryl, widow of the late Major Brian Foster, who died on 1 January 2019.

HUNT-DAVIS Brigadier Sir Miles, GCVO, CBE, who died on 23 May 2018. ROBINSON

Lieutenant Colonel Vyvyan, MC, who died on 2 February 2018.

SLIM

Colonel 2nd Viscount John, OBE, DL, who died on 12 January 2019 (obituary to follow in 2020 Journal).

SMYLY

Captain William (Bill), who died on 16 May 2018.

STREATHER

Lieutenant Colonel Tony, OBE, who died on 31 October 2018.

Miles Hunt-Davis was born in Johannesburg on the 7 November 1938 and was educated at one of the top South African schools, St Andrews College in Grahamstown. When he left school he worked as a Management Trainee before being transferred to London, where he quickly joined the TA and served in the Parachute Regiment, prior to transferring to the Queen’s Royal Regiment. Miles enjoyed his service with both Regiments and decided to join the Regular Army.

were both teenagers, in Hong Kong in January 1965 and theirs was to be a wonderfully happy marriage. I first met them both in October 1966, while Miles was attending the Platoon Commanders course in Warminster; he had more experience than most of the instructors and was older than all the other students recently commissioned from Sandhurst, but he did bring an air of maturity and gravitas to what was a rather boisterous mob. Gay and Miles invited me to dinner and I never forgot their advice and kindness, and left them knowing that I would enjoy serving in the Battalion.

Too old to go through Sandhurst, in 1961 he attended the Short Service Commissioning course, where he passed out top. The remarkable Fairy Gopsill, Chief Instructor at Mons, persuaded Miles to switch allegiance to our Brigade, and in April 1962 he was commissioned and immediately joined 1/6th QEO Gurkha Rifles on their UK tour in Tidworth.

Miles returned to the Battalion and took over as Adjutant from Mike Whitehead in 1967 at the time when the rundown of the Brigade had started and while we were all involved in the ‘Hong-Kong Troubles’. It was a difficult, and occasionally fraught, time, but Miles handled all problems with great equanimity and never lost his calm.

In 1964 he moved with the Battalion to do three relatively quiet tours in Sarawak, which he loved, and he noted: “it was a most rewarding time to be a young officer; one got to know one’s soldiers very well”.

Miles left 1/6 GR before amalgamation in 1969 for the Canadian Staff College, and we did not see him back again until he re-joined what was now 6 GR in 1972 as OC C Company in Brunei, on what would subsequently transpire to be his last tour with the Regiment. In 1975 Miles took over as Brigade Major in 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade, where Illegal Immigrant

SIR MILES HUNT-DAVIS GCVO, CBE

Miles married Gay, whom he had known since they

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and then as possibly the best job any true Brigade Officer could want, as Brigadier Brigade of Gurkhas. When he eventually retired, having been appointed CBE, he became Assistant Private Secretary to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and a year later he took over as The Private Secretary, a post which he held until 2010. He also became Chairman of The Gurkha Brigade Association, where his great and lasting achievement was, almost singlehandedly, to organise the erection of the Gurkha Statue outside the Ministry of Defence in 1997; it was wonderful to have him present to witness the rededication of ‘his’ statue in 2015, the Brigade’s 200th Anniversary. Miles was appointed CVO in 1998, and was knighted in in 2003 as a KCVO, receiving a GCVO in 2010 when he retired from a job that he had thoroughly enjoyed, and been brilliant at, in 2010.

Brigadier Sir Miles Hunt-Davis GCVO, CBE

operations on the Sino-British Border, together with the arrival of huge numbers of Vietnamese ‘Boatpeople’, ensured anything but a quiet life. Throughout this time I never saw him lose his sense of humour or temper and he was always imperturbable; he was appointed MBE for his handling of the crisis. Miles was appointed Commandant of 7th DEO Gurkha Rifles in 1976, where he ran a very happy and efficient Regiment, eventually becoming their Colonel of the Regiment, an honour of which he was justifiably immensely proud. Thankfully both he and Gay would retain their links with 6 GR as he rose through the ranks and in the postings which were to follow. He returned to 48 Brigade as Deputy Commander on promotion to Colonel after tours in Northern Ireland and as a DS at Staff College, and was always the one to calm matters down when I, as Brigade Major Brigade of Gurkhas, crossed swords with a variety of 48 Brigade staff. Further promotion followed, as he took over as Commander British Gurkhas Nepal, a job he loved,

I was fortunate to retain my links with Miles throughout my service. In 1993 the two-week long Commonwealth Conference, attended by Her Majesty and Prince Philip, was held in Cyprus while I was serving in the British High Commission and my boss could never really understand why I was often better informed about events than he, and had unusual access for a Defence Adviser! Miles‘s charm and tact ensured that what could have been a difficult period went perfectly. Subsequently I took over from Miles as Chairman of The Gurkha Brigade Association and tried to follow his advice: “follow your instincts, stick to your guns, and try, just this once, to be diplomatic!” He was also a source of honest and wise advice when I was job-hunting, and I relished our occasional lunches in London. Towards the end of his life, and obviously in pain, he still remained as charming and gentlemanly as usual, and always had time and a kind word for everyone. With his death on 23 May 2018 the Brigade of Gurkhas lost a man of courage and integrity and, as many have observed, he was one of the last great

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soldier-courtiers. Above all, he was a huge credit to our Regiment and to our Brigade. To Gay, and to Jo, Justin and Ben and their families, we extend our sincere condolences.

He instantly acquired my respect, I came to admire him, and we gradually became firm friends over the following 50 years.

In that time, across many exchanges – by no means all one way by the way – along with some John Anderson pleasantries, I was called everything of which you can think, and some of which I hope you can’t. Somewhere in the middle, I became a “bloody VYVYAN ROBINSON MC, WB, WKHM Hungarian,” whose only redeeming feature was, it Many years ago, having seen a well-known politician seemed, a small ability to write passable English. Sometimes we would disagree to the point of weeping on TV, Vyvyan said to me, “A real man coolness, even to frostiness, and we took to the fax doesn’t cry – even if he is the Prime Minister of machine until something came up on which we could Australia.” More recently, with typical candour, he wholeheartedly agree, like the dumbing down of our volunteered the information that when he had to beautiful language; then we returned – gratefully I put down his beloved terrier, Muffin, he cried. Well, think – to Mr Bell’s talking machine. The truth is, of pace Vyvyan, most certainly a real man, I’m not course, that if he wasn’t fighting the Queen’s enemies sure that I can get through this emotion free; hence or those of some distant Sultan, our mutual friend the handkerchief. loved a good argument. As to the real enemies, those of the armed variety and evil intent, Vyvyan Among a number of stalwarts, Vyvyan was my best Robinson was a scourge, regardless of whether friend, which was remarkable really, considering they were communist insurgents in Malaya, the the start we had. As the newly appointed officer Indonesian army in Borneo, or simply the adoo in the in charge of the newly begun sport of boxing in Oman. Mentioned in dispatches in the first, awarded 2nd/6th, I incurred his wrath. “Sick and tired of an MC in the second, and twice decorated in the seconded officers telling us what to do and how to third, he was the best and most aggressive company do it,” was the politest bit I recall. “Gurkhas can’t commander I ever knew. In recommending him to the box!” he thundered. Hearing him out, I said that a SAF, an officer in MS branch said, “He will certainly rather more distinguished officer than either of us, make things happen,” which he did, becoming Major General Walter Walker, MGBG, – who, as far in due course a Lieutenant Colonel. And then, as as I knew, had never been seconded – had ordained such, aided by a valiant and loyal 2IC, Kudabux, that the Brigade should begin boxing and if Vyvyan he raised and trained from scratch a battalion of disagreed, he could take it up with him. And by Baluch, transformed it into a fighting unit of some the way, through the CO of 2nd/6th, albeit a much repute – and made a lot more ‘happen’. In the days lesser god, I was merely his instrument. As I later discovered, WW was probably the only senior officer of the 18th and 19th century Raj (from whose pages Vyvyan might have stepped), the regiment would who ever put the wind up Vyvyan, who answered undoubtedly have been called Robinson’s Rifles, with a hefty snort and strode off. Shortly thereafter like Skinner’s Horse and others of that ilk. Actually, he and family departed on long leave, returning to the Sultan of Oman apparently offered to call it the fold some six or seven months later. And not long after that, having watched our very new-to-the- just that, but Vyvyan declined, for several reasons, sport boxers hammer their way to seven HKLF senior modesty included. championships, Vyvyan sought me out to apologise; – I say again, sought me out to do this. “I was wrong,” This very tough soldier, devoted to his family, to birds, to animals, including human underdogs, generous he said. That took a big man and, his imposing almost to a fault, was a very human being. Indeed, height notwithstanding, he was just that: a big man.

FAMILY AND EVENTS

Simon, Moira and Vyvyan Robinson at Buckingham Palace for the investiture of his MC, November 1966

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between Teflon Tony leaving office and Chilton, when the former was being pilloried over Iraq, he began defending the politician and, when I protested at this apparent volte face, was told I was too hard. That was Vyvyan of course, forthright, opinionated, bossy – just like this bloody Hungarian, which is probably why we got on as well as we did. To close, Vyvyan loved the Wild West and books and movies, in fact everything about it. More than any other person I know, he could talk solidly about the settlers, about Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, Sam Houston and the rest. He could tell you about Geronimo and Sitting Bull, about the Indian tribes: such as the Shawnee, the Pawnee, Blackfoot, Crow, Sioux, Comanche, Arapaho. I wonder, however, if he ever saw Sam Peckinpah’s last western, ‘The Ballad of Cable Hogue,’ a film set against the arrival of the motor car in the west and lacking Peckinpah’s usual violence. In this film appears a randy English parson whose principal ministry appears to be saving young married ladies from sin – with anyone else but himself of course. Now, having been run over by his girlfriend’s car, his life ebbing away, as said parson begins his funeral oration, ”Preach me a good ‘un,” gruffly orders the dying Cable. And as he concludes, the parson says, “Lord, you have taken this good man, but – I beseech you Lord – do not take him lightly.” Now I hope all here can echo that plea, albeit plagiarised, when I say, Lord, you have taken our good man, our good friend but, I beseech you Lord, do not take him lightly. And so, may you both be at peace. Amen.

Bill Smyly at the Cenotaph, November 2014

Chindits and in his post-war life more than deserve recognition in these pages.

Born in Peking on 5 July 1922, where his father was an Irish missionary doctor, he was educated at Wrekin College, Shropshire. He joined the Army straight from school as an Indian Army Cadet, attended the Officer Training School at Mhow and was given an Jack Keen emergency commission in the 2nd Goorkhas in March 1942. Posted to 3/2 GR to take part in ‘Operation Longcloth’, the first Chindit expedition, he was BILL SMYLY appointed Animal Transport Officer (ATO) of No. 5 Though not a 6 GRRA member, William Jocelyn Smyly Column with young soldiers from 10 GR (‘the Burma Gurkhas’) as his mule handlers. served alongside the 3/6th during the second Chindit operation, was posted briefly to 6 GR at Abbottabad in 1946 and is recorded in our History Volume II Roll of Under the command of Major Bernard Fergusson, 5 British Officers. He was one of the last of the veterans Column was largely a strong company of the 13th who served in both Chindit operations. His remarkable Battalion, The King’s Regiment. From India they contribution and survival as a very young officer in the walked into Burma, crossing the Chindwin on 15

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February 1943. The whole force was supplied by airdrops. Heavy weapons, equipment, rations and stores were carried by the mules. Marching through the jungle in intense heat and torrential rain, they endured repeated bouts of malaria and dysentery. If they were badly injured, they were left at a village. This usually meant capture or death. East of the Irrawaddy, hemmed in by rivers, Japanese Zero fighters were searching for them. Air supply became very difficult. A few days’ rations for the column were made to last for a month. The mules subsisted on bamboo leaves. Bill’s horse starved and died. Having achieved some of their objectives, the Chindits were divided into small units with orders to make their own way back to India. Together with some of his Gurkhas, Bill became separated from his column during an action on 30 March but was later able to join part of 3 Column which was heading north towards the Kachin Levy stronghold at Fort Hertz in the far north-east of Burma. In an email to me in November 2013, Bill recalled: “I continued with Astel (Column Commander) and my six men but tended to drag at the back of the column when my feet swelled up with beri-beri and I lost central vision. The men tried very loyally to stay with me but I drove them on and, for several days, going slowly uphill was able to run downhill … and catch up. Then one day, half blind, I missed a turning … and from then on was on my own. In the villages I was put up in the head man’s house and took off my boots and remained there till I could get them on again, usually next morning but sometimes not for two or three days. I got to Fort Herz in the end.” Modest as always, Bill does not explain that in his severely debilitated state, sheltered and fed en route by local tribesmen, he walked alone through the jungle nearly 400 kilometres as the crow flies. It took him almost two months. His family were told that he had died. When news came that he had reached Fort Hertz, a consignment of bully beef was sent from the Army in India as a welcome gift. Bill volunteered a second time for the Chindit ‘Operation Thursday’. In February 1944, with Fergusson’s 16 Brigade he marched back into Burma

as ATO with 11th Battalion The Queen’s Regiment. Later, when 16 Brigade were to be flown out early after bitter fighting and setbacks, Bill volunteered to stay on with his mules and joined 3/9th Gurkhas, part of 111 Brigade. In his book ‘A Chindit’s Chronicle’ Bill Towill, 3/9th, writes: “As we left Broadway, we were joined by quite a remarkable young Irishman named Bill Smyly. He was a veteran of Operation Longcloth, when he had been Animal Transport Officer with Bernard Fergusson’s column. Not content with that very rough and tough experience, he had managed to join Fergusson’s Brigade in the present operation, but when they came to be flown out, still not satisfied, and hearing that we were going to be engaged in some fighting, he obtained Fergusson’s permission to join our battalion as we marched off to the Railway Valley. In effect he was trying to fit three separate campaigns into two years – an enthusiasm which few of us shared!” And later, describing 111 Brigade’s battle in the Blackpool ‘block’, Towill writes: “… the enemy attacked in great strength across the airstrip and overran our positions, ironically enough on the hill feature known as Silly Point. But an attempt to take further ground was arrested by Bill Smyly who rallied his Gurkhas and counter-charged hurling grenades.” In the final phase of Operation Thursday Bill moved to Michael Calvert’s 77 Brigade and the attack on Mogaung, working closely with 3/6th. Bill is mentioned in several Chindit books, including Bernard Fergusson’s ‘Beyond the Chindwin’ and Tony Redding’s ‘War in the Wilderness’. He demobilised with the rank of Honorary Captain, returned to England and went up to Clare College, Cambridge to read History and English. A career in journalism followed, first with the Derby Evening Post and then the Daily Mail. He was recruited by the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong and given permission to motor out as far as India submitting weekly articles on the way. The trip was made in a Standard 8 through France, Switzerland, Italy, Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan to India. After a few years he became a housemaster at the Diocesan Boys’ School and went on to teach in the

FAMILY AND EVENTS

Golders Green on March 24 1926, the middle of three children to Gertrude and Reginald Streather, a successful house builder. Tony was educated in Radlett and then at University College School in Hampstead where he was head boy and captain of rugby. Inspired by a recent talk about the Indian Army, when joining up in 1945, he applied for officer training in the subcontinent and took a commission Finally, settling in Bedford, he enjoyed music, in the 1st Battalion Rajputana Rifles, based at Fort switching to ballet as his hearing began to fail him. Sandeman (now Zhob) in Baluchistan. After Partition He was an active member of St Andrew’s, his local in 1947 he served under a Pakistani commanding church, and of the Burma Campaign Society which officer in the Chitral Scouts, taking responsibility for promotes Anglo-Japanese reconciliation. In recent a thousand men, 183 horses and 50 camels. It was on years Bill marched with us at the Cenotaph, the last patrol, crossing the high passes of the Hindu Kush, time aged 93. He was an inspiration to all privileged to know him. At his funeral at St Andrew’s on 25 June often under threat of ambush, that, out of necessity, he learned his mountaineering. In 1950 when Arne 2018, The Chindit Association, the Bedford Branch Naess’s Norwegian expedition arrived in Pakistan Royal British Legion, the Army’s current 77 Brigade and the Brigade of Gurkhas (mainly the Sirmoor Club) to attempt the unclimbed Tirich Mir, Streather was were all represented. Very appropriately, 6 GRRA was enrolled as Transport Officer. Fluent in Pushtu and represented by Mark, elder son of Freddie Shaw who Urdu, he was an invaluable liaison with the local porters. Like them, he usually trekked in ‘chaplis’ – commanded the 3/6th at Mogaung. stout-soled sandals, with scraps of goatskin wrapped round them for venturing above the snowline – but Bill will be much missed. To Diana and daughter the Norwegians persuaded him to don climbing boots Eleanor we offer our sincere condolences. for the final push to the 7,778 metres summit. The Brian O’Bree following year he fought in the Korean war with his regiment, the Glosters. Chinese University. During his nearly 40 years in Hong Kong he met and married Diana Chan. Returning to the UK with his wife and young daughter he did an MA in Linguistics and Language Training at Leeds before taking British Council posts in Thailand, Saudi Arabia and China.

(Sources for this tribute include: The Daily Telegraph

Success on Tirich Mir – one of the highest summits yet climbed – made Streather an obvious choice for the 1953 Everest expedition but he was turned down on the grounds of insufficient technical alpine TONY STREATHER OBE experience – ironic in the light of his invitation, a few weeks later, to join an American attempt on the much Lt Colonel HRA (Tony) Streather OBE, who died harder K2. Recalling the expedition fifty years later, on 31st October aged 92, was an army man and mountaineer who learned his trade as a soldier on the Streather remarked, “I think when they first met me in Northwest Frontier of Pakistan. Alongside his military Rawalpindi, the Americans were expecting a relic of the old Raj who had spent his time beating the locals. duties, he became a leading light in the golden age They couldn’t believe it when the natives seemed to of Himalayan mountaineering in the 1950s; getting get on so well with me.” Once again, his official role close to the summit of K2, making first ascents of both Tirich Mir and the world’s third highest mountain, was liaison and transport officer but, as the leader Charles Houston put it, “he just carried on up the Kangchenjunga, as well as leading a successful mountain with us.” ascent of Everest in the 1970s. He was the first person to climb two peaks of over 25,000 feet. Unlike many modern expeditions, the eight men used no supplementary oxygen and virtually no fixed ropes. Harold Reginald Antony Streather was born in obituary, Colonel Denis Wood late 2 GR and Diana Smyly with thanks.)

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that miraculous escape an avalanche swept away Gilkey in his improvised stretcher. Even without the burden of a paralysed man, it took them another five days to get down the mountain. Decades later Houston said that if the avalanche had not taken Gilkey, they would probably all have died, but he remained adamant that it was unthinkable to abandon a team mate while he was still alive. Streather returned to the subcontinent in 1955 to attempt the world’s third highest peak, Kangchenjunga, on the Nepal-Sikkim border. The expedition was led by the genial surgeon, Charles Evans, who had so nearly reached the top of Everest in 1953. Unlike Everest, Kangchenjunga was virtually unknown and the expedition was billed as a ‘reconnaissance’, but the reconnaissance was so successful that four people reached a point just a few feet below the highest snow pinnacle, stopping there out of deference to local religious belief. The first pair, George Band and Joe Brown, had a momentous summit day, with Brown – perhaps the best rock climber in the world at that time – turning his oxygen up to six litres a minute to climb a steep crack up a rock outcrop over 8,500 metres above sea level.

Tony Streather, Tirich Mir, 1951

After six weeks they were close to the unclimbed summit. But at Camp 8, almost 8,000 metres above sea level, they were hit by one of K2’s notorious storms, and were stuck in their tents for six days. Art Gilkey collapsed with a thrombophlebitis – a blood clot in his leg, which soon moved to his lungs. Despite Gilkey’s hopeless predicament, and the still unsettled weather, Houston decided that the whole team would try to get him off the mountain, trussed up in a sleeping bag and tent. They made a valiant attempt and at the end of one gruelling day had almost dragged Gilkey down to Camp 7, when one man slipped, dragging the rest with him before Pete Schoening saved the whole team with a brilliant ice axe arrest. But shortly after

Late that evening Brown and Band returned triumphant to the top camp, to find Tony Streather and the New Zealander, Norman Hardie, waiting their turn at the summit. According to Streather, Brown looked at him pityingly and joked, ‘no chance, Tony – you’re a hopeless rock climber.’ So, it gave Streather and Hardie great pleasure the next day to find an easy snow gully round the side of the rock outcrop, leading gently to the summit. Having served with the Gloucestershire Regiment in Korea in 1951, Streather was now stationed in Britain, working as an instructor at Sandhurst. After a lecture in 1957 to the Oxford University Mountaineering Club, he was asked to lead a student expedition to the unclimbed peak of Haramosh, in the Karakoram. He had only recently married and the couple had a young baby. “It was probably very irresponsible of me to go,” he admitted later, “but it was very tempting to return to Pakistan and see old friends.”

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The Haramosh expedition culminated in tragedy, subsequently recorded in Ralph Barker’s harrowing ‘The Last Blue Mountain’. In a complex sequence of events at around 6,500 metres, two of the students, Bernard Jillott and John Emery, were swept 300 metres over an ice cliff by an avalanche, coming to rest in a snow basin above an immense precipice, alive, but badly shocked and minus their essential ice axes. Over 24 hours had elapsed by the time Streather and a third student, Rae Culbert, had managed to climb down to them with food and a stove. Streather then tried to lead the team back up to the ridge, but exhausted and short of proper gear, they kept sliding back down into the basin, where they spent another night in the open. The next day Jillott and Emery managed to climb out, but Streather, on a separate rope, was pulled back down by Culbert. After the third night, Culbert was too weak to move. Streather had now lost his ice axe, and had to climb out on his own, using a frozen mitten to scoop snow out of the holds he had cut in the ice two days earlier. Recalling his struggle fifty years later, he said, “I thought I was dead and I didn’t know why I was climbing, but I just knew I had to keep moving, for Sue and the baby. I had this incredible feeling that someone was helping me, pulling me out of a well.” He later confided to a friend that had he not had a wife and child he would have remained to die with Culbert. At Camp 4 he found Emery waiting, barely alive. Jillott had taken a wrong turn and fallen over the other side of the ridge to his death. Even after a night’s sleep, Streather and Emery barely had the strength to stand up, let alone return for Culbert, who by now had probably died anyway. As on K2, four years earlier, Streather was moved to tears by the compassion of the Hunza porters who came up from base camp to meet the half dead survivors tottering down the mountain. Back in Britain he was hurt that Jillott’s family would not speak to him. However, Rae Culbert’s younger brother Bill remained in touch for the rest of Streather’s life, convinced that the older leader had done everything possible to try and save the young student: “there was nothing more he could do.” Streather’s subsequent career included service with

the Glosters in Cyprus, active service with the 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles in the jungles of Borneo and service as the Glosters’ commanding officer in Berlin and Northern Ireland. He also headed up the Jungle Warfare Wing of the School of Infantry in the jungles of Malaya. He led youth expeditions for the John Hunt Exploration Group and Endeavour Training, served as Alpine Club President and was leader of the 1976 British-Nepalese Army Expedition to Everest which put Bronco Lane and Brummie Stokes on the summit. As befitting the last British officer to serve on the Northwest Frontier, he was a keen polo player and loved hunting. Streather retired from the army in 1977 and took up the post of Sport and Estates Officer at Sandhurst for 10 years. In 1995 Tony and his wife Sue moved from Camberley to the village of Hindon in Wiltshire, where he became involved in local village life. Particularly acting as church warden for many years where he initiated the new duty of taking champagne up the narrow spiral staircase to the bell ringers on New Year’s Eve. He was always generous in his encouragement of younger soldiers and climbers, and helped to set up the schools’ expedition company World Challenge in the 1990s. He was admired universally for his modesty and oldfashioned courtesy. He married in 1956 Mary (Sue) Huggan, who predeceased him. They are survived by their four children, Charlie, Peter, Phil and Sally and seven loving grandchildren who will all miss him dearly. Stephen Venables Mountaineer and Past President of the Alpine Club. (Taken from the Britain Nepal Society’s website with their kind permission)

BRIAN O’BREE WRITES:

Seconded to the 1st Battalion from 1965 to 1966 commanding C Company on operations in Borneo, Tony became a member of our Association. When he was running Sport and Estates at Sandhurst he was most helpful to me when I was there as a company commander and OIC Golf in the mid/late 80s. He

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wrote to me in autumn 2017 saying how very pleased he was to be remembered by the 6th after Mike Channing had kindly taken him our 200th Anniversary badge and brochure. Tony was one of two officers who had served with 6 GR to become President of the Alpine Club, the other being the great Charles Bruce. There was standing room only at his funeral at Hindon on 1 December. Sir Chris Bonington spoke about Tony’s remarkable climbing career; one of three very fulsome tributes. Gordon Corrigan and I were the only 6 GR present; Gordon also wearing his Glosters hat as he served under Tony when he was CO of the Glosters in Berlin. Mike Kefford ex-7 GR, himself a notable Himalayan climber, was there as were four former GTR officers as Tony’s daughter-in-law, MJ, married to Tony’s second son Peter, was the daughter of the late Peter Attack GTR, a close friend of my father as they served together in 4 GR pre-1948. It was a fitting send-off to a much liked and hugely respected man who will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him, no more so than by his sons and daughter and their families to whom we extend our condolences. The RGR Piper at Bill Smyly’s Funeral

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At Ipoh Railway Station. From Left: Ian Peters, Hugh Wallace “a bit crumpled at the end of the day’s work”, John Willson, Richard Caldicott and David Simons (minus a tooth)

“MEMORIES OF A BROTHER OFFICER” A TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT F HUGH WALLACE

he annual Service of Remembrance at Winchester Cathedral this year, at which the pages of the Roll of Honour of British Officers killed in action whist serving with the Regiment are turned and the names read out, provided us with an opportunity to remember, in particular, the 55th anniversary in August 2018, of Hugh Wallace’s death. I did not join 2/6 GR until early August 1960, and had three spells away from the Battalion over the ensuing ten months, thus my opportunities for getting to know Hugh very well were somewhat restricted; I did however occupy the room next to his in the Ipoh Mess and was able to spend time, either on our adjoining balconies while the visiting barber cut our hair, or in the Mess in the evening, and was beginning to know

and appreciate the man before our paths parted. The photograph above, in addition to showing Hugh as a young 2nd Lieutenant in the summer of 1959, includes John Willson and David Simons; you may also recognise Ian Peters and Richard Coldicott in the group. I have been able to draw on John and David’s memories, and am grateful to them for allowing me to incorporate them in this ‘collage’ of reminiscences. Four years ago, General Ray Pett wrote a comprehensive ‘Appreciation’ of Hugh to be given on the occasion of the presentation of the Elizabeth Cross to Hugh’s sister, Diana. I am grateful to Ray for allowing me to include material from his Appreciation. Lastly, John Conlin recalls the time he met Hugh at Hythe in the winter of 1963, while Hugh was on the

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Hugh receiving swimming prize from Lt Colonel Slim Horsford, CO 2/6 GR, with Tim Whorlow in middle and Simon Boucher in background, Hong Kong, 1962

But Hugh was not only a sportsman of some repute, he was an all-round pupil and cadet: a former contemporary of his at Glenalmond recalls that “he was distinguished by his enthusiasm and integrity. Whatever he set himself to do, he did wholeheartedly…. He set himself high standards, but was always agreeably tolerant of others who could To begin at the beginning then: Hugh was born in not match them.” At school he displayed leadership Port Dickson, Malaya, on 29 May 1938, but on the outbreak of war in September 1939 returned to Britain and determination in all aspects of school life, and it with his mother and sister, Diana, his father remaining was not surprising that he became Captain of College. It is also not surprising that his old school continues to fight the Japanese. Hugh went to school at Glenalmond College, where he was a keen sportsman to hold him in high esteem: on 10 May 2009, the newly built Headquarters of the Combined Cadet playing for the 1st XV rugby team; his rugby skills Force at the College was officially named ‘The Hugh were noted after he joined the 2nd Battalion in Ipoh, Wallace Building’ in his memory. where he played for the Perak State Rugby team. His sporting prowess was not limited to rugby, Hugh was no slouch academically either! Whilst however: he had joined Sandhurst in January 1957 at Sandhurst he won the prize for Military History and represented the Academy at modern pentathlon and cross-country running. Later he played for the 2nd and the United Services Institute Prize for English. Later, in 1962, he won the Far East Land Forces Essay Battalion’s Nepal Cup team. Competition for young officers. Having passed out Signals Course and he was on the Small Arms Course before joining the Regiment: John expresses his gratitude for Hugh’s kindness helping him to prepare for joining the 2nd Battalion, including teaching him a few words of Nepali.

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from Sandhurst 10th out of 200 cadets he was posted to 2/6 GR which he joined on 5th June 1959; John Willson recalls a lingering memory of Hugh then as always being inquisitive and questioning on the men’s culture and traditions, and the Regimental kaida. He never lost the enthusiasm, for anything he set his mind to, which he had displayed at school. I recall the last time I saw him, in Battalion Headquarters in Brunei Town, after he returned early from long leave to go to Sibu to take over C Company from Jack Keen. We had, the previous evening, been chatting about the joys of a holiday with Club Mediterranee, and the untold (for those days) joys and lack of inhibition that such a holiday offered, all encapsulated in an audio ‘letter’ home whilst on leave (from which Hugh’s brother in law, Donald, has given me permission to quote). Hugh had spoken of: “occupying one of their grass huts, lie on the beach all day, lose my inhibitions in the French sun, with the aid of lots of French wine.” He went on to refer to his first tour with the Regiment as being “three and a half years [of] theoretically monastic life”; he described his love life as being “rather complicated” and “unsuccessful” – “I’m so susceptible. … girls next door with fair hair, blue eyes and soft melting looks have me in five seconds flat.” Whilst thinking that he might be ready for marriage, he added, “unfortunately I can’t find anybody to embark on the great journey, the leap into the dark.” The next morning a now serious and totally focused, determined young officer left for Sarawak. Borneo was, and largely is, covered by tropical jungle; a Burma veteran from World War II describes jungle warfare as “like a gigantic game of Blind Man’s Buff, played in a Turkish Bath, with one hand tied behind your back.” It was into this alien environment that Hugh went on his first operation, where movement is restricted to largely unmarked tracks or streambeds; he had been trained for this but, in common with the other younger officers and many of the young men under his command, had yet to experience it for real. Hugh was killed some time between the afternoon of

16 August and the finding of his body on the morning of 18 August 1963, during the very early stages of the ‘war’ that became known as Confrontation. Hugh died alone having apparently “had another go” at the enemy from his cover; he had been wounded in the leg early in the action, and had sent his orderly for help, the remainder of his patrol having lost contact with him. I shall not repeat the details of the action which led to Hugh’s death – these are well covered in Charles Messenger’s book The Steadfast Gurkha (pp. 66-68) and in General James Hunt’s Jai Sixth (pp. 112113). My purpose has been to record some memories of Hugh as a person and brother officer. John Willson recalls Hugh as being “both a gentleman and a gentle man.” He goes on to add that he and Hugh did spend a great deal of time together on the occasions when they were both off operations in Malaya – whether in the Mess or in John’s car out on the town, both of them convulsed in “belly-rolling laughter”. In his own words Hugh described himself as “a career officer, so you’ll see me as a Major General in the years to come …. I reckon if I keep clear of any bullets flying I’ll do alright, but I don’t know what I’d be like in actual action.” Major Peter Walter, Parachute Regiment, who had been with Hugh during part of the action, later wrote of the action against the insurgents saying that Hugh “behaved magnificently throughout. During the early part of the action … he showed complete disregard for his own personal safety, setting a fine example to the young Gurkha soldiers under his command.” This is entirely consistent with the nature of the man I knew in Ipoh and Brunei. To end, I can only summarise Hugh as a person by quoting from a letter written by David Simons to General Ray Pett at the time of the presentation of the Elizabeth Cross to Diana four years ago: “It was Hugh’s strong character, serious approach and slightly non-archetypal military qualities, and his culture, that attracted me in the first instance. He was well read. …Smartness was not his first priority. His continual cleaning of his glasses was his trademark. I

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am certain that he could see very little without those glasses” – an opinion shared by John Willson – “but what he did seem to possess was a clear vision of his future, which I believe stretched beyond commanding a battalion. He had a dogged determination which, coupled with an exceedingly good brain and a serious approach to life, would, I am certain, have led him to a very senior position in the Army today. That was not to say that he did not have a sense of humour, but his approach was never flippant.”

David concludes his letter: “Even today I feel a great loss. Not only did we lose a brave and very great friend of the Regiment, but an officer who had the highest potential for far greater responsibilities, be it in military service or outside.” All who knew Hugh, in the Regiment, or outside, would endorse those sentiments: he will not be forgotten. Mike Channing

BORNEO 2/6 GR OPERATIONS FROM SEPTEMBER 1964 TO AUGUST 1965: EXTRACTS FROM THE OPERATIONS OFFICER’S DIARY

The Airfield at Bario, Kelabit Highlands

n September Battalion Tac HQ was collocated with the HQ of the 4th Division in Miri, some 100 miles from the Border where most of the battalion was based. B Company (Vyvyan Robinson) was at Bario. The Brigade Commander Harry Tuzo had with difficulty persuaded the RAF to place a detachment of two Whirlwind helicopters at Bario rather than at Labuan. Operationally this was

the right course of action as Labuan was over 100 miles from the border and the weather sometimes prevented the helicopters from taking off for the two-hour flight to the border. However the pilots were used to the comforts of Labuan, and did not take kindly to Vyvyan’s more “operational” approach, which included standing-to in trenches. The RAF therefore threatened to pull back to Labuan. A very irritated

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Harry Tuzo warned Tony Harvey of the consequences for both him and Vyvyan if this happened. Thankfully the helicopters stayed put. Tac HQ therefore moved to Bario. The name “Bario” in the Kelabit language means “wind”. It is also known as the “land of a hundred handshakes” to depict the hospitality of the local people. Mason Toynbee the Canadian group headmaster of the Kelabit primary schools referred to Bario as “Shangri-La” (paradise). I was sent to Bario as Operations Officer, but also as the general ops and admin dog’s body. There was no option really as the Adjutant, QM and Paymaster had their hands full in Seria. However for a short time I had Acting Sergeant Rambahadur Gurung as my Intelligence Sergeant prior to going to Sandhurst. Ram was the son of the Gurkha Major Kushiman Gurung but after Sandhurst joined 2 GR. In B company Vyvyan had a unique, but effective, style of operating in which he dispensed with platoons. Instead he had the Company split into a Scout Group, usually led by Corporal Amarbahadur Pun (who ended up with 2 Military Medals), which only carried weapons. Close behind were the Command Group and then a Support Group with machine guns and mortars. The rest, under command of the 2IC, followed behind carrying much more equipment and ammunition. This meant that on contact with the enemy the Support Group could respond immediately and allow time for a plan to be made. Meanwhile the rest got rid of their loads and made ready for the subsequent attack. With regard to Vyvyan’s ultimate assault in August 1965, there was an obvious problem that a knifeedge border ridge separated us from Long Bawan with a long and steep drop on the Indonesian side. I therefore requested air support for any casualties. This I learnt subsequently went all the way up to General Walter Walker who finally agreed. The code word was “Fishhook”. We then had to organise fire support and this was provided by two 105 mm pack howitzers from 45 Field Regiment and a 81 mm

Mortar from our own platoon. The gunners were old friends from Hong Kong. As a first step we had to clear an LZ on the ridge for the guns and ammo to be flown in before being manhandled into their gun positions. All this had to be done without alerting the enemy. There was no question of pre-registration, as this would give the game away. An added problem was that the targets were well below the gun position making accurate fire more difficult. Vyvyan decide he would wear a day-glow hat and give all fire requests in relation to himself. On the 29th of August, B Company and a section of Gurkha Engineers with the explosives under Duncan Morris, started the advance. The Indonesians were taken completely by surprise and most of them ran for it. The guns and mortars proved remarkably accurate. However there was some opposition and casualties that would not be able to walk back up the hill so Vyvyan called me on the radio and said “Fishhook” and a grid reference. I then asked for a red flare to mark the LZ. I had also briefed the helicopter pilots in their Wessex helicopter and they had a very detailed air photo of the Indonesian Side. I then contacted 51 Brigade, Brigade Major Charles Tarver who asked me to repeat the password. There was a pause of at least 10 minutes and I had a vision of the request going up the line to Walter Walker. In the end it was a “go” so I warned off Vyvyan and sent the helicopter. I am glad to say the recovery was successful but the helicopters were fired at. At this stage Vyvyan’s intention was to keep going and indeed blow up the HQ and airstrip but with “Fishhook” I am sure the chain of command got rather nervous and Vyvyan was ordered to withdraw. Much to the annoyance of Duncan Morris who still complains to this day. Paul Pettigrew

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MAJOR VYVYAN ROBINSON MC 6 GR’S LAST WARRIOR

efore Vyvyan Robinson died last February, he had for several years been dictating and revising an account of his life with Antonina his daughter. It is in two parts; the first part concerns his stories and exploits in the British Army, mainly his time in 2/6 GR from 1949 to 1969. Like Vyvyan, it is at once brutally frank, outrageously funny, scandalous and in moments of reflection full of courage and wisdom. It would have been uncharacteristic of Vyvyan to have told these stories with any serious educating intent, nevertheless unwittingly, they now add an important and colourful dimension to our understanding of the Malaya – Borneo period. Vyvyan was not a boastful man and his account has an infuriating tendency to skate over the details of his own actions, particularly the ones which won him a Military Cross in Borneo and a Mention in Despatches in Malaya. Beyond his tales of career disasters and the denouement of seriously pompous officers, who seemed to antagonise Vyvyan by their very existence, there is a frank and important perspective of contemporary operations which confronts what some regard as the official record (Steadfast Gurkha, Volume 3 of 6 GR’s Historical Record). For several reasons, securing the Indonesian border at Bario in 1964 might have challenged 2/6 GR; fortunately when they deployed Vyvyan Robinson commanded B company and was the most experienced company commander present in the Battalion. This assessment shows that he played a key role in moving the Battalion into a dominating position which robbed the enemy of their ability to take the initiative in the border area. The sources which support this proposition, in addition to Vyvyan’s own memoir, include 2/6 GR’s operational diary, minutes and records of that period and selected letters which are now part of the papers of Major AVO Robinson MC. In the first pages of his manuscript Vyvyan admits he was an aggressive youth – a fist fighter, and boxing was an early

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means of survival as well as his sport. In his first regiment, the Royal Irish Fusiliers, aged 20 – he was the boxing officer and a formidable welterweight in the team. The Irish soldiers loved a good fighter and after losing on points to the Middle East Forces Champion, they would call out when they passed him in the lines, “…youse was robbed, Sur!” But the officers’ mess was not so keen on this new arrival – physically self-assured and pugnacious when challenged. Clearly he was not going to submit to the humiliating mess rituals inflicted on newly joined officers in a British infantry regiment. Unbowed after a spell of 21 days extra duty as Battalion Orderly Officer, he resolved to escape to a regiment where operational imperatives ranked above the rituals of the mess. God was watching and Vyvyan was transferred to 2/6 GR which was for him a perfect option. After the partition of India, the Second Battalion had experienced something of an overhaul in its regimental culture. The mess now comprised Burma veterans from five different Gurkha Rifle regiments as well as from the Guides and Rajputana Rifles, so there could be no overwhelming kaida, good or bad, from a previous regime. Instead the heterogeneous Second Battalion achieved a reputation for being a relaxed and happy officers mess which, in the manner of most Gurkha messes (with a few notable exceptions), cautiously welcomed new arrivals. Whereas in the Royal Irish Fusiliers there was an absence of role models for Vyvyan, 2/6 GR was bulging with DSOs and MCs from the Second World War, some of whom were formidable commanders in the Malayan jungle. Vyvyan seemed to have found his place and thrived in their distinguished company, soaking up the confidential after-dinner stories of war and partition. The early 1950s was the tipping point of the emergency and there was plenty to do. During the operations in Kluang and Segamat, Vyvyan learned about the Malayan jungle. As Intelligence Officer he was famously lost for two days on Lambak hill, which is just three miles East of Kluang bazaar, during which he fell into a panji pit and having lost his magazine

spent the night on the jungle floor with just one round left in his chamber. Later, during a combined ambush with a British battalion, his party overshot the RV and walked quietly into the British part of the ambush; by the Grace of God the British soldiers failed to see them or open fire. Through this series of deathdefying cockups he learned the laws of the jungle as no jungle warfare school could ever have taught him. He also learned that to succeed, an operation had to be intelligence-led and that in the long term a campaign could not succeed without the support of the local population. He learned to respect an enemy who could see, smell and hear him before he could sense them and also slip away from his grasp with the facility of a wild animal. Above all he learned to move his men through the jungle, using trusted guides and following game tracks for, as he put it, “wild deer, boar and their predators do not waste time attempting impossible climbs or wading through swamps, they follow the lie of the land and avoid unnecessary effort.” Towards the end of the 1950s the Malayan Emergency had become a predictable campaign of attrition which was formally ended in 1960. In 1963 2/6 GR deployed to North Borneo as part of General Walker’s plan to secure Sabah and Sarawak against further incursions after the Brunei revolt. 2/6 GR began their campaign at less than full speed. The cadre of commanders (Houston, Lorimer, Taunton, Taggart and their contemporaries) who had led through the worst moments of the Malayan emergency had left and the young men who now took their place had not been through the same school of hard knocks. In addition, several years of garrison duty in post-emergency Malaya and Hong Kong were bound to dull the cutting edge across the whole battalion. Losing Hugh Wallace in a head-on contact near Song was a huge blow and the circumstances of his death did not rebuild our professional self-esteem. After a spell in Hong Kong 2/6 GR returned to Borneo in September 1964. They were to be the resident battalion at Seria in Brunei, however their operational area was in the distant border area of Sarawak’s Fourth Division. On arrival they initially deployed to:

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A Company

Pa Main (Northern Border Area).

B Company

Initial plan to Miri but changed to Bario.

C Company

Long Banga (Southern border Area).

D Company

Seria (reserve and training).

in the Kelabit Highlands.

Battalion tactical HQ Initially to Miri, then to Bario. Battalion Main HQ Seria (with families). Tony Harvey was now the Commanding Officer and Vyvyan Robinson commanded B Company. However, as they deployed the situation was changing. The long-range Indonesian incursions towards the coastal areas had greatly reduced and the focus of activity had shifted to the border. To anticipate this shift, B Company was deployed closer to the border, to Bario

Before 1964 the Bario valley had been an undisturbed paradise. No road connected it to the faraway coastal plain and the Kelabit were a charming and finelyfeatured people who, except for their missionaryapproved lungis and transistor radios, were still living in a prehistoric age. Around their beautifully shaped longhouses miles and miles of primary forest stretched in every direction, disturbed only once a week by the engines of an approaching aircraft, which would land â&#x20AC;&#x153;bang-bump!â&#x20AC;? in a flurry of dust on the grass airstrip. Soon the pressures of confrontation would change Bario. Within months the RAF arrived in their grey Whirlwind helicopters which were parked at the Eastern end of the runway and much later a troop of the Royal Artillery with a singe 105 mm pack howitzer, which they dug into a circular pit with its ugly barrel pointing towards the border ridge.

BRUNEI TOWN

South China Sea

Tutong

BRUNEI

Miri

SABAH

Seria

FI F VI TH SI ON

FO U DI VI RTH SI ON

Bareo

Long Bawan

OP 2

S AR AWA K Pa Main

INDONESIA

OP 1

Long Banga

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Locating Vyvyan and B company at Bario now reflected the new situation, but at the same time it set up a command problem. Tony Harvey, the CO, was still tied to a weekly routine of Fourth Division and State-level security meetings which took place at Miri, Brigade HQ at Brunei Town and Seria. The Battalion’s operational diary showed him continuously moving from place to place for three days a week. The problem for him was that Bario, where the focus of operations had shifted and where his tactical HQ was now about to move to, was 80 miles by air over some serious mountain peaks. Visiting on a regular basis required time, viable weather and an available aircraft. Because the meetings kept the CO on the coast for several days each week, occasionally there was a resulting command vacuum on the border. And fortunately Vyvyan was not backward in filling this space. When Vyvyan arrived at Bario he was at the top of his form as a jungle commander. He had killed his share of the Queen’s enemies in Malaya and just put B Company through a rigorous shooting and night marching rehearsal for Borneo over the hills and ranges of the New Territories; they were now ready. When he arrived in September ’64, armed with a newly-issued Armalite rifle he headed immediately for the border with his orderly for a long hand-over patrol. As he walked, absorbing and reflecting on what he saw, he resolved not to take the same tactical approach as the Argylls. The problem he saw at Bario was that with only a single company they had been forced into a defensive posture – patrolling reactively from their fortified bases on the Sarawak side of the border. This had allowed Indonesian fighting patrols to move unopposed across the border and the Argylls’ concept had been to cut them off with ambushes sited on the Sarawak side. Given their slender resources the plan was quite successful, except that the movement of Indonesian forces just inside the border caused unbearable insecurity among the Kelabit whose families had had to flee in the path of the approaching enemy. Instead Vyvyan was determined at this very early stage to take the fight to the Indonesians. During the

patrol he had seen a good spot on the border ridge for a new observation platform. Unlike the existing one erected by the Argylls at OP 1, his proposed site – OP 2 would be provocatively opposite the Indonesian’s main position and airhead at Long Bawan. Vyvyan’s plan was to station a platoon at OP 2 ready to take on any attempt to cross the border in his company area. He was also uneasy at the lack of local intelligence and topographical knowledge. (The hand-drawn map they got from the missionaries could have been a Monty Python map-reading joke.) By sheer good fortune as he returned to base with the Argyll’s platoon commander, they stopped at Pa Umor, the first longhouse on the Sarawak side of the border. Here an important meeting took place with Bala Palaba, the headman. Bala turned out to be a key figure in the border community and from this moment began a lasting friendship with Vyvyan, which resulted in Bala organising local scouts for B company and a network of local sources to warn of Indonesian incursions. During the first month at Bario it is hard to imagine that the CO and OC B Company saw much of each other as they moved in their separate orbits. Vyvyan’s time was divided between securing Bario and turning round the situation on the border. While he was visiting the neighbouring 1/2 GR company to his North, a B Company patrol was ambushed just inside the border – without suffering any casualties but more important without inflicting any either. Simultaneously, he learned on the Brigade “backchannel” that Brigadier Harry Tuzo privately felt that 2/6 GR lacked the Rifle Brigade spirit. It is easy to imagine that Vyvyan Robinson, more than any other officer in the Second Battalion, was very irritated by this suggestion, and according to his memoir immediately took steps to set the record straight. On return to Bario he moved directly to the newly constructed OP 2 where he spent two uninterrupted days noting the routine of the nearest enemy post to the border. In particular he saw that each day a foraging patrol visited a patch of ground where they were obviously growing vegetables. The following night he led a fighting patrol for six hours across the border ridge and on down the far side to the

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vegetable patch where he staked out an ambush. Just before dawn the enemy foraging party arrived. Rather than get involved in an unauthorised fire fight on the wrong side the border, he called his Vickers guns and medium mortars, who were watching from OP 2, and ordered a short burst of fire, which had the intended effect of driving the enemy back to their camp. Vyvyan’s men rose from their cover, picked up the Indonesian’s abandoned belongings including a bayonet and a.45 automatic pistol, and returned to OP 2. Back at Bario they polished the bayonet and with a polite and carefully worded letter, sent it directly to Brigadier Harry Tuzo. Tuzo replied, “you must tell your men at once that I am no longer in any doubt about their devotion to the black button traditions – not, may I say, that these doubts were ever strong where B company of 2/6th is concerned.” It is disappointing that Charles Messenger, the author of Volume 3 of our historical record failed to understand, or even mention, the significance of this incident. From every perspective it was a cooly-delivered message. For the enemy it was an emphatic demonstration that B Company now ruled the border ridge, and to Brigadier Harry Tuzo it said that B Company could do the business – if they were allowed to. According to his memoir Vyvyan believed that Harry Tuzo was already urging for cross-border operations which had not so far been authorised for 51 Brigade area, and that this private and unauthorised demonstration had “accelerated the decision to allow B Company … to cross over officially and thump the Indonesians.” Without this authorisation it would have been impossible for any British force to dominate the border area. From November 1964 to August 1965 2/6 GR, mainly B Company, carried out a series of raids and ambushes against the smaller enemy posts which lay between Long Bawan (the enemy’s district HQ) and the border ridge. The Indonesians fought back hard, first by attacking OP 2 and later by following up the incursions by 2/6 GR with cut off parties aimed to catch our returning forces before they could get back across the border. In August Vyvyan led a major foray across the border to attack Long Bawan itself. The

assault was supported by two 105 mm Pack Howitzers perched on the border ridge and firing at extreme range. The Indonesians who had become extremely jumpy by now legged it out of range before the attack closed. Although the August operation had not achieved a spectacular kill-score, it signalled the end of Indonesian military interference in the border area, which was the more important achievement; moreover it was mainly Vyvyan’s achievement. At whatever level the decisions for cross-border operations had been made, Vyvyan was unarguably the instrument of these attacks and author of their success. From the day he made his initial recce he had argued for the need to take the fight back into Indonesia, and by August 1965 it was achieved. In the process B Company had become a phenomenon. Colour Sergeant Amar Bahadur Pun was now universally known as “Double MM”; his extraordinary skill for leading men swiftly through the jungle by night and his fanatical use of a two-inch mortar to drive off the attack on OP 2, had become legends. Company Sergeant Major Dil Bahadur (later 2IC B Company) became the familiar landlord of OP 2 where he commanded a strange garrison of rat-eating mortar men, Vickers machine gunners and the riflemen of B Company. Lieutenant QGO Birkaraj Gurung was Vyvyan’s right hand man in many of his expeditions, with the important task of holding a firm base from which an attack could be made. When they moved along the border ridge where the narrow space meant that both sides had to inflict maximum damage in a matter of seconds, Vyvyan’s aptitude for head-on contacts became a trend-setter. His fighting patrols moved with the sting at the head and the baggage in the tail. At the front, after the Kelabit tracker and the Gurkha scouts, came the LMGs, two-inch mortar and a man with an M76 rifle grenade at the ready. The idea was to whack the approaching enemy with everything at once and the Small Arms School safety regulations went out of the window. Vyvyan was recommended for his Military Cross at the end of 1965 and was the last British Officer of 6 GR to be decorated for gallantry. It was a popular award and he received congratulations from far and

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wide. However among his papers there is a very different letter written not on the occasion of his MC, but in February 1965 when B Company left the border for a short spell of rest and retraining. It was from Bala Palaba, now an inspector in the newly formed Border Scouts, and typed on an A4 signal pad. The relevant parts are transcribed below: “On behalf of all the Border Scouts in the Bario area I am sending our kindest regards to the C.O. of 2/6 GR and to Major Robinson O.C. B Coy… We wish to express our thanks to Major Robinson because of his goodness to the B/Scouts and the kampong people, Major Robinson has done a good deal of work to help the B/Scouts and also his willingness to help the kampong people… which makes them and us to remember. In the fight against the Indonesian soldiers at the Border line … we feel that is very satisfactory through Major Robinson’s courage and bravery none of us got into trouble. Also the people of Pa’umor, Pa’lungan, Bario, and other Kampong wish us to convey their very best wishes to Maj Robinson and B Coy and with every hope that they should return to Bario again…” This single, unsolicited letter from the leader of the Kelabit says more of Vyvyan’s achievement than the sheaf of later congratulations, which are in the same file. Perhaps the lesson is that, for better or for worse, our life story tends to be re-written by those who survive us and Vyvyan Robinson’s privately published papers and his memoir may help us to see the campaign in Bario in a fairer perspective. John Mackinlay

Colour Sergeant Amarbahadur Pun MM and Bar

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MEMORIES OF THE TERAI CHI NA

Ti b e t

AL I

Annapurna

3,000 m

INDIA

NEPAL Paklihawa Lumbini

100

1,000 m

Pokhara T E R A I

Kodari

KHATMANDU Bhaktapur SU Patan NK OS Birganj I

Chitwan National Park

Map of Nepal showing the Terai

T E R A I

Mt Everest

Dharan Kakarbhitta

Why the Terai?

The Terai is effectively the continuation of the Ganges plain before it meets the Himalayan foothills. It accounts for 23% of Nepal’s land, it is the most productive region s traditionally Gurkhas who serve in the British Army come for the hills of Nepal, it with agriculture the basis of the economy and has the might seem strange that an article on the majority of the country’s industries. Before the beginning of the 1960s the Terai was malarial, discouraging major Terai is included. Our Editor thought that settlement. But since then the potential of the Terai has it might remind the older generation of their visits in attracted more of the population who have migrated the early years, especially to the Brigade’s original from the hills to the Terai. depots there, and asked me to write something.

Before the 1950s, Gurkha Depots were based in India. In 1952, the British Government was asked by India to select Depots in Nepal. A reconnaissance in 1953 recommended a single Combined Depot in the East Terai at Dharan Bazar, with a Collecting Post in the West at Paklihawa near Bhairawa. Subsequently, the Dharan Depot was opened in 1958 and the Paklihawa one in 1959. Dharan became the Headquarters of British Gurkhas Nepal and had its own military hospital while the much smaller one in Paklihawa became the recruiting depot for the west. Western recruiting moved to Pokhara in 1978 and Dharan closed in 1990 when eastern recruiting and the Headquarters moved to Kathmandu.

Many hill villages suffered when those of a working age left to seek their fortunes in the valleys, the Terai and elsewhere. From the early 1960s, the two Terai depots acted as a magnet for growing numbers of pensioners. As at September 2018, of the 21,638 service pensioners and 4,991 welfare pensioners, 16% and 25% respectively reside in the Terai. These percentages would be higher were it not for a whopping 44% of the Brigade’s pensioners and a further 24% of welfare pensioners having opted to move to the UK.

Dharan I first visited Nepal in 1962 when my younger brother,

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Ann and Peter O’Bree with the day’s mahseer catch

Michael, and I went out from boarding school in the UK for the Christmas holidays with our parents, Peter and Ann. Our father was then posted to the Dharan Depot until 1964. We flew to Calcutta, spent a night at the Barrackpore transit camp before boarding a train for the overnight journey to Jogbani on the Nepalese border. As young teenagers it was a great adventure. We were each issued with a ‘bistra’ (bedroll) for our bedding and warned at night to keep at least an arm’s length away from the carriage’s barred windows as thieving hands would take whatever was in reach. To cross the Ganges we boarded a ferry and on the other side a second train on to Jogbani. The cantonment was spaciously laid out on the flat just south-west of Dharan Bazar with the first of the foothills rising just beyond it to the north. There was always lots to do, apart from using the Depot’s very rough new golf course and riding ponies from the stables. To the west the Kosi river emerged

from the hill line. Further North up river at Tribeni, the confluence of the Sun Kosi, Arun (both rising in Tibet) and Tamur rivers, we fished for mahseer. In the ‘jheels’ (wetlands) to the south of Dharan we shot duck. And there was game shooting too. Though, unlike our parents, we did not get the chance of an elephant-back tiger hunt, we did hunt with high velocity rifles and both bagged a deer. On a separate occasion, I remember Michael and I leaving the quarter in the dark early one morning with Tilok, our parents’ 18 year-old failed recruit houseboy, and a Depot Land Rover driver. We drove away from the camp to a spot near a jungle-clad hill and walked up in the dark to a clearing where Tilok promised us ‘bhan kukra’ would appear at dawn. Ready with our shotguns loaded with No. 5 shot, as the light came up, we heard a tiger roar several times below on the other side of the hill. Tilok whispered to us to keep absolutely silent; I reloaded my shotgun with single ball which I carried in case of such an emergency. After what seemed an age, with the ‘bhan kura’

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The Lorimer wedding, Dharan, 2 Jan 1964. Back two rows: Dudley Spain 2 GR, Brian O’Bree, Pat Carr 7 GR ( almost hidden), Maria Richardson, Keith Robinson 7 GR, Harry Coulter DCRE, Brigadier Gordon Richardson, Philip Creasy 7 GR, Ann O’Bree, Major (QM) DM Phillips 2 GR, Michael O’Bree Front row: Gurkha Major Hon Lt Bagbir Limbu 7 GR, Peter O’Bree 6 GR, George and Christine Lorimer and Christine’s matron of honour

come and gone, we moved cautiously down to a dry river bed where sure enough fresh large pug marks confirmed what we’d heard. We returned for a late breakfast, empty-handed but with a good story to tell. George and Christine Lorimer were married in Dharan during one of our visits. My father had served with George in the 4th Gurkhas and was his best man. Though George was OC BGD Dharan at the time, he stood in frequently for Charles Wylie the Military Attaché in Kathmandu where Christine was working in the Embassy. Fast-forward fifty-four years to November 2016, at the post Cenotaph march lunch at Dai and Elizabeth Hitchcock’s house, I was introduced to Ron Rosner who had worked at the American Embassy in Kathmandu in the early 1960s; he had been invited as a friend of John Conlin who was

also across from New York at the same time. Though Ron himself was not at the wedding he knew my parents well plus all the personalities at the wedding. Moreover, he told me he was still in touch with Cathy, the daughter of the American Military Attaché, about my age who had very much caught my eye at the wedding in Dharan in 1964. Since those days Ron has maintained close contact with Gerry Birch late Gurkha Signals (who as a Lt in Dharan had been MTO and Assistant Cantonment Admin Officer to my father) and said that Gerry’s son James (Colonel, late RGR), has been “a sort of honorary god-son”. In 1963, we went as a family from Dharan to visit Darjeeling. I’m sure we did all sorts of exciting things while there, including travelling from Siliguri to Darjeeling on the hill railway. But the highlight was

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Dharan Bazaar in the 1960’s

meeting Tenzing Norgay of Everest fame, who by then was the Director of Field Training at Darjeeling’s Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. I still have the signed photograph Tenzing gave me.

sleepy Bazar at the base of the foothills has become the fourth largest town outside the Kathmandu valley, with a population of over 108,000.

On another holiday in Dharan we flew from Biratnagar to Kathmandu. We stayed a couple of nights in the Yak & Yeti hotel and met its colourful owner, the famous Boris Lisanevich, Russian émigré to Nepal, former ballet dancer and credited with first opening up tourism in Nepal. We flew on to Pokhara in an old Dakota aircraft with goats and chickens in the back of the aircraft. We were met on the grass airstrip by Jimmy Roberts of 2 GR who had organised porters and equipment for us to walk to the east side of the Pokhara valley to camp between Begnas Tal and Rupacot Tal (lakes) for a few days to fish and shoot duck. It was my first view of Pokhara’s breathtaking backdrop of Machhapuchhre and the mighty Annapurna range which still holds me spellbound all these years later.

My first visit to BGC (British Gurkha Camp) Paklihawa was when passing through on a duty trek in 1971. Later, from March 1974 to April 1975, I was lucky to be posted to Pakli as 2IC. Gordon MacDonald 2 GR was the OC and John Sturgeon RAPC, the Paymaster. During my time one of the Assistant Recruiting Officers was an old friend from 2/6th, Captain (QGO) Karnabahadur Gurung MM. Karna Saheb had earned his MM as a Sergeant in my father’s company in Malaya. He was a keen shikari and after I joined 2/6th, Gopal and Derrick McIntyre and I used to shoot wild boar with him.

Today the old Dharan depot site is well used as a campus for an Institute of Health Sciences and other educational establishments. And what was Dharan’s

Paklihawa

In 1975, Hon Lt Tulbahadur Pun VC came down from his village Tiplyang to hand over his VC and medals as the Regiment had arranged to buy them from him. I received them on behalf of the CO, Colin Scott, and in exchange gave Tulbahadur a miniature set of his medals.

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The camp, nestled hard against the border with India, was tiny compared with Dharan. It was contained by a small river on the east and south sides and by a tributary to the west. In addition to the minimum of administrative buildings and accommodation for permanent staff, there was a doctor’s surgery, a twelve-bed TB ward and a football field. The resettlement farm and building wing was a short bicycle ride to the west. The officers’ mess only catered for the three permanent single British Officers and a few duty visitors. The other permanent officer equivalent was the marvellous Dr Vishnu Rajouria, but he lived in his own house on the edge of the camp. Food either came from India or from the resettlement farm – chickens, eggs, rice, maize and other vegetables. Cows were sacred so we ate buffalo meat and used buffalo milk. During a period of the year the evening sky filled with swarms of parakeet flying over the camp to maize fields on the other side of the border. The few I managed to shoot as they flew over with a.22 rifle made a welcome addition to our breakfast menu.

Outside the busy few weeks of the year during recruiting, the pace of life was very pleasant. Early morning tea was brought to my bungalow beside the mess lawn by Abdul, who had come to Paklihawa when Lehra closed. Before breakfast most mornings, wearing my OIC Resettlement hat, I cycled leisurely out to the resettlement farm, often through the Terai haze before it burnt off as the sun rose. There I did the rounds with the farm manager, visiting the piggery, chicken runs, fish pond and discussed plans such as which strain of rice to try next season and so on – being of course the expert as a graduate of a twoweek agriculture and animal husbandry course at the Kadoorie experimental farm in Hong Kong! Tea, with a slice of the mess cook’s homemade sponge cake, appeared every afternoon, as did ‘Nyauri Muso’ the mess mongoose which was most partial to sharing my cake. The 2IC’s other main task was OC the depot duty company and it was nice to have a small number of serving soldiers to deal with, especially as several came from 7 and 10 GR. Late afternoons were usually

Brian O’Bree With Tulbahadur Pun VC at Paklihawa, 1975

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spent playing basketball with the depot’s GOs and SNCOs or with the men from the duty company; that or training with the depot football team. The football team did particularly well that year, as recorded in 1975 The Kukri: “Under the enthusiastic management of Brian O’Bree we have had a successful football season culminating in the winning for the first time the Lumbini Zone final before some six thousand spectators at Butwal.” Dr Rajouria patched up my knees frequently after games on the rough, stony, grassless pitches. The scars remain to this day. The other most memorable task in Paklihawa was to build a boat. As he departed, my predecessor, William Thackwell of the Gurkha Engineers, said “By the way, I’ve ordered a Mirror dinghy in kit form from UK and the marine paint and varnish for it from Calcutta. They should arrive soon.” Fortunately, the retired Gurkha Engineers of the carpentry section of the building resettlement wing came to my rescue. When the dinghy was ready, I arranged a ceremonial launch once the river had risen after the winter dryness. Despite considerable arm-twisting, there were no volunteers to join me in the dinghy. A group of curious onlookers gathered and off I set by myself – slap bang into the opposite bank. But I got the hang of it and tacked gently downstream for about 500 metres

The Brigade’s Own Rikki-Tikki-Tavi – ‘Nyauri muso’ waiting for cake on the bookcase in Brian’s sitting room

until I turned at the road bridge, otherwise I would be in India. The surprise on the faces of the dhoti-clad figures on the bridge, never ever having seen a boat nor sail before, made it all worth it. I count my year at Paklihawa as one of the most enjoyable of my Army career. The Paklihawa camp and farm is now used for an Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences.

BGC Pakli Lumbini Zone football champions 1973

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Chitwan Chitwan used to be the Royal Chitwan National Park where Nepal’s ruling family and their guests used to shoot tiger. But the Royal title was dropped in 1973 and it became a conservation area. To the east of Chitwan National Park is Parsa Wildlife Reserve and to the south is the Indian Tiger Reserve, Valmiki National Park. Together these three cover a 1,300 square mile block of alluvial grasslands and subtropical forest, protecting a huge variety of mammals and birds. Some Bengal Tigers still roam the forests and the area is home to one of the last populations on the single-horned Indian rhinoceros. Our first visit to Chitwan was to Tiger Tops as a 6 GRRA group after the first of our Pokhara Durbars in February of 2005. Jim Edwards, the owner, laid on a magnificent programme of elephant safaris, jungle walks, a visit to the elephant lines to learn about their care and an elephant polo tournament. The commitment to conservation and sustainability by the Tiger Mountain Group, of which Tiger Tops was a part, was very much in evidence. This ranged from all buildings being made from only local natural materials, growing and sourcing organic food locally, limiting generator time to produce electricity, encouraging minimum use of water by guests and so on. No tigers were seen but we saw several rhinos, a sloth bear, a variety of deer, wild boar and a myriad of small and large birds. My second visit to Chitwan and Tiger Tops was in November 2008 as the finale, with wives, of three men’s treks in Nepal, one in Bhutan followed by a gentler lodge trek north of Pokhara with wives who had flown out to join us. The groups comprised school and other friends. We elephant safaried, jungle walked, played elephant polo again and helped with bathing elephants in the river. Being post-monsoon meant the Rapti river was high so we were able to safari by boat to see the critically endangered gharial crocodiles. (Of which Phoebe Griffith writes elsewhere in this edition). Tiger Tops even laid on a birthday party for me and one of the wives, with our greetings cards being chalked onto an elephant!

Brian O’Bree, Gail Cornish, Jim Edwards and Ray Cornish, 11 November 2008

Jim Edwards had accepted Honorary membership of the Association at the end of the 2005 Tiger Tops visit. The photo above shows Jim, just after we had observed a minute’s silence on Remembrance Sunday, together with myself, Gail Cornish (step-daughter of General Jim Robertson) and her husband Ray, with whom I was at school. Very sadly, Jim died the following year. After 2012 the Nepalese government refused to continue licences for all hotels and resorts inside Chitwan National Park. Since then Tiger Tops has developed its Tharu Lodge on the west side of Narayani river, but is still able to offer safaris within the Park and at its Karnali Lodge, at Bardia National Park in the western Terai, near Nepalganj. Association members have visited both lodges, notably following both the 2013 and 2017 Durbars. Despite recent political problems concerning the disaffected Madheshi groups, the Terai remains popular with tourists, both for wildlife safaris and for religious tourism. Just to the west of Paklihawa, Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, according to Government statistics, had over 1.5 million visitors in 2017. Brian O’Bree

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MUZAFFARPUR JUNCTION

A TERAI TALE

he 1700 strong 1962 Galla was the largest post-war intake of recruits and replaced those who enlisted in 1947. There were five of us who were sent to Nepal to help recruit and subsequently train this Galla. Our merry band was Peter Duffel 2 GR, myself 6 GR, Richard Willis 7 GR, Mike St Martin 10 GR and Simon Rugg, Gurkha Engineers. First, the historical background to help explain the problems of entry into Nepal from the Terai: following the 1816 Sugauli Treaty, Nepal cut itself off from all foreign contact. It was only when King Tribhuvan died in 1955, and was succeeded by his cautious son King Mahendra, that Nepal started to open its borders. The Tribhuvan Highway, linking Kathmandu to Raxaul was only opened three years previously in 1957. The only other recognised entry points from the South were Kakarbhitta and Jogbani in the East, Nautanwa, and Nepalgunj in the centre and and Dhangadhi in the far West. In November 1962 I flew from Hong Kong to Calcutta and then took a taxi to my hotel in Chowringhee. Nothing prepares you for Chowringhee, the single most important and noisiest road in the metropolis of Calcutta. Apart from the endless hawkers about 1% of the people of Calcutta are born, live and die on the pavements. The buses also had several horns on the front and they use them all night to clear a path. After a sleepless night I made my way to the Transit Camp at Barrackpore, just north of Calcutta. Here I was told that I would be going to Nepal by train and bus with the official mail, and the blank ID discs for the new recruits. I had a soldier as my escort/guide. We would travel from Sealdah station and it would take “some days” as we had to change trains as well as crossing the Ganges. The only “good” news was that we would have a whole compartment to ourselves for the first leg to Murapur. The staff at Barrackpore had a difficult decision to

make, as in West Bengal you could not buy alcohol unless you were a registered alcoholic. However if you were a registered alcoholic you could not apply for a driving licence. A colleague, Richard Caldecott, who ended up as the Adjutant for two years, chose to drive, and the QM became the registered alcoholic. Sealdah station is one of the major railway stations of Calcutta and is permanently crowded as many families live (and die) on the platforms. We turned up early to claim our compartment only to discover it was full of Sikh gentlemen. However, I did notice a torn reservation slip on the track under the train with my name on it. I took this to the Station Master and asked him what he was going to do? He said, “Wait here Sahib, I will sort it out.” I then watched as he threw the six Sikhs on to the platform and waved us forward to occupy our compartment. We got in and promptly closed all three parts of the windows: glass, wooden slats, and metal mosquito screen. Just as well as there were numerous attempts to get in as there were many passengers on top and on the sides. The first part was to Murapur, which took all night and most of the morning, where we had to get off the train and cross the Ganges by boat. We then caught another two trains to Raxaul. To get food we had to order at a stop and then take delivery at the next one, as there were no corridors. It seemed to take forever but we eventually arrived at Raxaul. From Raxaul we took a cycle rickshaw to cross the border into Nepal and thence a bus from Birgunj. This took about 12 hours with stops so I was very glad when we eventually arrived in Kathmandu, and were met by the Chief Clerk from the Embassy who put me in a hotel for the night. I cannot remember the name of the hotel but it had an enormous Victorian bathroom although not much hot water. The nearest airport to Paklihawa is Bhairawa, now called Gautam Buddha Airport. I duly caught my flight

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which was an old DC-3 Dakota. Little did I know that the RNAC was only established in July 1958 with just the one DC-3; maybe this was it? The pilot I remember was an ex-Indian Air force pilot who smoked endless cigars! I was met by a Land Rover at the airport and taken to the camp where I met the Recruiting Officer, Lt Col Alistair Langlands, 2 GR. Paklihawa was a mainly tented camp by the river Gandaki. It was also near Nautanwa, the main entry point to Nepal from Gorakhpur. It was in Gorakhpur in 1886 that the first batch of 788 recruits was selected for service in the Indian Army, and The Gorkha Recruiting Depot (GRD) at Kunraghat is still the oldest establishment of its kind in the Indian Army. When the Indian government imposed a ban on recruitment on Indian soil, the British government entered into an agreement with Nepal in July 1953. This agreement, which permitted the British to open

recruiting depots at Dharan and Paklihawa, was subject to renewal every five years. In 1958, this agreement was extended for another ten years. Whilst in Paklihawa I took the opportunity to have a look around the local area and was astonished to come across the birthplace of no less than Buddha. As I discovered later according to Buddhist tradition, Queen Maya Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BC. Gautama, who achieved Enlightenment some time around 528 BC became the Buddha and founded Buddhism. There was very little to mark the spot then but now it is a UNESCO World Heritage site with many pilgrims from all over the world. Although we did half of the recruiting at Paklihawa we had to send the â&#x20AC;&#x153;passesâ&#x20AC;? to Dharan, as there was no x-ray machine in Paklihawa so they went to Nautanwa, the nearest railway station across the India-Nepal border, and then by train to Jogbani. After two or three days they arrived at Jogbani and were

Muzaffarpur Junction

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taken up to the Dharan camp for recruiting proper. However, as there was some time before recruiting started, Alistair Langlands gave the five British officers various tasks. The late Richard Willis, for example, had to run a course for the new recruits on how to use the loo and shower. He was very thorough, and after the standard lecture with slides, he had to have a practical demonstration. This was complete with instructions on how to use and dispose of the, very shiny, loo paper. Regrettably, it had little effect on the showers as the recruits either removed the showerheads or bathed under a tap. The C in C Farelf used to fly up to Nepal once a year to visit the L of C. In his plane were much needed medical supplies and booze for the various Messes. This year however the plane had to return after his visit to Dharan. A one-ton truck was therefore sent by road to

Paklihawa with their share of the supplies. Driving across the Terai was not an option in those days so you had to go via India. Unfortunately the truck broke down and ended up at a place called Muzaffarpur Junction in Bihar. My task was to take a larger three-ton truck to Muzaffarpur, unload the cargo, put the one-ton truck on a train back to Jogbani, and then drive on to Paklihawa. Apart from two drivers I was given a wad of Indian Rupees to carry out this task. Quite a challenge for a 22 year old!!! It took a couple of days to reach Muzaffarpur Junction. The roads were a bit rugged to say the least, and it was not surprising that the other truck had broken its axle. It took some time to find the broken down truck and the driver, but we quickly transferred the load. There was quite a lot of booze so we had little choice but to sleep in the back of the truck.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;There were numerous attempts to get in as there were many passengers on top and on the sides.â&#x20AC;?

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I then went to see the Station Master and told him I wished to send the one-ton truck back to Jogbani. He was somewhat taken aback and said this would take some time and meanwhile where was I staying? I said we would sleep in the back of the truck as we had bought sleeping bags etc. but would be grateful for his advice on food? He said he would make the station vegetarian restaurant mine alone, and we could order food as required. The shower and loo would also be reserved for us. I thanked him and went to meet the cook. He did not seem to have many customers so he agreed to not only do the shopping, but also cook our meals. We than agreed a budget. I cannot remember how much but it seemed very reasonable. The loo also had a most welcome shower! So back to the problem, which was that the Station Master did not have a suitable flatbed wagon. He told me this would have to come from Gorakhpur and would take some time. I would therefore have to wait. Next day I wandered around the station complex and in one of the sidings I found what looked like a perfectly good flatbed truck. So back to the Station Master. His next excuse was that he did not have a suitable engine to shunt the wagon to the loading bay, which was a few tracks over from the flatbed. My driver then suggested we could hand shunt the flatbed to the right place; he said he could hire the required number of labourers from the town. I was a bit sceptical but as it would not cost much we decided we would give it a go the next day. Early the next day, after my breakfast of spicy omelette, toast and tea off we went, and to cut a long story shot we did indeed manage to hand shunt the flatbed to the right place. My team was about twenty labourers ably led by the three drivers. It took most of the day as we first, had to extract the wagon from a train of about ten carriages, second move it about four railway lines to one side, and finally line it up with the loading bay. We retired to bed quite late, and next morning I went to meet the Station Master. He initially did not believe me when I said I had “noticed” a flatbed wagon by the loading bay and could I have it. When he saw it he knew the game was up but I was then up against Indian Railway Bureaucracy.

The Station Master insisted I start from the beginning and write a letter asking for the truck to be sent to Jogbani. This went on until he had a complete file and this took most of the day. By now I had spent the best part of a week at Muzaffarpur Junction, but we finally agreed a price and the next day we would load the truck onto the flatbed. Before we loaded, we removed anything that could be stolen like wing mirrors and windscreen wipers and then drove on to the flatbed. This went OK but when we went under the loading gauge to make sure it could go through the various tunnels we had a problem. It was a few inches too high!! It did not take me long to work it out and I suggested we let down the tires. This had the desired effect and we passed. I then managed to get a message through to Dharan that the truck was on the way, and I would drive on to Paklihawa. I have no idea what route we took but we had to cross the Ganges by ferry, and a few days later arrived at Gorakhpur where we parked in the station car park for the night. I had a bite to eat at the station and settled down for the night in the back of the truck. After about ten minutes someone started hammering on the back of the truck and shouting “Sahib, Sahib”. I looked outside and discovered that there were some taxi drivers who were ex – soldiers in 6 GR. They had found out I was from 6 GR from our driver. I had no option but to go and have a drink (or two). Much later I returned and slept very well. Next morning we left early and later that day arrived in Paklihawa. We had a “slight” problem at the border with Nepal and had to bribe our way through. This was combination of rupees and beer. I then returned to Dharan, and was asked, “Why did it take so long?” I cannot remember my reply!! I subsequently had to account for every penny spent, including the hand shunting and the bribes. No doubt the paymaster had to use some creative accounting to explain these “miscellaneous expenses”! Paul Pettigrew

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‘CROCODILE BAHINI’

SAVING NEPAL’S GHARIAL

rocodiles are probably not the animal that usually springs to mind when considering great parenting in the animal kingdom. However, crocodilians – from American Alligators to Saltwater Crocodiles – are very good at protecting their vulnerable young from a whole array of predators. An adult crocodilian may be a formidable predator, but a baby croc is a snack for pretty much anything that’s hungry... fish, storks, jackals or kites. When in the Terai of Nepal you may see two species of crocodilians: the mugger crocodile and the evolutionary oddity that is the gharial. With their long snouts for catching fish, and the ‘ghara’ (the strange cartilaginous protuberance on the end of the male gharial’s jaw, named from the Hindi word for a pot) they are peculiar looking animals. The gharial is a particularly unique species, as evidenced by its bizarre appearance. The Zoological Society of London’s Evolutionary Distinct and Global Endangered (EDGE) programme ranks species according to both how threatened they are with extinction, but also how unique they are on the ‘tree of life’. The gharial is ranked 16th among all reptiles: it represents a whole branch of evolutionary history. Though gharial-like ‘Crocodile Bahini” – Phoebe Griffith conducting radio telemetry of gharial in Chitwan, 2018

species were once plentiful across much of the world, the gharial and “Sunda Gharial” (also called the False Gharial, found in South East Asia) are the last living representatives of this family, and diverged from other crocodile species 40 million years ago, and from each other 20 million years ago: to give you some idea of evolutionary timescale, that’s around the same time that apes were starting to diverge from other primates. As well as their odd look, gharial display fascinating behaviour. To return to my initial consideration, they’re great parents. ‘Parents’ is perhaps a misleading term, a crèche of hatchlings is guarded by a single male and multiple females, but that male may not be dad (for many reasons, he may have yet to breed, or females may have mated with another male but laid their eggs with him). Gharial nest communally, multiple nests are laid by different females at a nest-site in a high sand-bank. Once the eggs hatch, the hatchlings stay together in the shallows in a crèche where they’re guarded by the adults from hungry predators. This photo (Opposite, taken by gharial expert Pankaj Kumar) shows a male gharial with his tiny charges resting on his head. Eventually, once the monsoon is really underway, the parents leave to go to good feeding areas and the hatchlings disperse. During crèche guarding, hatchlings and adults are in regular vocal communication, which brings me onto the second fascinating gharial behaviour: adult male gharial are rather noisy. They hiss and, uniquely among

Photo: Pankaj Kumar, Gharial Ecology Project, Madras Crocodile Trust, Tamil Nadu, India

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Male gharial with young on its head

crocodilians, make a loud noise called a “pop”: it’s hard to describe the noise, but it’s something like a champagne bottle being uncorked, and incredibly loud. How exactly this noise is made is not altogether understood, but gharial researcher Jailabdeen Ajji thinks that the ‘ghara’ is part of the mystery. Males without the ghara don’t seem to pop. Females and hatchlings also don’t pop, though they do communicate more quietly with clicks and squeaks. Popping has many uses, among which are fighting and flirting. Popping forms part of the gharial’s courtship display as he tries to win over females, and is also part of the warning system males use to try and keep other males off their girls. Male gharial defend certain river-stretches during breeding season, and will aggressively see off any competitors. If a pop doesn’t work, males will ‘surf’ and body-slam each other in an attempt to gain dominance. If this fails they engage in direct combat, sometimes called ‘fencing’ due to the apparent duelling of the two males with their snouts, although this is all just part of the wrestling match,

with one male attempting to mount the other to show dominance. Their jagged teeth, evolved to hold onto slippery fish, grate skin and a post-battle gharial certainly looks like he’s been in the wars. Something people often underestimate about gharial is just how big they can get. A large male can reach over six metres, and historical reports from India suggest that when the gharial was once plentiful there were specimens of twenty-five feet! Despite this phenomenal size, gharial almost exclusively eat fish (and crunch the occasional turtle). The gharial is Critically Endangered (considered to be at an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild). Currently the species is found in just fourteen scattered locations in the Ganges drainage, of which only one is a self-sustaining population: on the Chambal River in India, previous stronghold of Phoolan Devi the ‘bandit queen’. Almost all we know about gharial ecology and behaviour comes from studies on the species carried out by the Gharial

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Gharial shot on the Indus, 1931

Ecology Project on the Chambal. In Nepal, there are two small populations in the Rapti and Narayani rivers of Chitwan National Park, and Babai and Karnali Rivers of Bardia National Park. There is some limited breeding occurring in Chitwan, and unfortunately no recent reports of nests in Bardia.

species today. Since this time, the captive-rearing programme has released over 1,200 captive-reared gharial into Nepalese rivers. Despite these efforts the current gharial population in Nepal is less than 100 adult animals, of which the vast majority are found in Chitwan.

In Nepal, gharial numbers had fallen worrying low by the 1970s, due to direct exploitation and habitat modification, in particular the building of barrages on the Indo-Nepal border. The Gharial Conservation Breeding Centre in Chitwan was established in response, in 1978, and has been the focus of conservation efforts on the species in Nepal ever since. The famous Nepalese conservationist, the late Dr. Tirtha Man Maskey, conducted his PhD on Nepalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s early gharial conservation efforts in the 1980s, giving the baseline of information we know about the

I am currently conducting research into the conservation of gharial in Nepal, focussing on Chitwan. Using radio telemetry, we hope to understand what is happening to the gharial released from the conservation centre. Last November, we captured five resident gharial from the Rapti river to initiate telemetry work: these and future animals captured in the river will provide useful comparison data for released animals. Over a decade of telemetry work by the fantastic Gharial Ecology Project on the Chambal River in India has shown adult gharial

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to engage in seasonal migratory movements of over 200 km, whereas sub-adult animals are much more sedentary. We hope to know within the next few years how similar Nepalese gharial movement patterns are. Through conducting local ecological knowledge surveys we also aim to tap into the body of knowledge held by river-user communities, especially the Bote and Mahji, to inform future conservation efforts.

ex-2 GR), vividly depicts in his memoirs “handbag hunting” for gharial in the Beas river in the 1920s, and one of his wonderfully evocative illustrations from such a hunt is reproduced here. Hunting wasn’t limited to India. In photo documentation of the spectacular and gruesome large-scale hunting trips carried out by the Ranas in Chitwan during the 20th century, the skins of gharial can often be spotted along with those of tigers, Historically, the gharial leopards and rhino. occurred in the Indus, However, it seems Ganges, Mahanadi and that the declines of Brahmaputra-Meghna gharial to their current drainage, in many critical state, and their places occurring in extinction in all but large numbers. The the Ganges drainage, first currently known was most likely due to record of a gharial habitat modification, is from the Harrapan in particular the Civilisation in 3000 BC: building of dams, “Handbag Hunting” on the Beas River what is clearly a gharial barrages and irrigation eating a fish is depicted on Indus seals. They were projects that massively alter the river environment hunted throughout their range for sport and skin, as they so rely on. As pressure for freshwater resources reported in many documents and tales from British inevitably increases, the fate of gharial into the future India. In 1895 there is a record of Sir Edward Braddon remains uncertain. standing on the bridge of a boat and firing at 20-30 gharial within an hour. He wrote “always I had to take Phoebe Griffith them as they rose out of the depths, and when they presented only their heads as targets. Over and over Phoebe Griffith is conducting DPhil research on the again I have seen them sink in response to my shot, gharial, focussing on the Chitwan population in Nepal. and the clear water of the river incarnadined by what She would be very grateful for any family/historical might well have been their life’s blood.” Lieutenant evidence of or stories about crocodilians in both Nepal Colonel VC Leckie DSO of the Royal Army Veterinary and India and can be contacted via phoebe.griffith@ Corps (grandfather of Maj (Retd) David Thomas MBE zoo.ox.ac.uk

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FROM TERAI TO PAHAR OPERATION KHANA CASCADE 25 February-1 April 1973

Background The start of the 1970’s had been cruel years for the hill people of Nepal. The torrential rain and hail that had destroyed the harvest in 1971 were followed by drought in 1972, which further reduced the food stocks, so that when heavy rain and hail again depleted the harvest in early 1973 a state of near famine ensued, described on Pathe News as the worst food crisis in Nepal’s history. The initial reaction of the Government of Nepal was to try to supply the region by mule, but it was soon realized that this was totally impractical; over 2,500 tons of food was required to meet both the immediate need and to re-build a reserve after three consecutive crop failures. The only means of bulk delivery into the mountains on this scale was by air, but the Nepalese Army Air Wing did not have the resources to cope alone, so a request for support was made to Her Majesty’s Government in London.

Additional personnel from the RAF United Kingdom Mobile Air Movement Squadron (UKMAMS) at RAF Abingdon, and Nos 14, 47 and 55 Air Dispatch Sqns, RCT, based at RAF Lyneham and Thorney Island, were also put on immediate readiness to move.

Deployment On 23 February, four C-130’s under the command of Wing Commander Mike Hardy, CO 24 Squadron, departed from RAF Lyneham for Nepal, routeing via RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and RAF Masirah in Oman. The first aircraft touched down at Bhairawa, in the west of Nepal near the border with India, at 1330 hrs on 25 February. On board were six personnel from RAF UKMAMS, led by Flight Lieutenant Keyworth, whose first job was to recce the airstrip and establish what facilities were available to receive and support the incoming detachment. As might have been expected, they found very little. There was no specialist load handling equipment, and all loading and unloading would have to be done by hand or using whatever could be pressed into action; a Land Rover, and some fire extinguisher trollies and a set of aircraft steps that could be stacked with boxes of compo! Happily, 40 personnel from the Singanath Battalion of the Royal Nepalese Army had pitched a tented camp, and by the evening, when the remaining aircraft arrived, 50% of the camp had electric lighting. As recorded in the UKMAMS diary, the day was considered a success and, in typical RAF fashion, was finished off with a few beers (6p a tin). Unfortunately for them, they drank the entire ration dry!

The request for help was received positively, and in late February the MOD tasked the RAF to provide support to move 2,000 tons of food from forward bases in Nepal into the affected areas, the biggest airlift since Berlin in 1948, and it needed to be done before the monsoon arrived in May! Fortunately, in 1973, the RAF were well prepared to meet such a short notice task as 46 Group, whose motto “Alis Alios Alo” (“With My Wings I Feed Others”) was particularly apt, contained the United Kingdom Joint Airborne Task Force (UKJATFOR), a specialist air drop organization trained to operate into and out of austere and mountainous terrain. 46 Group immediately tasked 24 Squadron, (one of the Squadrons assigned Planning to UKJATFOR) based at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, The main planning consideration was the anticipated and equipped with the latest C-130 Hercules transport arrival of the summer monsoon at the start of May aircraft, to prepare for an immediate deployment. that would make low level flying impossible. This

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A Hercules from 24 Squadron RAF over the Middle Hills of West Nepal

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RAF and RCT Ground Staff at Bhairawa Airport

reflected in the warnings published in the air traffic meant that the RAF had only 60 days to move the NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen): “Caution; Mountainous target of 1,850 tons, a figure that would have been Terrain. Ground rises to 9,000 ft North and East of easily achievable in the UK with all of the assets available to prepare and load the freight, and also the Kathmandu. Terrain on approach to Jumla – 20,000 ft.” use of a 9,000 ft. long runway. Instead, all preparation and loading of the one-ton pallets (made up of bags Operations of maize and rice, each weighing 87 lbs) would have By the end of the first week, sufficient bales of bags to be done by hand, slowing the process considerably, and parachutes had arrived at Bhairawa to begin and the runway at Bhairawa was only 3,310 ft. long, operations, and the only set back had been caused severely limiting the maximum take off weight by one aircraft overrunning the end of the runway achievable by the Hercules. Unless a suitable airstrip during a familiarization flight, fortunately without was available for landing in the affected areas, the suffering any serious damage. On 8 March, one principal method of delivery would be low-level drop aircraft was deployed to an airstrip at Biratnager from 50 ft. (which despite the seeming risk resulted in East Nepal, from where it would deliver 200 in less than 2% of the sacks bursting) or, in the tons of supplies prepositioned there. This task was most inaccessible areas (Jumla and Dhorpatan), by completed by 15 March, and the aircraft returned to parachute drop from 700 ft. The inherent challenges Bhairawa to join the main effort, although it returned of operating in such a demanding environment were with a large rip in the rear ramp from a low level

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At Bhairawa Airport in the Nepal Terai

delivery. The tempo for the rest the operation, and the mood of the detachment, is best described by extracts from the UKMAMS diary, written by Flight Lieutenant Keyworth: “Monday 19 March: Loaded 4 aircraft for Air Landing task – 4th did not go. Wg Cdr’s pep talk – aiming to put out 100 tons per day. A ration of ‘Tiger Beer’ arrived from the Ghurka camp – a most thoughtful loan.” “Thursday 22 March: Long day. 38,000lb payload at a time. Beer rationed to one can a miserable night!” “Monday 26 March: Beer arrived. Blue trolley performing to usual high standard. No decision on recovery date. Wg Cdr’s brief, possibility of further 5 day stay – sense of humour failure. Air Landing of maize at Sickhet (sic) continues.” “Saturday 31 March: Withdrawal begins. Camp getting smaller by the day.”

An air drop of food from the back of a Hercules

“Wednesday 11 April: Flights 4914 and 4915 depart – we’re going home.”

Conclusion The final air drop sortie was flown on 30 March and, while recovery began the next day, it would take two weeks to close down the airfield at Bhairawa and get all personnel and aircraft back to RAF Lyneham. OP KHANA CASCADE had been a huge success. Despite the seeming fixation on delivery of the beer ration, the RAF Detachment from 24 Sqn and UKMAMS, supported by the RCT Air Dispatch Sqns, had achieved a remarkable feat; they had actually delivered 100 tons of food more than had been planned, and done so in half of the time allocated. In so doing, they had alleviated the worst of the suffering for the people in the hill villages, and saved countless lives. Perhaps as importantly, the efforts of this small detachment made a massive contribution to reinforcing the special relationship between the peoples of Nepal and Britain. Flt Lt Yogi Chafer

“Tuesday 3 April: Chalks 6 and 7 arrive – more beer at last! This time enough to last the Det for a week. Pity 90% have gone home! New issue KD is rubbish – buttons and seams parting.”

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SOME 6 GR MOUNTAINEERS THE POST SECOND WORLD WAR YEARS

Major George Lorimer ajor George Lorimer who joined 6 GR from 4 GR is the only person in the Regiment that I am aware of to enjoy climbing over this period. He was a great friend of Jimmy Roberts 2 GR, having served with him in the wartime Gurkha Parachute Regiment. Their first adventure was a 3-month trip to the Eastern Karakorum, hoping to climb Saser Kangri at 25,133 feet, but sadly without success. In 1954 they did a second expedition together, this time to the Dhaulagiri Himal and finally chose Putha Hiunchuli 23,750feet as their objective. It was in many ways a reconnaissance and a real adventure and included a 28 day walk in from Butwal to their first climbing base of Mukut Gaon. They were accompanied by three sherpas, Ang Nyima, Lhakpa Tensing and Pemba Norbu, plus Rifleman Hastabahadur Ale from 2/6 GR. From a base camp above Mukut at 16,000 feet they had wonderful views of the north-east face of Dhaulagiri II with its 8,000 feet of near vertical fluted ice. After some acclimatisation climbing hampered by late snowfalls they set off for Putha Hiunchuli and by 7 November, after a difficult walk in, had established a camp at 17,500 feet. Supplies were short so Pemba and Hastabahadur were sent back to the village, while the remaining four pressed on. By 10 November they had established Camp III at 21,500 feet at the foot of the steep, sloping north-east face. The following day they cramponed up the hard snow and ice in very cold and windy conditions. Sadly, George, who was the only climber without insulated boots had to turn back 500 feet below the summit with frozen feet. Jimmy and Ang Nyima carried on, reaching the summit at 13.30. This was the highest point reached by Jimmy Roberts at that stage. The recovery to Mukut went well and by 10 December they were flying out of Pokhara.

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George Lorimer on trek in Nepal in the 1950â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

George Lorimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last expedition was the successful Joint Services Expedition to Annapurna II in 1960, again led by Jimmy Roberts but this time including Lt Chris Bonington, Royal Tank Regiment. They left Kathmandu on foot on 28 February and made their acclimatisation camp at 11,000 feet by mid March. On 13 April they trekked to the mountain and after a Base Camp at 14,500 feet had a long carry to Camp 1 at 17,600 feet. Bonington and Dick Grant, a Royal Marine, plus several Sherpas formed the advance party with the remainder carrying loads. They were severely hampered by daily snowfalls and on 30 April Roberts called everyone off the mountain for a break. They returned to the assault on 7 May with Lorimer in a supporting role. On 11 May Camp 3 was

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re-occupied and the summit reached on 17 May by Grant, Bonington and LCpl Ang Nyima Sherpa, 10 GR. Interestingly, Ang Nyima had been a Sherpa on the 1953 Everest Expedition and it is suspected on the 1954 Putha Hiunchuli expedition, before joining 10 GR as a Mess Waiter.

became a full member of the climbing team and was involved in the dramatic events at 7,800 metres when the whole team were trapped for 10 days and then carried out the most heroic of rescues that has become part of mountaineering folklore as “a symbol of everything that is good in mountaineering.”

Lt Col Tony Streather

In 1955 he was on the expedition that climbed Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world for the first time. He, with Norman Hardie, were the second summit team. He led the Oxford University team to Haramosh in the Karakorum in 1957 and led the most desperate of rescues to recover two fallen climbers, seriously risking his own life in the process. Then in 1976 Tony Streather was asked to lead the long awaited British/Nepal Army Expedition to Everest as the experienced “safe pair of hands” after the tragic events of the work up expedition to Nuptse. This was a very successful expedition, which put two climbers on the summit under difficult conditions.

Although Lt Col Tony Streather principally served in the Gloucester Regiment he was seconded to 1/6 GR from 1965–66. Sadly he died in October 2018 and a full account of his climbing exploits are included in his obituary in this Journal. In summary though, he was arguably the most successful post-war army mountaineer. He was on the first ascent of Tirich Mir at 7,710 metres the highest peak of the Hindu Kush, even though he had joined the Norwegian expedition as Transport Officer. He then joined the 1953 American Expedition to K2, the second highest mountain in the world and technically much more difficult than Everest and again, though appointed as Logistics Officer, he

Duncan Briggs

Tony Streather (centre) with Norman Hardie and George Band, probably Kanchenjunga reunion, Kathmandu 1990s

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A JOURNEY ON THE CAMINO FRANCES

BUT ALSO ELSEWHERE n the 2016 Regimental Journal, in an article on my sixth and final Trailwalker, I intimated that I would no longer take on such challenging crosscountry treks. I fear that I have failed.

In May/June 2018, in my 73rd year, I could not resist walking the 800 km Camino Frances, from St Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain. The Camino – or The Way – is one of the many ancient pilgrimage routes to the city, where for over a thousand years people have walked from all over Europe to the Cathedral to pay homage at the burial place of St James. It is said that “The signposts will lead you to Santiago, but only your heart will lead you to The Way.” Modern pilgrims (but not me, or so I thought) choose to walk The Way for a variety of reasons – for tourism, adventure, challenge, or religious reasons, but ultimately most discover that this is not just a long walk but a journey into the depths of the mind and soul. It is lonely, hard, and physically demanding but it forces one to slow down, and it provides time to reflect on life, the past and the future. I was flattered that my sons Tom and Guy felt that I should be escorted from France and over the

Pyrenees, and I was staggered when, on the evening of our first day walking, my eldest son Luke appeared, having flown from California to join us. The three days we all spent together were a wonderful and defining moment of my journey, but once we reached Pamplona they all had to return home. Bereft, I walked on. My first night in a Pilgrim Hostel, or Auberge, was a good precursor for what was to follow. Only 10 euros a night including three-course meal (cheaper that the hotels Tom had insisted we stay in!), bunk beds, mixed dormitories, simple food and to bed early. I had timed my walk perfectly. The countryside was awash with flowers and the weather was perfect, with the occasional rainstorm to keep one alert. Routine was quickly established; start walking at about 0630 daily, with stops for coffee/fresh orange juice/snacks, and then aim to find a bed-space from 1500hrs onwards – any later and everything might be occupied. Priorities were then a shower, dhobi and food – pilgrim meals were very cheap and simple but always accompanied by endless red wine – Rioja of course! Once in bed, an eye-mask and ear-plugs were essential to drown out the snores and rumblings of dozens of people crammed into one room. On one

The long road to Santiago

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FRANCE Santander

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

ST JEAN PIED DE PORT Bilbao

O’Cebreiro

León

Pamplona Burgos

P O RTU G A L

Logroña

SPAIN

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“There are always flowers for those who look for them” – Matisse

rain-sodden day, together with three Australians, we had to walk an extra four miles, and through three villages, before we found accommodation: appropriately enough, it was in a stable. The route was mostly across the plains, but with many days of hilly walking and some wonderous days through thick forest. The first day in a forest I thought there was a swarm of bees nearby, only to realise that it was the noise of insect life which we no longer seem to have. I met an incredible diversity of people. Special friendships were made, for we all met as equals – just pilgrims – and are unlikely ever to meet again: we shared happiness, hardship, stories, fears and occasionally tears. And I will miss them all. Most of the time I walked alone, but occasionally travelled a few hours with friends. For the last ten days I walked with a constantly changed group of three to four special friends, and even then we walked separately, anything from a hundred yards to half a mile apart. There were some huge groups, which stayed together throughout: South Koreans, who walked while saying their rosaries, a large group of

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Agnes, Agatha, Norbert and John with statue of a Pilgrim at La Faba, Leon

crazy Italians who insisted I join them in singing Lucio Dalla songs, invariably ‘Tu non mi basti mai’ and, sadly, for the last one hundred kms, large tour parties staying in smart hotels with their luggage being carried for them and often only walking a few hours day: rather uncharitably, we christened them “tourgrims”.

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Perhaps a typical day might convey what it was like. On 10 June seven of us (Agatha, Agnes, both Polish, and Norbert, German, and three young American University students: Stephanie, Katy and Kaya) set off from Villafranca in the rain at about 0630, aiming to do two days walk at one go. The students wisely decided to stop after 20 kms but the rest of us pushed on. We could not understand why horses were for hire when we reached Ruitelain but found the answer as we scrambled up a muddy track in thick forest, climbing over 700m in nine kms. Norbert sagely decided to stop halfway up the hill at La Faba but the girls and I pushed on to O’Cebreiro, where we found ourselves crammed into a dormitory with 85 bunks. The girls went to Mass while I stumbled into the local bar to meet with a Canadian Pole, Voyzeck, and Pierre, a French lawyer: we solved most of the world’s problems over wine. My sitreps on my progress drew some interesting comments; for John Cross, my emotional experiences mirrored what he had felt on his many treks, and Jack Keen’s pilgrimage from UK to Rome in the Papal-declared Holy Year of 1950, when he was 16, left mine in the dust – although he did do it by bicycle! Rick Bevan’s lovely article in 2013 makes the point that pilgrimages in India are very much a part of everyday life there: some 130 million people are expected to partake in the 2019 Kumbh Mela. I did not meet one person – and I met many – who was not profoundly affected by the Way. It hit me in ways that I could never have imagined, and I am not afraid to say that, like many others, I arrived at the Cathedral in Santiago in tears, saddened that it was over, relieved that I had made it, grateful for what I had learnt about myself. And others. And if that does not sound like the John Anderson you know, you are right. John Anderson

Afternote: It seems we pay for most enjoyable experiences. I now need to have a hip replacement, although the consultant seemed a bit nonplused when I told him I needed it done so that I could go walking.

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BOOK REVIEWS THE SNOW LEOPARD

Peter Matthiessen, The Folio Society n 2018 The Folio Society published a special edition of one of the best travel books on Nepal; one that is acknowledged as one of the finest travelogues written.

The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen is the account of a journey by the author, aged 46, with the naturalist George Schaller, in 1973, to the then little known trans-Himalayan region of Dolpo to study the Himalayan blue sheep. Blue sheep are the main prey of the snow leopard, which becomes a corollary of the expedition; whilst George Schaller studies the blue sheep his invited companion, a Zen Buddhist, is on a pilgrimage in search of “the secret of existence”, something that is as elusive as the snow leopard of his title. And so the journey starts with one of my favourite sentences in travel literature, that conveys all the excitement and tension at the start of any trek in Nepal: “At sunrise the small expedition meets beneath a giant fig beyond Pokhara – two white sahibs, four sherpas, fourteen porters.” The cover of the beautiful Folio Society edition depicts a snowstorm in the lunar mountainscape of the high Himalaya. Some blue sheep are grazing within the title; you have to turn the book over to see the snow leopard slinking along a ridgeline on the back cover, as evanescent as it was on the trek itself. Matthiessen never saw a snow leopard. The Folio Society edition contains an introduction written by the author’s son, Alex Matthiessen, and a number of photographs taken by George Schaller during the expedition. This is interesting because

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the eight-year old Alex features prominently in The Snow Leopard as Matthiessen grapples with the guilt of having left him behind in America. The guilt is compounded by the fact that Alex’s mother (D. in The Snow Leopard) had died of cancer the year before. The boy had only let his father go to Nepal if he promised that he would be back for Thanksgiving, a promise that Matthiessen was unable to keep. Rereading The Snow Leopard I realize that it is a really a pilgrimage in search of truth, the snow leopard transmuting into a Himalayan holy grail, whose very evasiveness mirrors the author’s search for spiritual enlightenment. Below the high Zen ridges on which the snow leopard lives is the moraine of everyday life: the love affairs, estranged marriages, leftbehind sons, a father’s guilt at missing Thanksgiving. I now have three copies of The Snow Leopard. The Folio Society edition, the first American edition published by The Viking Press and a Bantam paperback that I purchased in a bookshop in Lakeside, Pokhara. It had already been on a journey before I brought it as it has a stamp inside inscribed ‘The Lhasa Bookshop, Thamel, Rs. 130, on Returned (sic) 50% Back’. My paperback has my name inscribed on the inside cover in neat letters ‘Capt R. Beven, Jumla-Rara Tal, February 1993’. There is also a poem that I wrote in biro, in a tent pitched on snow the other side of Danphe Pass, on the first night stop from Jumla. But that was another story. Rick Beven

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ESSAYS ON NEPAL, PAST AND PRESENT General Sir Sam Cowan, Himal Books, Kathmandu 2018

rom his first incarnation as a subaltern at the Gurkha Depot in Sungei Patani, Malaya, to four star general and the poisoned chalice of Defence Procurement, Sam Cowan’s life has been one long love affair with Nepal and its people. Accompanied by Anne, a true soldier’s wife, he has trekked throughout the country, from East to West, and knows its terrain better than many an officer of the Permanent Cadre. As Colonel of his regiment, Queen’s Gurkha Signals, he was a steadying influence in the Council of Colonels injecting much needed common sense into the occasional parochial blinkerdom of some of the infantry. The so-called ‘Options for Change’ whereby the British government reverted to its long standing custom of toadying to its enemies and betraying its friends, reduced the army by 18% but the Brigade of Gurkhas by 70%. The Brigade having been saved from complete disbandment by John Chapple as CGS and Peter Duffell as Commander British Forces Hong Kong, it fell to Sam Cowan, as the first Colonel Commandant, to steer the Brigade from what was effectively an imperial gendarmerie, focussed on the Far East, to becoming an integral and much valued asset of the wider army. This involved much delicate negotiation

to resolve myriad issues of terms and conditions of service, pay and pensions, the status of Gurkha Officers, family permission, leave, quartering and much more besides. The Brigade owes a huge debt to Sam Cowan, and that the Brigade is once more expanding is very much due to the foundations that he laid. This superb book is a collection of essays, papers and reports penned during and post his service, but published afterwards in various journals and newspapers on and off line. The breadth of subjects covered is enormous, ranging from descriptions of treks in remote parts of a remote country (although not the one on which atrocious weather confined him to a sheepfold and incommunicado, thus unable to profit from his horse back in England winning its race at 33/1), through descriptions of the Maoist insurgency, to the Chinese treatment of Indian Gurkha prisoners of war captured in the Sino Indian war of 1962, to civil military relations in the aftermath of the recent earthquake and examinations of cross border actions by the Chinese army. As a lover of Nepal a lesser author might have been tempted to avoid the murkier aspects of the country, but Sam Cowan is unflinching in his criticisms of the failure by democratic forces to control the army and pulls no punches in his exposé of corruption in, amongst other

Doc McKerr

Phoksundo Lake, Dolpo

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institutions, the administration of Nepali football. Those who are familiar with Sam Cowan will know that he is not a man to take no for an answer, and of particular interest is his battle with the apparatchiks of the Foreign Office to obtain an unredacted copy of a file dealing with Khampa guerrilla operations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it is probably needless to say that despite all sorts of bureaucratic objections put in his way Sam won out and got his file.

Gordon Corrigan

Photo: Rick Beven

Well and lucidly written, even the most knowledgeable can learn something about Nepal

that he did not know (this reviewer certainly did) and it is strongly recommended for any diplomat or NGO operative posted to Nepal and for all officers of the Brigade. While one is surprised that it has not been picked up by a major British publisher, but has been published in Nepal, the quality of paper and the printing is much better than many publications emanating from Kathmandu. An excellent book and a cracking good read.

Tamang women performing traditional dance at the annual Janai Purnima festival, Gosaikunda Lake, Langtang National Park, Rasuwa District, 2005

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MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 6TH QUEEN ELIZABETH’S OWN GURKHA RIFLES Saturday 3 November 2018 Present:

2. Aus and Jaus

The President, The Chairman, Members of the Committee and 17 Members and their guests

NEW MEMBERS SINCE AGM OF JUNE 2017:

1. Chairman’s Opening Remarks The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and stated that this was a trial; having the AGM and Reunion Lunch after the Book Remembrance in Winchester Cathedral. He gave a special welcome to Donald Ruffell (Hugh Wallace’s brother-in-law) and sons Neil and Alastair, Neil’s wife Clare and their elder son Thomas, and Alastair’s daughter Louise Dunn, three generations of Ruffells. He stated that with approximately 50 attending lunch, it was the best turnout for a while and he hoped that the new format would encourage more members to attend. He asked that if members enjoyed the day, to pass on the message to others. He continued to say that there were seven sons/ daughters of 6 GRRA Members, including Major Khusiman and five successive Commanding Officers from 1978 to 1991; Christopher Bullock, Paul Pettigrew, Bob Richardson-Aitken, John Anderson and Duncan Briggs attending. He said his intent was to move quickly through the Agenda to allow extra time for two important Items at the end ‘The Future of the Association’ and ‘The 6 GR Memorial Project’.

Lt Colonel Lee Pearce – son of Capt James Pearce (Hon Member); Cpl Dhanbahadur Gurung; Rfn Bombahadur Ale. SADLY, THE FOLLOWING HAVE DIED SINCE THE LAST AGM:

Mrs Jean Fisher (widow of Tony Fisher); Mrs Stella Walsh (widow of Demi Walsh); Mrs MD Watson (widow of Major Harry Watson MC 2/6th); Captain Nick Sutton; Lt Colonel Vyvyan Robinson; Captain Bill Smyly; Brigadier Sir Miles Hunt-Davies; Mrs Buffy Slim (wife of Lt Col The Viscount Slim). As a mark of respect all stood for a minute’s silence.

3. Apologies The Hon Sec stated that he had received apologies from the following committee members; Lt Colonel O’Keffee, Captain Gordon-Creed and 20 other members.

4. Minutes of the Last Meeting The Chairman asked if there were any comments of the Minutes of the 2017 AGM and there were none. The Hon Sec confirmed that the Minutes of the AGM 2017 had been signed and archived.

5. Financial Report up to 30 September 2018 Maj Manikumar Rai, as Finance Officer, circulated the 6 GRRA Accounts up to 30 September 18 at the meeting and gave a summary as follows: INCOME (£8,984.00):

(a) AFCIF investment income: £208.00 (b) Sales of chattels: £355.00

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He encouraged Members to submit articles for publication to him and family news to Captain Griffith.

EXPENDITURE (£7,588.91):

Captain Herbert reported that the new 6 GR website had been launched and the Membership List had been transferred and that captions were being put on the photos.

(a) Cuttack Lunch: £4,913.41 (b) Journal: £1,500.00 (c) Memorial Service Costs: £75.00 (d) ISA Fee: £1,000.00 ACCOUNT SUMMARY:

(a) Excess of income over expenditure: £1.395.09 (b) Current Cash Funds: £2,915.14 (c) Cash Funds RBS Account: £4,310.23 (d) Current AFCIF investment: £5,804.60 (e) Total Net Assets: £10,114.83 The Chairman drew attention to the decrease in subscriptions from £2,910 in 2017 to £2,780 in 2018. He stated that this was partly due to the change of 6 GRRA account from Lloyds to Royal Bank of Scotland. Some members had not changed their standing orders and others had stopped paying when payment from their standing order did not go through. He asked the Hon Sec to review the Membership list and identify defaulters. Those who did not pay their 2019 subscriptions would not be sent the Journal 2019. Action: Hon Sec to contact defaulters. Editor to place a notice about payment of membership fees in the Journal (Chairman to draft) and distribute the next Journal ONLY to members who had paid their subscriptions.

6. Journal Editor’s Report The Chairman thanked the Editor once again for a superb Journal and asked that a vote of thanks be recorded in the Minutes for his sterling work. The Editor stated that as in 2017, he had printed 450 copies, which included spare copies for those who wished to purchase second copies. Whilst printing costs had remained steady, he stated that postage costs were still rising, particularly those going to overseas members.

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7. Website Progress Report

As part of the on-going management of the website, the Notice Board is to be updated with the forecast of events and other matters of interest. Members were encouraged to look at the Notice Board for the latest Association information. The Hon Sec stated that the GDPR rules did not require 6 GRRA to register its Membership List with GBA. Capt Herbert informed the meeting that the site would have a “Privacy Notice” and Members were to re-register and validate their membership. Action: Members to contact Capt Herbert to re-register and obtain a new password, which can be changed once registered. A 6 GRRA historic website, linked to the GBA website, was discussed and Capt Herbert agreed to investigate the options and generously offered pay for its hosting. Action: Capt Herbert to report back on the options for the historic website. The Chairman asked that the Association’s gratitude for all of Capt Herbert’s work on the website be recorded in the Minutes. There followed a discussion on whether it would be possible to publish the Journal on the 6 GR Website. Action: Comms Offr and Editor to discuss the feasibility of putting the Journal on the 6 GR website.

8. Election of Committee Officers

9.Forthcoming Events

The Hon Sec informed the meeting of the following:

The Hon Sec distributed the GBA Forecast of Events and highlighted the following:

• Hon Sec – in post until 2020. • Finance Officer – Capt Gordon-Creed elected at the 2017 AGM had stated that he was happy to remain as a Committee Member, but was unable to take over as Financial Officer. Maj Bredin agreed to takeover from Maj Manikumar Rai at a mutually convenient date in 2019. • Editor – in post until 2020. • Social Sec: Capt Anne Griffith with effect from Nov 18. • Comms Offr/Webmaster – Capt James Herbert in post until 2022. The Hon Sec stated that due to the number of GBA and 6 GRRA events taking place at the same time in early Nov he would be unable to continue his role as Hon Sec. Full members were asked if anyone would volunteer to take over. As there were no volunteers, Major Manikumar Rai agreed to continue until a solution was found. The Chairman handed over the meeting to the President and asked him to nominate his successor. The President thanked Lt Col O’Bree for his hard work over the last five years and highlighted the huge successes of his tenure; gauged not only against the targets set by GBA, but also all the other highly successful events that Lt Col O’Bree had organized/ initiated during his time as Chairman. He asked that a vote of thanks to Lt Col O’Bree be recorded in the Minutes. The President went on to say that there had been a few possible candidates, but he had approached Lt Col Briggs who had agreed to take over as Chairman. Full Members were asked to vote Lt Col Briggs in as Chairman; the vote was unanimous. Action: Lt Col Briggs to liaise with Lt Col O’Bree for handover arrangements.

• 11 Nov 18 – Remembrance Service, Gurkha Chautara, NMA Stafford. • 14 Nov 18 – Cuttack Lunch at the Oriental Club. • 11 Mar 19 – Commonwealth Gate Memorial Service. • 5 May 19 – RGR Reunion and Army v Navy Rugby, Twickenham. • 3 May 19 – Cuttack Lunch at the Oriental Club. • 8 Jun 19 – GBA Memorial Service and Luncheon at RMA Sandhurst. • 13 Jul 19 – GBA Bhela at the Aldershot sports field. • 13 Sep 19 – GBA Golf. • 7 Nov 19 – Field of Remembrance Service and GBA Dinner at the Army & Navy Club. • 9 Nov 19 – Remembrance Service, Gurkha Chautra, NMA Stafford. • 10 Nov 19 – Remembrance Sunday Parade. • TBC Dec 19 – Cuttack Lunch at the Oriental Club. The Hon Sec encouraged Members to support the GBA Bhela which marked the end of Brigade Week which would include the Nepal Cup finals, funfair and other events. He stated that a large number of Gurkha ex-servicemen attended the Bhela and it was an ideal opportunity to meet old friends.

10. Future of the Association The President stated that he had circulated draft his paper to key members of the Association for comment. Having received comments he was now in a position to make it available to all members (copies handed out) for their perusal. He stated that the crucial element would be how the Trust funds were to be distributed. Much would depend on the state of the funds at the time, but suggested, the GWT, the Gurkha Museum Winchester and Pokhara, 6 GRRA (Nepal), RGR, GBA and the UK All Ranks Reunion should be considered as beneficiaries.

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11. 6 GR Memorial Project

12. AOB

Capt Channing (Chairman 6 GR Memorial Project) gave a brief resume of his committee’s work; which was to consider whether there was an appetite to have a Regimental Memorial, and if there was, to conduct a feasibility study, plan, fund and execute the project once the location(s) had been agreed either in UK, Nepal or both.

The Chairman asked Members to vote on whether the present format; Book of Remembrance Service at Winchester Cathedral, followed by the AGM and Reunion Lunch was acceptable. Members voted unanimously to adopt the new format.

He informed the meeting that if the project was agreed, the intent was to complete it by 2022/23. He stated that whilst 6 GRRT would be able to provide some funding, he anticipated that there would be a need to conduct fund raising activities both in UK and Nepal to meet the project costs. Capt Channing stated that in accordance with his Terms of Reference he would report his Committee’s progress at each stage of the project and at the annual 6 GRRT and 6 GRRA meetings.

As the motion was carried the Chairman asked the Hon Sec to make the necessary arrangement for 2019. Action: Hon Sec to inform Westminster Cathedral authorities and book facilities at the Gurkha Museum.

13. Date and Venue of Next Meeting The next AGM and Reunion will be held at the Gurkha Museum on Saturday 16 Nov 19 after the Book of Remembrance Service at Winchester Cathedral. There being no further business the meeting was closed at 13.05 hrs.

6TH QUEEN ELIZABETH’S OWN GURKHA RIFLES Regimental Association Income and expenditure account for the 12 months ended 30 September 2018

12 months to 12 months to 30 September 2017 30 September 2018 £ £

Income Receipts earned from assets

427.10

0.00

Investment Income

201.15

208.00

0.00

355.00

Sale of chattels by auction Subscriptions Sales

2,910.00 2,780.00 100.00 0.00

Cuttack Lunch

4,635.00

Donations

4,135.00 200.00

5,434.00

Adjustment 7.00 Total Receipts

112

12,408.25

8,984.00

(Continued)

12 months to 12 months to 30 September 2017 30 September 2018 ÂŁ ÂŁ

Expenditure Payments directly for Charitable Purposes Grants

100.00 0

Durbar

6,562.40 0

Cuttack Lunch

4,577.60

Journal

4,758.36 1,500.00

4,913.41

Catering for AGM

42.12

Presentations

15.00 0.00

Memorail Svc costs

0.00

0.00 75.50

Payments for Management and Administration ISA fee

1,000.00

1,100.00

202.13

0.00

Total Expenditure

17,257.61

7,588.91

Net of receipts/(Payments)

-4,849.36

1,395.09

Cash funds

7,864.50

2,915.14

Association Secretary expenses

Balance Sheet as at 30 Sep 18 Accumulated Fund Cash Funds RBS Current account

2,915.14

4,310.23

Investment assets

5,673.24

5,804.60

Total Net Assets

8,588.38

10,114.83

The accounts of the Association were produced by Mr MFH Adler, ISA (6 GRRT Secretary and 6 GRRA Treasurer)

In Memoriam, Lieutenant F Hugh Wallace, 1938-1963

113

6 GRRA REMEMBRANCE SERVICE Winchester Cathedral, 3 November 2018 Back left: Gavin Edgerley-Harris, Simon Lord, Rick Beven and Paul Gilham. Immediately in front: Claire and Jonathan Moore.

114

Middle row: Bob and Beth Richardson-Aitken, Christopher Bullock, Jack Furtado, Anne Griffith, Khusiman Gurung, Poppy and Jeremy Toyne, Gary Ghale, Ray and Marie Pett, Paul and Michelle Pettigrew, Clare Ruffell, Donald Ruffell, Ciska Roselaar, Neil Ruffell, John Anderson, Thomas Ruffell, Louise Dunn, Dr. Alastair Ruffell, Ken Neville-Davies, John Walker, Jane Channing (half hidden), Anthony Vosper and Mike Channing. Front row: David Bredin, Joanna Smith, Edward Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Bree, Brian Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Bree, David Bulfield, Sudha Rai, Louise Anderson, Doris Neville-Davies, Richard Morris, Ria Briggs, Gerald Davies and Duncan Briggs.

115

Major General AG Patterson CB DSO OBE MC, GOC 17 Gurkha Division, presents the Wallace Memorial Trophy to Captain RA Pett, OC Support Company 2/6 GR, Kluang, 1967