THE SIRMOOREE

Summer 2014 Number 73

Gurkhas in North West Europe for the First World War (See final articles) [The Museum] 1

CONTENTS

EDITORIAL PRESIDENT’S NOTE CHAIRMAN’S LETTER HONORARY SECRETARY'S NOTES SIRMOOR CLUB NEWS SIRMOOR CLUB ACTIVITIES NEWS FROM MEMBERS BOOK REVIEWS WORLD WAR ONE TAIL PIECE

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SIRMOOR CLUB COMMITTEE

President: Lieutenant General Sir Peter Duffell

Vice-Presidents: Field Marshal Lord Bramall Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Colonel DR Wood Brigadier PA Little Chairman: Brigadier BC Jackman Honorary Secretary: Major NJD Wylie Carrick Honorary Treasurer: Captain EC Mackaness Editor The Sirmooree : Major JJ Burlison Elected Members: RJC Corfield, Esq JA Coulson, Esq Brigadier IA Rigden, late RGR Major DL Thomas

2 EDITORIAL

Sirmooree is very much the Members’ magazine and your contribu- tions make it what it is. Your appreciation and approval is also good to have, and long may all this continue.

It always amuses me when people write to me giving their change of address for they obviously don’t read the magazine where we clearly state that the address list is not held by the Editor but by the Honorary Secretary; it is he who keeps the membership data base.

I was asked to bring along some crackers to a friend’s seventieth birth- day party. As she was handing them round she casually read out from the box that each cracker apparently contained an ‘adult toy’. This was met by hoots and gales of merriment all round and cries of “Come on: let’s have a go”. When the crackers were pulled, however, out fell bridge scorers, dice, golf tees, etc. “Oh how disappointing” was the general reaction. I never did fully understand!

May 2014 ______

All Rights Reserved Contents of The Sirmooree may not be reproduced without prior permission. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the Sirmoor Club or of the Editor. Dates in square brackets [ ] after a name give the years of service in 2 nd Goorkhas. Copy for the next Edition of Sirmooree should be with the Editor by 20 Oct 2014 Editor: Major JJ Burlison High Bank, South View Road, Wadhurst, East Sussex. TN5 6TW. UK Tel/Fax 01892 782013. E-Mail: [email protected]

3 A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT It was good to see another grand turnout for our annual reunion in May although sadly a number of familiar faces were missing. There is no doubt that as we all get older some of our senior members for one reason or another feel unable to commit to the lunch, although their absence was compensated for by a goodly presence of our younger members and we continue to build on the success of this occasion. Earlier in the year I reviewed the future of our Association against the background of a similar review carried out in 2010. Everything I have seen suggests to me that as an organisation we remain vibrant and de- mographically strong. There seems no good reason why we should not continue to prosper for at least another ten years particularly with re- invigorated leadership at the helm. I sense there is no need for radical change or further in depth reviews for the present. Any suggestion of decline or of “Last Hurrahs” should in my view be avoided for we still have a very healthy life to come. But that does not disguise the fact that the leadership and management of the Association must inevitably pass, hopefully seamlessly, to a new, younger generation. Indeed with the appointment of Edward Mackaness as Treasurer tak- ing over from Johnny Kaye and Nick Hinton assuming editorship of the Journal from John Burlison next year that process has already started. Once the celebrations of our 200 th anniversary in and the UK have been completed we shall need to look at further changes within the Club Committee and Trust. I hope that some of our younger members will volunteer to serve in the interests of the Association so that we can continue in a contemporary and positive style to enjoy our Regimental comradeship. No doubt by now members will have wrestled with the timetables and booking challenges for our Durbar gathering in Nepal next March. The celebrations all promise well and we should all be grateful to David Thomas and Major Yambahadur and his committee in Nepal for all the detailed preparatory work that has already been completed. It should be a great occasion. PRD

4 THE CHAIRMAN’S LETTER

Sirmoor 200 th Anniversary . There are three events in particular that all Members should note with a view to keeping these clear in the diary. The Durbar . All the information about this is well known and regular updates are published on the website. The planning is now gaining great momentum, so too are the parallel GBA, and Nep- alese Army celebrations in Kathmandu to which we are being invited as we transit through to . Currently (as at 12 May 2014) we have 212 Members, families, and friends who intend to go to the Dur- bar. It is imperative that Members keep themselves abreast of devel- opments and respond quickly to calls for action from David Thomas. Slow reaction to booking flights, accommodation and après Durbar activities could well lead to disappointment, especially as hotels and activities are going to get fully booked quickly in what is a prime sea- son in Nepal where Pokhara is the centre for trekking. Please stay alert. Sirmoor Club Reunion in the UK . We will be holding our 200 th Anni- versary Reunion Luncheon at The Travellers Club, Pall Mall, on 12 Sep- tember 2015. HRH The Prince of Wales will be invited but we will not know whether he can attend until much nearer the time. We intend to have The Queen’s Truncheon as the centre piece, special commemora- tion menus, and also a Wind Quintet from the Band of the Brigade of in attendance. Details will be issued in due course but this will be a very special occasion, a one-off, so I hope we shall see an out- standing attendance from Members. Sirmoor Sathis Delhi Day. The Sathis Delhi Day will be on 19 Septem- ber 2015 in Farnborough. Again full details will be issued nearer the time. I hope a large number of Members will make a particular effort to join our Sirmoor Sathis on what will be a very special day for all. Gurkha 200 . Please don't lose sight of the fact that , the Gurkha Brigade Association, and The will be holding many other events to mark the 200 th Anniversary of Gurkha Service to the Crown. Details will be published and it is hoped that Members will make the most of what will be a memorable year.

5 In outline so far the ‘Gurkha 200’ programme looks like this: 23 Sep 2014 – NMA Gurkha Memorial Opening Ceremony. 15 May 2015 – Gurkha team to summit Everest. 18 May-11 Jun 15 – Brigade of Gurkhas Public Duties in London. 11 Jun 15 - Presentation of The Queen’s Truncheon to The Queen. - Trooping of the Queen’s Truncheon down the Mall. - Gurkha Memorial Service & Unveiling of new Cam- paign Plaques at the Gurkha Statue. 10/11 Jun 15 – Gurkha 200 Pageant – Royal Hospital Chelsea. 8 Aug 15 – Brigade Bhela Queen’s Avenue, Aldershot. The Website. Thanks to Nigel St George's very keen interest and his constant initiatives as our Webmaster to improve our website, free of charge, we have a very useful, indeed vital, means of communications. We are now able to track the usage of the website; which pages are vis- ited and for how long etc. This provides valuable information about how to make the website more useful and interesting, and it has been put to particularly good effect with the Durbar updates and utilities for booking flights, hotels, and après Durbar activities – all so easily ac- cessed. It is good to note that Members are now looking at other areas of the website; especially the Notice Board where the Honorary Secre- tary regularly posts useful, sometimes crucial, information about the Sirmoor Club, Brigade of Gurkhas and all related issues. Please con- tinue to make use of our website, which is now by far the most used website in the Brigade of Gurkhas. Be proud of it. If you have any diffi- culty accessing it then contact Nigel Wylie Carrick for assistance. Thanks. I am indebted to my Committee and the Trustees of the 2GR Trust for the work they do throughout the year, but especially this year to David Thomas and Yambahadur Gurung for the immense amount of work they are doing in preparation for the Durbar. Shyabash. Jai Sir- moor! BCJ

6 THE HONORARY SECRETARY’S NOTES

INTRODUCTION The Sirmoor Club AGM . The Sirmoor Club AGM was held in the Army & Navy Club, London on the 17 May 2014. The AGM was pre- sided over by Lieutenant General Sir Peter Duffell, chaired by Briga- dier Bruce Jackman and attended by 36 former officers of the regiment. The agenda with detailed notes was circulated by e-mail or post to all members which allowed the meeting to focus on the key topics, sum- marised below: • Items 1 – 3. Votes. The previous minutes, re-election of the Com- mittee and Sirmoor Accounts were all unanimously agreed. • Item 4. Sirmoor Club Finances. Members welcomed the annual Communications Grant of £2K from the 2GR Trust for the publica- tion of the Sirmooree. • Item 5. The Sirmoor Website. The website is now a vital means of communications for all Members, particularly for regular updates on the Durbar in 2015 and Sirmoor Club Notices. A vote of thanks was recorded to Nigel Saint George the web master who had made con- siderable improvements to the site. • Item 6 - 7. G200 Update. The Chairman and David Thomas gave updates on G200 and on the Nepal Durbar respectively. Full details are in the minutes. • Items 8 - 16. Items were passed as read by members. • Item 17. AOB. • Ipoh Cenotaph. The Chairman confirmed that in line with the GBA and other RAs, the 2GR Trust had agreed to a £500 grant for the Ipoh Gurkha Cenotaph to be opened on 14 Jul 14. • Property Auction. The Hon Secretary informed the meeting that a list of returned 2GR property will be posted on the website for auc-

7 tion. The returned Medals and 1911 SRR silver cross belt Battle Hon- ours plate would be offered to . • Bicentenary Stamps. Major John Burlison confirmed that Rfm Kul- bir Thapa VC will feature as part of the bicentenary Commemorative stamps. • G200 Brigadier Ian Rigden outlined the plans to place 1 x serving Gurkha Soldier on Everest in 2015. A further £25K was required to fund the project. • 2nd Goorkha Mess Rules. Field Marshal Sir John Chapple stated that Lord Newall, s/o Marshal of the Air Force , The Lord Newall of Clifton-upon-Dunsmoor GCB OM GCMG (2GR 1910 – 19) had pre- sented a fascinating copy of the Officers Mess Rules of the period to the Gurkha Museum. The AGM was closed at 1200 hours, and members moved to the li- brary to enjoy the Champagne Reception. SRA (SC) Annual Reunion 2014 . A good turnout of 76 members was booked in for the Reunion Lunch, but last minute cancellations re- sulted in 69 members attending. Sadly one of our most stalwart atten- dees, Lt Col Peter Kemmis-Betty MC who had just celebrated his 98 th birthday, also had to cancel and we were sorry not to see him there. As always, the whole day proved to be a relaxed and hugely enjoyable reunion. Despite the demise of the Dudley Spain legacy in 2010, we again received a generous donation towards the Champagne reception which remains a great ‘opener’ after the AGM. For the lunch, each ta- ble was splendidly decorated with an iconic piece of Officers’ Mess Silver, including the most impressive Macintyre Snuff horn presented in 1873, as well as other memorable silver statuettes and bowls. After the port was circulated, the President, General Sir Peter Duffell read out the Prince of Wales’s response to our loyal greetings before delivering what can only be described as a ‘tour d’force’ summary of matters pertaining to the Sirmoor Club, Gurkha issues and the well anticipated celebrations in 2015.

8 The leisurely pace of the occasion was only marred by the realisation that ‘time is money’ as we beat a hasty retreat from the Pall Mall room before incurring additional hefty ‘late’ charges. Copies of the AGM Minutes and of the President’s speech will be placed on the web site shortly.

SIRMOOR MEMBERSHIP Membership . Our membership numbers as at 27 Feb 2014 stand at 381 (Full Members 181, Associate Members 121 and Honorary Members 79). Details of new members, resignations and deaths are shown be- low: New Honorary Members. The following were accepted as Honorary Members: Colonel Lalit Mohan Sharma CO 5/8GR 1993-96, lives close to Delhi Airport (open invitation to stay). He comes to the UK for three to four months every year to visit his son, Manu Sharma, who lives in Maida Vale (near Lords Cricket Ground). Proposed by Colonel Denis Wood. Major JGH Corrigan MBE (2GR 1996 – 1997). Proposed by Major John Burlison. Promotions . Brigadier J C Lawrence CBE (L/RGR), currently Chief Election Support, Headquarters ISAF, Afghanistan. To be Director Joint Warfare in October 2014. Resignations . The following members have recently resigned: Lt Col Graham LACY MBE SASC (1 st Bn 85-86) Maj John CRAIG KOSB (2 nd Bn 87 – 89) Maj Andrew CHATBURN (DOM 93 – 94) Mrs E CLARK (Widow of Maj R S Clarke 3 rd & 2 nd Bn 41-50) Mrs S HURMAN (d/o late Maj HC Gay 4 th Bn 42-46) Lady O J M LINDSAY (widow of Col O J M Lindsay ( GREN GUARDS ) g/s of the late Lt Col AB Lindsay (1893-1914) Mrs S MAXWELL (Widow Lt Col R M Maxwell 2 nd Bn 53-55) Mrs R SPARK (Widow of Maj R A Spark 4 th Bn 42 – 46)

9 Deaths Major F S C Hancock FRGS 09 Sep 2013. (B/o Capt BC Hancock FEPOW. Executed in Kuala Lumpur). Mrs (Joy) GAY 01 Nov 2013 EHS (Edward) DILLON (5 th Bn & RC 44 – 47) 31 Dec 2013 A R (Richard) TANNER (2nd Bn 58-59) 01 Jan 2014 Major Narbu LAMA MBE (1 st Bn 1948 - 1987) 04 Jan 2014 Major (QM) Lawrence LINSKEY (1 st Bn QM 1978-1983)14 Jan 2014 Mrs Wendy YARNOLD 01 Feb 2014 Mrs Oona PEART (Widow of Lt Col R Peart MBE 1st Bn 47 - 49) 16 May 2014 Sirmoor Website . ( http://www.2ndgoorkhas.com ) As Members be- come more familiar with the Sirmoor Website so the website will be- come more useful. Useful ‘favourites’ include: • Durbar 2015: http://www.2ndgoorkhas.com/durbar_2015_updates.html Now open to any non member. • Sirmoor Club Notices: http://www.2ndgoorkhas.com/notice_board.html • Sirmoor Topics: http://www.2ndgoorkhas.com/topics.html This has been revamped and contains useful links for members. • Sirmoor Address List 2013. The Sirmoor Address list is made available to the GWT(UK) and for the GBA use only. http://www.2ndgoorkhas.com/members.html • Sirmooree. http://www.2ndgoorkhas.com/sirmooree_journal.html • GBA website. http://www.gurkhabde.com • G200. A new link will be established for all G200 events planned in 2015.

10 DIARY OF FORTHCOMING EVENTS • 11 July 2014. GBA Bhela . (Application Form enclosed). The BGA Bhela has been revamped and now takes place on the Football Pitches opposite the Stadium on Queen’s Avenue, Al- dershot. The cost will be £10 pp. Please book ASP. • 14 September 2014. Sirmoor ‘Sathi’ Delhi Day . (Application Form enclosed). The Sirmoor Sathis will be holding their annual Delhi Day Reunion on Sunday 14 September 2014, at the Samuel Cody Specialist Sports College, Farnborough, Hants, GU14 8SS. All Sir- moories are invited to attend. Those attending are asked to inform the Honorary Secretary of details (name and numbers) by 01 Sep- tember 2014. Payment (£10) will be collected at the door. • 23 September 2014. National Memorial Arboretum Gurkha Me- morial Opening Ceremony . Details to follow but please keep this date in your diary. • 06 November 2014. GBA Annual Dinner . (Application Form en- closed). The Gurkha Brigade Association Dinner will take place at the Army and Navy Club, 36 Pall Mall, London, on Thursday 6 No- vember 2014. Dress is Black Tie with miniature medals. A cash bar will open at 1845 hours for pre-dinner drinks and dinner will be served at 1930 hours. The cost of the dinner will be £55.00 per head. Applications for tickets are to be sent direct to the Brigade Secretary by 24 October (preferably earlier) in order that tickets can be dispatched in time. • 09 November 2014. Remembrance Sunday ‘Cenotaph March Past’ . The Gurkha Brigade Association will provide a marching contin- gent followed by the Gurkha Welfare Society to march past the Cenotaph. Any Sirmoorie wishing to take part in the march past is to contact the Honorary Secretary for further details. The pro- gramme in outline will be as follows: - 1000: RV at the Horse Guards Road entrance to Horse Guards Pa- rade (opposite the Guards’ Memorial and St James’s Park). Dress is Regimental dark suits (or Regimental Blazer) with medals, and Bowler or Gurkha Hat for those who possess one! 11 - 1300: There is usually an informal lunch after the parade on a cash basis at the Shakespeare Pub or Gordon’s Wine Bar, 47 Villiers Street (off the Strand, near Embankment tube station).

NWC

SIRMOOR CLUB ADDRESS LIST

Members are reminded that it is the Honorary Secretary who main- tains the up to date Sirmoor Club address list, not the Editor. Please send any change of address to the Honorary Secretary – Not to the Editor. Names on the envelopes for the magazine may have been shortened to fit the labels and post nominal letters may have been omitted. OVERSEAS MEMBERS Please Note The cost of postage of the last edition to Members overseas over £3.50 (within the UK it was £1.30p). If an Overseas Member changes his address, without informing the Honorary Secretary, once the magazine has been sent and then asks for a second copy to be sent to his new address, that is another £3.50p and you will have cost the Club £7! PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE KEPT THE HONORARY SEC- RETARY UP TO DATE WITH YOUR ADDRESS.

12 SIRMOOR CLUB NEWS

Promotion To be Director Joint Warfare, in the rank of Major General, in October 2014 and tenure of appointment of as Colonel The extended by eighteen months until 1 January 2016. Brigadier J C Lawrence CBE (late RGR) [2 GR 1986 – 94]

Deaths

AUDEN Major Derek Edward Auden [1944 - 47] died 20 February 2014 aged 90. (See obituary.)

COLLIER Winifred ‘Win’ Collier, wife of John Terence Collier [1953 – 58] and ear- lier WRVS lady to both battalions in turn 1953 – 56, died on 23 March 2014 at the Laverstock Care Centre, Salisbury.

DILLON Hugh Dillon [5 th Battalion 1944 – 47] died peacefully aged 89 on 31 De- cember 2013. (See obituary.)

EVANS Geraldine Evans, widow of Lt Col LN Evans, MBE, [ 2nd Battalion 1936 – 49] (known as 'Uncle'), died aged 92 on 11 April 2014 after a stroke in her residential home in Surrey.

HARLEY Jean, wife of Captain the Reverend David Harley [1942 – 48], died at home on 29 March 2014 aged 87. 13

HARRISON Nick Harrison, son of the late Lieutenant Colonel Tony and Tinks Har- rison [2nd Battalion 1942 – 71], died on 8 March 2014.

KISHANSING GURUNG Major Kishansing Gurung [ 2nd Battalion and 28 AEC 1957 – 89] passed away at Gangalal Heart Hospital, Bansbari, Kathmandu on 1 April 2014. He had returned home earlier in the day from a pilgrimage to . (See obituary.)

LINSKEY Major(QM) Lawrie Linskey, QM [ 1st Battalion 1978 – 83] , died on 14 January 2014. (See obituary.)

SCOBIE William McMillan Scobie [ 5th Battalion 1943 – 46] died on 25 May 2014. (Obituary in next edition.)

NARBU LAMA Major(GCO) Narbu Lama, MBE, [ 1st Battalion 1948 – 87] , died in Dar- jeeling on 4 January 2014. (See obituary.)

TANNER Richard Tanner, [ 2nd Battalion 1958 – 59] , died on 1 January 2014. (See obituary.)

Obituaries

Major Derek Edward Auden

Derek Auden, who died in Derby on 20 February 2014 aged 90, was in the Regiment from 1944 to 1947. He was born on 23 January 1924 in Dayton, Ohio, USA, the son of Lieutenant Colonel EH Auden of Rep- ton, Derbyshire, who was a Solicitor. Derek was educated at Repton School.

14 Together with Hugh Dillon, whose obituary also appears here, Derek joined The Queen’s Royal Regiment as an Indian Army Cadet in Maid- stone and went on to the Officers’ Training School in Bangalore. On 6 August 1944 both he and Hugh were appointed to the 2 nd Goorkhas and joined the Regimental Centre in Dehra Dun. Derek was then sent on a course at the Army Signal School in Poona, where he did so well that he was kept there as an Instructor. He did not return to Dehra be- fore leaving India in 1947 for the UK and demobilization. In 1949 Derek qualified as a Solicitor at Gibson and Weldon College of Law, Guildford, where he was awarded the Law Society’s Lee Travers Scholarship for being an outstanding student. Also that year he mar- ried Miss Joan Dawkins, who died in 2010. He then joined his father in the family firm of Solicitors in Burton-on-Trent where, in due course, he became an eminent local Solicitor and County Coroner for East Staf- ford. In 1994 he retired as a Solicitor and also as a Director of The Bur- ton Daily Mail . Derek was a natural sportsman, and in his younger days he excelled at cricket, squash and football. In later life he remained a keen follower of cricket and an enthusiastic gardener, fisherman, birdwatcher and lover of dogs. Derek’s son, Bill, gave a moving Address at his Thanksgiving Service at St Wystan’s Church, Repton on 10 March. We send our sympathy to Derek and Joan’s son and daughters, Bill, Diana and Philippa at their loss of a well-loved father. DRW

Captain Edward Hugh Sherrard Dillon, MA (Cantab) Hugh Dillon, who died on 31 December 2013 aged 89, served in the Regiment from August 1944 to April 1947 and afterwards remained a member of The Sirmoor Club until his death, although it was our loss that for many years he did not attend Club events. He did, however, write an article about ME 92 Force 136, an organisation about which

15 little had been recorded in our regimental history, which appeared in The Sirmooree , No. 36, in January 1996. Hugh, the son of Major EAT Dillon, MC, Chief Engineer for Rail- ways, was born in Baghdad on 30 July 1924. He was educated at Marl- borough and, after World War 2, at Clare College, Cambridge. He joined The Queen’s Royal Regiment as an Indian Army Cadet and completed his basic and infantry training at Maidstone before being sent by sea to Bombay and onward by rail to the Officers’ Training School in Bangalore. In August 1944 he joined the 2 nd Goorkhas with an Emergency Commission. Soon after his arrival in Dehra Dun, Hugh was posted to our advanced training battalion, the 29 th Gurkha Rifles, in the Siwalik Hills, near Sa- haranpur. From there, in March 1945, he was sent to join ME 92 Force 136 in Ceylon, where he was given command of a group in B Battalion which was preparing to take part in the invasion of Malaya. But after completing his parachute training he got pneumonia which kept him in military hospitals in India until November 1945. When fit again he joined the Regimental Centre as OC Attached Section. In August 1946 he joined the 5 th Battalion in Waziristan as a rifle company commander. When the 5 th Battalion was disbanded in January 1947 he went to the Officers’ Training School at Bangalore as an Instructor until his release from the Army in April. Later in 1947 Hugh went up to Clare College and married Miss Joan Roberts, who died in February 2011. After leaving Cambridge he be- came a schoolmaster, first at Bedford School, and later at Durham School where he also ran the Combined Cadet Force. In 1970 he left Durham to become Headmaster of King’s School, Tynemouth until he retired in 1984. Hugh and Joan had two sons, Peter and Martin, and a daughter, Bridget to whom we send our sympathy. In his later years Hugh lived in Yorkshire, where his memorial service was held at St. Mary’s Church, Haxby. DRW

16

Major Kishansing Gurung KS, as he was known as, was born in April 1942 and departed for the Heavenly abode on 1 April 2014. The son of Major (QGO) and Honor- ary Lieutenant (GCO) Hirasing Gurung, MBE, 2 GR [1941 – 67], he enlisted in 1957 into 2 GR, serving in 2 nd Battalion and was later com- missioned in 1976. After 30 years service he retired in 1989 from 28 AEC Sekong. He was a founder (Charter) member of the Rotary Club of The Hima- layan Gurkhas and held several appointments during his 11 years ser- vice, including Secretary, Vice President, Director International ser- vices, Director Community services and Director Public Relationship. He regularly went out with the Rotarians to visit projects in the field and he attended club meetings held weekly. We will miss him. He leaves his widow Mankumari, two sons (one re- tired SSgt QGS and one studying in Australia) and an adopted daugh- ter to whom we send our condolences. YBG

17 Major Lawrence Linskey Lawrie Linskey was the 1 st Battalion’s Quartermaster from 1978 to 1983. On arrival in the battalion, he immediately had to cope with a series of near back-to-back operational tours on Hong Kong’s border. This was followed by a move to the UK where, in between countless exercises, the battalion undertook public duties, including support for a state visit by the then King of Nepal, and a six month operational tour in Belize. He then had to manage a move back to Hong Kong fol- lowed by further operational tours on the border. This represents by any measure a particularly full set of commitments, especially for the QM, and all within the relatively short period of just over four years. Lawrie rose to the challenge with his trademark calmness under stress. In doing so, he quickly earned and retained the trust and respect not just of his fellow British officers, but – crucially - also of the Gurkha officers and soldiers. Lawrie was born on 18 June 1929 in Yorkshire. He was amongst the last few soldiers to be conscripted into the Army in 1947 before Na- tional Service was introduced. After infantry basic training at Cat- terick, he was sent with a reinforcement draft to the 2 nd Battalion The Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry in Greece, where civil war was still raging. Shortly after this deployment ended, he decided to become a regular and transferred to his more natural home of the West Yorkshire Regiment (subsequently the Prince of Wales’ Own). He quickly rose through the ranks becoming a sergeant while on active service in Ma- laya during the Emergency. This was followed by the 1956 Suez opera- tion and then Aden as a rifle company sergeant major in 1967. In the latter conflict he distinguished himself by his calmness under fire, when all his company’s outposts were attacked simultaneously on the so-called Day of Revolution on 14 October. There followed a brief res- pite before his regiment joined the Northern Ireland treadmill, with Lawrie now the RQMS. He was commissioned in 1973 and joined in Ballykinler the 1 st Battalion The Duke of Wellington’s, with whom he served as QM for five years before joining 1 st Battalion 2 GR. His first Commandant was Peter Duffell, who wrote to Sandra, Law- rie’s widow whom he married in 1963: “I particularly remember one

18 occasion, when Lawrie and I went on a recce to UK and Belize prior to leaving Hong Kong. On our return flight to Hong Kong, we had lengthy delays with our aircraft breaking down in London, Rome and Calcutta. In Calcutta BA attempted to put us up in the Grand Hotel. The lobby of the hotel was packed with angry passengers and the chances of securing accommodation appeared remote. Lawrie muscled his way to the hotel desk and stated: ‘I am Colonel Linskey and this is General Duffell and we require two single rooms now!’ The effect was electric and we were immediately given two rooms. It was this direct and robust approach that served us so well in the Regiment.” At Lawrie’s funeral, Major General Micky Tillotson (who was CO when Lawrie was RSM) said: “He was never in the least worried, no matter how anxious about anything – or nothing – some of us became. Yet he knew everything that was going on – all the little moans and undercurrents came to his attention and he dealt with them quietly and without the least fuss.” As Lawrie’s second and very green Commandant, I recognise those qualities, but also the personal kindness he and Sandra showed me and my family – and the bachelors in the Mess. Our condolences go out to Sandra, who is herself fighting a serious illness, and their three chil- dren, Lawrence, Jennifer and Angela. PAL

Major Narbu Lama, MBE

Narbu Lama, who has died in aged 83, was a distinguished soldier in the 1 st Battalion, and one whose obvious ability, innate mod- esty, charm and friendliness made him many friends. He was highly regarded by all who knew him - commanders, peers and friends - throughout his military service and in later life at his home in Darjee- ling. Narbu was born on 26 February 1930 in Darjeeling and educated at the Government High School there. In February 1948 he enlisted as a Clerk in the 2 nd Goorkhas and joined the 1 st Battalion in . In 19 1955 his sterling qualities earned him the rare transformation from Ser- geant Clerk to General Duties as a platoon sergeant and, later, platoon commander in D Company on operations in Malaya. He was then nur- tured by careful training until he was commissioned as Lieutenant (GCO) in Hong Kong in December 1957. His progress continued in a variety of roles where he continued to show his ability and versatility. He was Machine Gun Platoon Commander and then MTO before being seconded to the Singapore Police Gurkha Contingent as 2IC. In 1963- 64 he commanded several companies in turn: A Company in Sarawak; HQ Company in Singapore, Sarawak and Hong Kong; B Company in Hong Kong and , where he was awarded the 3 rd Class of The Most Blessed Order of Stia Negara, Brunei. From 1964 to 1966 he was Paymaster, OC Rear Party and Assistant Training Officer in Hong Kong. From 1967, until that unit was disbanded in January 1970, Narbu was 2IC 5 Gurkha Dog Company in Singapore. Then he returned to the 1 st Battalion to command HQ Company. From late 1974 to early 1980 he was Chief Administrative Officer, British Gurkha Depot Dharan. After that he was back in the 1 st Battalion to command HQ Company for four more years. It was a remarkable span of jobs to perform with skill and equanimity, and it was recognised with his well deserved MBE in 1985. Just prior to that, Narbu was afflicted with a skin disease, triggered by a combination of drugs given for a minor ailment. It turned his skin white and required more than two years of treatment in hospital in Al- dershot. It was not until October 1987 that he could he retire to Darjee- ling. Narbu was a member of The Sirmoor Club until he died. Fortunately for our regimental records, he wrote a short account of his service and some of his life afterwards in The Sirmooree , Summer 1997, No. 39. In February 1956 Narbu married Tshering Yangjo who died some years ago. We send our condolences on their father’s death to their sons De- onam and Pemba and their daughter Mrs Dalamu Lama. DRW

20 Major Sudan Dewan, BEM, writes: Major Narbu Lama was a great inspiration to many generations of Clerks. Always the consummate gentleman and respected officer: hu- morous and sensible, correct and sometimes forthright. He will be fondly remembered by all, specially the 1 st Battalion Clerks, by one of his favourite sayings, “Fighter first, Writer second!” (i.e. soldier first then a clerk). Major Narbu travelled the world but no matter where his work took him, he always returned to his beloved hometown of Darjeeling! May his soul rest in peace.

Richard Tanner Richard Tanner, who has died on 1 January 2014 aged 75, built his fam- ily firm into one of Britain’s leading wine merchants. Tanners was founded in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, in 1872 by Richard’s great-uncle William Tanner, a retired sea captain, as a wines and spirits merchant also selling ale and porter. The business then passed to Wil- liam’s youngest brother, Alfred, a well known breeder of Shropshire sheep and Hereford cattle; Alfred had nine children, one of whom, Clive, ran the business with his brother Frank, and was the father of Richard Tanner. Anthony Richard Tanner was born in Shrewsbury on 30 November 1938 and educated at Shrewsbury School, after which he went straight into the wine trade, working in London and France. “I borrowed an old van from my father,” he later recalled, “and we picked grapes at Bourg and at Chateau Palmer. Mme Bollinger gave us a super lunch at Ay, near Epernay, and helped to push start the van afterwards.” In 1956 Richard Tanner joined the army and went to camp as a Gunner in the Honourable Artillery Company (TA). On 15 December 1957 he enlisted as a National Service Private in The King’s Shropshire Light In- fantry at Shrewsbury and in February 1958 was sent to Eaton Hall Officer Cadet School, Chester. After being gazetted to the 2 nd Goorkhas with a National Service Commission on 5 July 1958, he joined the 2 nd Battalion in 21 Slim Barracks, Singapore. He served on operations in Johore as a Com- pany Officer with C Company and later in the Anti-Tank and MMG Pla- toons of Support Company. During his time with the 2 nd Battalion he enjoyed sailing a Firefly din- ghy and he once took the opportunity to try a parachute jump into Sin- gapore Harbour. On another occasion he hitched a lift in an RAF Her- cules to Australia, where he visited his Tanner cousins who were sheep and cattle farmers in New South Wales. He left for the UK on 9 November 1959 and on 15 December 1959 joined the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry Army Emergency Reserve of Officers. Shortly after that he transferred to the 4th Battalion (Territorial) of the KSLI in which he served some four years as a Lieutenant before transferring to the TA Reserve of Officers. When Richard Tanner left the 2 nd Goorkhas, he joined his long estab- lished family firm of Tanners Wine Merchants and in 1960 became Direc- tor in charge of wine, shipping, bottling and sales. In those days the company’s core business was beer, but Richard saw that tastes were changing, and in 1968 he opened Shropshire’s first self-select off- licence. Increasingly adamant that Tanners should refocus on quality wines, his vision became a cause of conflict between him and his father — and in 1974 he announced that if he was not put in charge he would leave: “He gave me the sack,” Richard recalled, “for about three days and then re-engaged me as managing director.” Thereafter the younger Tanner was the guiding light, although his father continued to take an interest in the business until his death in 1983. Today Tanners employs around 100 staff, and sells more than two mil- lion bottles of wine annually from over 20 wine-producing countries. In a good claret year, it has customers who will pay up to £12,000 a case. As a result of a dispute over pay and working practices with the Transport and General Workers’ Union in 1976, Richard closed down the firm’s beer distribution depot in Shrewsbury, although it continues to distribute beer in Wales. The original Tanners cellars were located beneath Shrewsbury’s Victo- rian Market Hall. When these were requisitioned during the Second World War the company moved its head office to its current premises 22 in Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, and the buildings were used in 1984 for the filming of ‘ A Christmas Carol’ starring George C Scott, Susannah York and David Warner. Richard began to take a back seat in the mid-Nineties, when his son James became a joint managing director. Mindful of his difficult rela- tionship with his own father, Richard was careful to ease James into a leading role, and relinquished his own responsibilities in 2006, a year in which he was appointed High Sheriff of Shropshire. Richard was very keen on the flora and fauna of the countryside, and was devoted to field sports. He enjoyed fly-fishing in Shropshire and Scotland (being also a member of the Flyfishers’ Club in London), fox hunting and shooting. He took up riding relatively late — when he was approaching his forties — yet he rode twice in point-to-points and served for seven seasons as Master or Joint Master of the South Shrop- shire Hunt. He was also a former chairman of Shropshire Beagles. In 1994 he was President of the West Mid Show (Shropshire and West Midland Agricultural Society). He was a member of The Sirmoor Club from the time he joined the Regiment until his death, and through him his family firm was a constant supporter of The Journal of the 2 nd King Edward VII’s Own Goorkhas (The Sirmoor Rifles) by taking advertising space in it. An article about him by Captain MM McSporran, MBE, appeared in The Sirmooree , No. 57, Summer 2006 , ‘Raise a Glass to the High Sheriff’ reprinted from the Shropshire Magazine. Richard Tanner married first, in 1962 (dissolved 1974), Susan Mowat, with whom he had a daughter and a son. After a brief second mar- riage, to Lisbeth Bergman, he married for a third time in 1989 Marion Pennant-Williams (née Gardner-Brown), who survives him with his two children. DRW & Daily Telegraph

23 SIRMOOR CLUB ACTIVITIES

SIRMOOR SHOOTING

Mallard Barn and Six Mile Bottom. 10 & 11 January 2014 The Sirmoor Club’s shikaris have, over the years, tended to split into two groups, with the younger members shooting in the east of England and the older ones in the West Country. This year we tried to effect a union. To accommodate the needs of the nanis (anyone under 60!) the burhos moved eastwards and agreed to shoot on a Friday and Saturday instead of mid-week. Edward Mackaness found back-to-back days in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire and the call to arms was duly sent out. The party assembled for dinner on Thursday evening at the Red Lion at Hinxton, an excellent pub near the Imperial War Museum site at Duxford. We had booked all eight rooms. On the following morning the convoy of guns set off for a drive of nearly an hour in the general direction of Holland and, in a complete break with tradition, arrived at Mallard Barn together. The eight guns were Edward Mackaness (Shoot Captain due to John Urquhart being incapacitated), Bruce Jackman, David Thomas, Peter Taylor, and Charles Ward and Val Urquhart who shared a gun. 'Honorary Shikaris' who filled the empty spaces admira- bly were Nick Adams, who has shot with us before, and Richard and Julia Bridges who have sailed with the Sirmoor Yacht Squadron on fre- quent occasions at both Cowes and Turkey. Joanna Thomas, Hilly Ad- ams and John Urquhart took on the exacting roles of saying “Good shot Darling!” and attempting to control their dogs. The weather was kind, though a little less sun and more wind would have helped. Our hosts were charming, relaxed, and welcoming. The beaters were friendly and worked hard. The birds flew well, with the last drive being particularly productive as the guns had warmed to their task by then. The bag was 106, a mix of partridge and pheasant. Everyone felt that it had been good value, especially as we were not charged for shooting more than had been agreed. We returned to the pub and had an excellent evening at which we were joined by Sarah Mackaness, Sean and Paula Elliott, and William Gittus.

24 Full of hope and expectation we set off next morning to Six Mile Bot- tom. It is wonderful partridge country but the bright sun was surely going to make life difficult for the guns. In the line the Bridges were replaced by Hugh Coakham a retired neurosurgeon from Bristol, and our own Andrew Johnston. To extend the line in the vast open spaces both Charlie Ward and Val Urquhart stepped up to being full guns. There was certainly no shortage of birds, but all too often they came very low or out of the sun to guns who had little chance of seeing them in time. As a rule in shooting partridge if you don’t get them in front of you there is little chance of bringing them down behind you. Despite a break for hot soup and a glass of champagne (really) at the keeper’s cottage we ended the day with a bag of 122 birds of which 99 were par- tridge. We had 'bought' a 150 bird day but the combination of strong sun, fast birds, and some inexperienced guns for this particular form of shooting, meant that the figure was not achieved. We dispersed after a hearty lunch at The Green Man pub at Six Mile Bottom itself. Our grateful thanks are due to Edward for making the shooting ar- rangements and Skippering on both days. One wondered which day was the more enjoyable. The Mallard Barn being cheaper and more homely, may have got the vote over the perhaps more daunting chal- lenge of Six Mile Bottom. Certainly the latter was a great experience in big country and will not be forgotten quickly. Finally to return to the starting point. Once again we had to fill the line with 'guest guns' as the younger shots do not seem to be able to take the time out from work on weekdays or from family at weekends. Ed- ward was a noble exception. However, after eight happy years of being the Sirmoor Shoot organizer (OIC Shikar) I am handing over to Andrew Johnston to whom I wish many Happy Days. JRU

Thank you John not only for finding us some outstanding shoots and being such a good Shoot Captain on the day, but also for locating exceptionally good pubs for our mini-reunions. Your legacy is having provided the Sirmoor Shi- karis with very many memorable experiences. Shyabash! BCJ 25 SIRMOOR GOLF Sirmoor Spring Meeting. New Zealand Golf Club. 31 March 2014 Once again Richard Kemmis Betty, our scout for good venues and good deals, came up with a wonderful one at the New Zealand GC which was built in 1897 on the estate of HF Locke-King who also built Brooklands, the world famous racing circuit, on his property. The club was named 'New Zealand' after a fanatic New Zealand golfer, who owned Brooklands, was refused membership of what was then the lo- cal golf club because he was not English, so he bought the club, sacked everyone and turned it into a private golf club, which is how it remains today. This is probably why we were the only people playing on this magnificent course in tranquil Surrey countryside on a beautiful Spring day. Pure heaven! The Club is run with some style – just like an Offi- cers' Mess. The 'halfway house' refreshments stall comprised a table under a large umbrella with every conceivable alcoholic drink laid out and served by the Starter, Trevor Gregg, an ex-Irish Guardsman who recognised Julian Mellor as his first Platoon Commander!

'Halfway House' with Trevor Gregg (ex-Irish Guards)

26 We had a good turnout of 20 players, even without some regulars, and welcomed two newcomers – both Gurkha Educators: Lt Col Phil Murray (2 nd Bn UEO '76-'78) and Brig David Harrison (28 AEC and now President of the Army Golf Club, Aldershot). The rest of the party were; Jon Aslett, Derek & Anne Burton, Willie Bicket (Hon), Steve Clifton, Bob Couldrey (Hon), Norman & Alison Corbett, Rosaleen Har- rop, Bruce Jackman, Alexander, Charlie & Richard Kemmis Betty, Julian Mellor, Anita Morley (Hon), Tom & Stephen Sherry (Hons), and William Shuttlewood. The competition was Stableford (Full Handicap). The result was very close with only seven points separating the top six players. Stephen Sherry won 1 st prize with 36 points, Anita Morley was runner up with 34 points, and Steve Clifton came third with 33 points. Alexander Kemmis Betty won the Longest Drive on the 18 th with a mammoth shot by any standards, cutting the corner over some very tall trees and coming to rest just short of the green. Alison Corbett was Nearest the Pin on the 5 th . The 'Sevi Prize' for the most audacious and risky shot that ended well, went to Rosaleen Harrop but only because her ball was in such an impossible place that she announced that she would 'play safe' and chip it out onto the fairway. The three blokes with whom she was playing all exclaimed with some indignation; where- upon Rosaleen promptly took up the challenge and hit an impossible shot onto the green! Jon Aslett produced a new prize (The Aslett Prize) for the best score for those with handicaps of 18+. This was won by Steve Clifton. This was a very saheb-like start to the season. Thank you Richard. BCJ

Sirmoor Golf Championship. Corhampton Golf Club. 15 May 2104 Just as our day at the New Zealand GC was played on a gorgeous Spring Day so too was the Championship played on the first real day of Summer. We had a good turnout of 18 players at the Corhampton Golf Club where the Sirmoor Club had its inaugural meeting many

27 years ago and where Peter Kemmis Betty (98 on 5 May 2014) is still a member but no longer playing. The competition was Stableford (Full Handicap) with the best score by a Sirmoorie winning the Sirmoor Golf Cup, won in 2013 by Rosaleen Harrop. We had a number of Honorary Sirmoor Golfers who, although they couldn't win the trophy itself, could win any of the many other prizes. The players were: Jon Aslett, Vernon Beauchamp, John Car- ruthers, Steve Clifton, Nick Cooke (Hon), Rosaleen Harrop, Bruce Jackman, Alexander, Charlie & Richard Kemmis Betty, Julian Mellor, Mark & Paul (Hon) Pettigrew, Mike & Jenny Roe (Hons), Jane Smith, Maj Chinbahadur Thapa, and William Shuttlewood. It was particularly good to see John Carruthers, all the way over from Labuan, and also to see Jane Smith back with us again after a few years absence.

Jon Aslett putts out on the 18 th admired by John Carruthers and William Shuttlewood with the flag. The winner of the Sirmoor Golf Cup for 2014 was Mark Pettigrew – who is a very worthy holder of the cup having always been in the top three for several years. He won it with a terrific score of 37 points, in- cluded two Eagles, which is exceptional golf for an eight handicapper!

28 Mark Pettigrew – Sirmoor Golf Champion 2014 with Trophy & Sirmoor Cap

Others winners were - Runner Up: Alexander Kemmis Betty. Third: Richard Kemmis Betty. Highest Lady's Score: Rosaleen Harrop. Near- est the Pin on the 6 th : Jane Smith. Nearest the Pin on the 13 th : Vernon Beauchamp. Longest Drive on the 10 th : Bruce Jackman. Longest Drive on the 18 th : Maj Chinbahadur Thapa. The Sevi Prize for the most auda- cious play of the day was won by Alexander Kemmis Betty for getting an outstanding score of 36 points without once being on the correct fairway, which meant that he was forever having to do astonishing re- covery shots! The 'Aslett Prize' for the highest score by an 18+ Handi- cap player was won by William Shuttlewood. Our thanks go to Charlie Kemmis Betty for organising such a wonder- ful championship that was enormous fun. BCJ

29 SIRMOOR SKIING Andorra. 9-16 March 2014 Once again David Scotson, OIC Sirmoor Skiing, organised a thor- oughly enjoyable skiing trip, this time it was to Andorra. The Sirmoor Skiers were, Bruce Jackman, David & Franziska Scotson, and John Swanston. The Honorary Sirmoor Skiers who had all been with us be- fore were, Michael Waggett, Richard & Julia Bridges and Stephen Cheshire. This was a good size group and, although some were clearly better skiers, we could all maintain good speed, stay together and cover the distance.

Stephen, Julia, Franziska, Richard, Bruce, Michael, David, John Andorra is a tax haven and duty free enclave. This is reflected in most of the shops selling alcohol in enormous four to six litre bottles, and drinks in the hotel and on the slopes were cheap. Most of us qualified for the free over-70s ski passes! The resort of Pas de la Casa, in the east of the country, was about two hours drive from Toulouse airport. We stayed in the Casado Hotel; a very adequate hotel within 200m walk of the ski hire shop and adjacent ski lifts, and with charming staff who could not have been more helpful. At the start of our visit the delight- ful, smiling, Spanish bar attendant was not too familiar with mixing

30 G&Ts. As a result for the first few evening we received tumblers mixed 50/50. Unfortunately the new manager soon put him right. Staying in the same hotel were two retired RAF pilots and their wives including Peter and Holly Jeffers who have been part of the Sirmoor Turkish Sailing Odysseys over the last few years. Speed and dedication for these retired fighter pilots was their priority, whereas we concen- trated more on leisurely coffee and lunch breaks. We all agreed that the skiing was some of the best we could have wished for. The pistes were beautifully maintained, very wide and not crowded. The four resorts in Andorra are well connected and conse- quently there is a huge variety of runs. The chair-lifts were fast with hardly any queues. We had no dramas and very few ‘man down inci- dents’ therefore John Swanston’s medical skills this time were not re- quired. We had cloudless blue skies and sunshine every day. Eat your heart out readers! Thank you David and Franziska for a blissful skiing holiday. BCJ ~~~~~~~~~ ARMCHAIR BATTLEFIELD TOURS 'North Africa – World War II'. 27 March 2014 It was a disappointing turnout of 25 (of whom 17 were Sirmoories) to hear Gordon Corrigan deliver yet another masterly, amusing and in- formative talk on the North Africa campaign that involved 1/2GR (and other Gurkhas); in particularly the capture of General Von Arnhem by the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Showers, in extraordi- nary circumstances. It was good to see his daughter, Judy Russell and her husband Johnnie, in the audience. The next Armchair Battlefield Tour follows on from North Africa. Gordon will take us to ' Italy – World War II' on Tuesday 2 December 2014. I hope there will be a full attendance (40) because of course the Regiment was very heavily engaged in the Italian Campaign. BCJ

31 NEWS FROM MEMBERS

From Major John Burlison:

The Great Gurkha Dance When you go to a Gurkha Band concert or other Gurkha performance you are sometimes entertained by the ‘Great Gurkha Kukri Dance’. It is billed as traditional Gurkha culture and coming straight from the high hills and valleys of the Himalayas. If you wonder the origins of this display, the following might help. In summer of 1968 a large contingent from the brigade came to the UK to put Gurkhas in the UK Public eye. The contingent comprised the 2 nd Goorkhas Regimental Band with (the late) Major Dinty Moore as the Director of Music and Captain Hastabahadur Thapa as Assistant DOM, 2 GR Buglers and pipers, drummers and support staff from other regiments of the Brigade. I was appointed the OIC and Rodney Shoesmith from 6 GR was 2iC. Our base was the old and empty Cav- alry Barracks in Aldershot from where we would drive to our per- formances. Our main venues were the large county shows around Eng- land and Wales and the Royal Tournament in London and the Edin- burgh Tattoo. The band programme was a standard marching and mu- sic display of military music with bugles and the pipes and drums. This display lasted about eight minutes. All was fine until we came to prepare for the Edinburgh Tattoo who suddenly said they wanted more than eight minutes; could we extend to twelve. Nobody now knows whose basic idea it was but all of a sudden a Gurkha dance was conceived which involved waving around and shouting “Hoki Hoina? Ho, Ho, Ho!”. Luckily one of the clerks, Mohan Chhetri from 2/2, had some Nepali musical background and suggested the Nepali tune “ Chepe kholako chiso pani” ( ‘ The Chepe stream never dries and brave Gurkha’s heads are never bowed’ ) which Dinty Moore arranged for the Band to play. Later the tune was changed to " Lahureko Relimai Pheshanai Ramro" ( ‘Being a Soldier is good, dressed in red with a 32 kukri’ .) Captain Hastabahadur and Mohan then came up with some initial dance steps which by trial and error by the lead ‘dancer’, now Captain Benbahadur Ale, were choreographed into the dance you now see. Initially it was really a bit of a ‘Drill’. My role in all this was to see the finished product and say “Jolly Good!” and agree that we should put it forward to the Edinburgh Tat- too for their approval. They came to see a rehearsal and very much liked the dance saying it was most original and they had never seen anything like it before (which was not surprising since it was only con- jured up the previous week in the back of a drill shed!). The Brigade of Gurkhas Liaison Officer to MOD London, (the late) Lt Col Charles Wylie 10GR, also saw it and approved on behalf of HQBG. At the first performances of the dance in Edinburgh I went to the stand of the spectators to pick up comments and reactions from the audience. These seemed favourable and some people gave a cheer and clap when the dancers did their ‘chop’. This confirmed that the ‘Kukri Dance’ should join the Band’s repertoire. Of course it is necessary for the dancers to perform in a spirited, manly and vigorous manner as origi- nally conceived otherwise it appears silly and childish. It wants to be fiery not fairy! The dance now features not only here in the UK but also has been adopted in Nepal by dance groups who go round hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara. When the thing was first produced it was to fit a spare four minutes. We had no idea it would become regarded as of real Nepali provenance. I do not know if such a dance existed before or if there is another elsewhere now. I am grateful to Captain Hastabahdur and Captain Benbahadur who have provided information to this article. And to Major Norley, the current Brigade DoM, who confirmed the title of the current dance tune. Captain Ben adds that whenever he or any of the others involved at the time witness the dance in Nepal or UK they cannot withhold ‘a wry smile’; and neither can I!

33 From Field Marshal Sir John Chapple. We have recently been given a small book entitled ‘Rules of the Offi- cers Mess of the 2 nd (KEO) Goorkhas’ dated 1912. It belonged to Lieu- tenant Newall (later Marshal of the RAF Lord Newall) see below. It was passed on by his son, a supporter of the Gurkha Welfare Trust, and will be put in the Gurkha Museum.

Lieutenant Newall The son of Lieutenant Colonel WP Newall who served in 2 GR from 1872 to 1897, he himself served in the regiment from 1909 to 1919 when he was appointed to a permanent commission in the RAF. He had spent much of the World War 1 seconded from 2 GR to the Royal Fly- ing Corps and was three times mentioned in dispatches as well as be- ing awarded an Albert Medal 1 st class, CMG and CBE. He became Mar- shal of the RAF in 1940 and Governor General of New Zealand from 1941 to 46. ( Not bad for a 2 GR subaltern! Ed ) Lord Newall was an Hon- orary member of The Sirmoor Club and presided at the first SRA lunch after World War 2. The Rules contain some fascinating comments and instructions, some of which are given below.

RULES OF THE OFFICERS’ MESS 1912

The Mess Writer (a) The mess writer is under the orders of the Mess President only. (b) He is generally responsible that all account and office books are written up-to-date and brought up for signature monthly. (c) It is his duty to know the Mess Rules and Orders and to bring to the notice of the Mess President any irregularities he may observe. (d) He lives in the mess compound and is permitted to keep a cow and calf. (e) He has charge of the Mess Stationery. 34 (f) He will assist in stock taking and in counting wines and stores if required. (g) He is responsible that the papers in the ante-room are changed, as new ones are received, and that the bearer lays them out correctly each morning and evening. (h) He will write the menus for breakfast and dinner (i) He will stamp all correspondence with the Mess Office stamp and also all stationery in the mess office table. (j) He will see that Rule 50 is complied with every Monday morn- ing and on Wednesday will let the Khansamah (cook) and Senior Khit- matgar(butler/waiter) know the number of people dining at mess that evening. (k) The Mess Writer will also be in charge of all groceries and simi- lar stores and will keep all books connected with catering. (l) He is responsible that the telephone is immediately answered whenever it rings, and if the officer who is called up is in the mess will at once send a Khitmatgar to inform him.

Billiard Marker (a) He will mark at Billiards and will look after the billiard table and its appurtenances. (b) He will clean the mess plate which is kept in the safe in the Havildar’s room. He will polish the Dining and Delhi Table.

The Khansamah (Cook) (a) The Khansamah keeps his own staff of cooks, &c. (b) He will take orders only from the Mess President and the Members of Mess Committee in charge of catering. (c) Any complaints against him must be made to the Mess Presi- dent in writing.

35 (d) He is permitted to keep poultry in the mess compound for the supply of the mess. He is supplied with a fowl house, for the cleanli- ness of which he is responsible. (e) His account for bazaar-bought items is settled weekly. (f) He will not allow any private servant to enter the kitchen, for the cleanliness of which he is at all times held responsible. He will re- move all victuals, &c., from the kitchen while it is being swept out. (g) The Mess Khansamah should, in his contract, undertake to sup- ply both Battalions with a good cook to accompany it on service, or manoeuvres, or in camp. (h) Once a day he will bring to the mess office the menu, of the day’s dinner and with it the menu for the following day’s breakfast, to be written up by the mess writer. (i) The hours for service in the cookhouse will be as follows; Ser- vice for breakfast will go on from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Between 11 a.m. and noon the cookhouse will be cleared and swept out. (j) Service for lunch will go on from 12.30 noon till 2.30 p.m. Be- tween 2.30 and 3 the cookhouse will again be cleared and swept out. (k) Service for dinner will go on between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. after which the cookhouse will be cleaned for the night, the lamp given to the Havildar and the cookhouse locked up.

The Mali (Gardener) (a) The Mali will work in the garden from early morning till sunset or 6 p.m. which over comes first. (b) He has the garden coolies under him and he is responsible for their presence at the mess during work-hours. (c) If any garden servants are required for mess fatigue they will be called for by the Mess Havildar, through the Mali. (d) The hours of recess for the Mali and garden coolies are from 12 to 2. 36 The Massalchi (scullery man) (a) The Massalchi is allowed 10 seers of charcoal daily to provide hot water for use in the scullery and for officers’ baths, but any surplus charcoal at the end of the day has to be accounted for next day. (b) He is responsible for the cleanliness of the scullery, the hot case and water boiler.

The Sweeper (a) The Sweeper is responsible for the cleanliness of the compound, servants’ lines and the receptacles for collecting the washing of the cook house and scullery sinks. (b) He also brushes out the verandahs of the Mess once a day and the cook house three times a day.

The Baker The rent of the Mess Bakery is Rs. 10 per mensem (per month).

37 From KB Christie [1959 – 61]

Ken Christie unveils the plaque honouring his father, Lance Corporal 'Jock' Christie VC. Looking on is Field Marshal Sir John Chapple.

A plaque honouring a railwayman who won the Victoria Cross for bravery during the First World War has been unveiled at Euston sta- tion in London. Lance Corporal John Alexander 'Jock' Christie received Britain's high- est military award for valour for his actions during the Palestine cam- paign against Turkish and German forces in 1917. Jock, served with 1/11th Battalion The London Regiment (Finsbury Rifles). Armed with bombs, he single-handedly repelled an enemy attempt to retake newly captured positions during fighting at Feija, near the Mediterranean port of Jaffa. The plaque commemorating Jock Christie was unveiled by his son, Ken, at Euston station on 28 March 2014. Jock was employed there as a parcels clerk by the London and North Western Railway before joining the British Army as a volunteer at the outbreak of the Great War.

He is one of only seven railwaymen known to have won the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration awarded to British and Common- wealth military personnel for conspicuous gallantry in the face of the enemy. 38 From Major Sudan Dewan, BEM, [1976 - 94]. “Lost in Wishaw” – Getting to grips with the lingo ! A few years ago I was driving home to Glasgow after picking up the Malaysian Service Medal (Pingat Jasa ) on behalf of our late father at a special ceremony held in Motherwell. On the way back I ran past a small country town of Wishaw. With construction detours and the day time traffic, I was soon driving down a one way street in the wrong direction. Getting lost was a real possibility even with the guidance provided by Tom Tom, GPS, iPhone, so I reverted to the old trusted map reading. Not wanting to appear any more like a lost Japanese tourist, I finally stopped and asked the locals for directions. “Excuse me. But can you tell me how to get to Glasgow?” “Nae problem, pal. Jist heid oot doon that road a bit and when ye get tae the roon ‘bout, ye take a right, rite? Ye’ll come tae a set of traffic lights, rite? Ye go left, rite? Jist past the Shell garage and ye’ll see on yur left, the moturway. Ye cannae miss it.” was the response I received. I ended up in Hamilton, a small town about 12 miles south-east of Glasgow!

[PS: Glaswegian friendliness is legendary. However, the visitor asking for directions is occasionally confused by the subtle nuances of the Glaswegian dialect. This year, Glasgow is hosting the Commonwealth Games, and if you haven’t gotten to know this vibrant city already, now’s the time!]

39 BOOK REVIEWS

Mr Wonderful Seeks Immortality The Diary of a Restless Man by John Nott published by Silver Wood Book at £ 10. ISBN 978-1-78132-197-3. 278 pages. ‘It all began in Cambridge. We were gathered there for the Alumni Weekend, when a thousand elderly graduates return to hear lectures from the great minds of the 21st century.’ One of the questions posed was, will civilisation survive the 21 st cen- tury? This sets Nott pondering his own mortality, the environment, but more importantly, climate change. Will the gloom mongers be proved right? This is serious stuff, but quickly spirals into fantasy. A mixture of fact, fantasy, imagination and truth, Sir John’s writing is extremely funny: one premised on a serious subject but written with an ironic, irreverent twist. Erudite, witty, thoughtful and light hearted, this compilation of essays sets the mind off along lines of commonplace topics that otherwise go unheeded. ~~~~~~~~~~ Book Review for Hong Kong Club News forwarded by Colonel Christopher Lavender.

Uncle Bill: The Authorised Biography of Field Marshal Viscount Slim by Russell Miller Published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson ISBN-10: 0297865846 480 pages Russell Miller's Authorised Biography of Field Marshal Viscount Slim entitled 'Uncle Bill' as all the soldiers in the 'Forgotten' 14th Army knew him - is a very well written account of Bill Slim's life. With ac- cess to the Slim family - the present Viscount (John) Slim is still very much alive - and letters the Field Marshal wrote to his family and friends the author makes the reader feel a close intimacy with the sub- ject - helped also by Russell Miller referring to the great man through- out as simply 'Bill'.

40 It is nevertheless an objective account of 'Bill's' life - fittingly for a man who was never slow to admit his own mistakes and failings, many of which are covered in this hard to put down book. There is a consider- able amount of new information about various episodes of Bill Slim's career - particularly about the shabby attempt by Oliver Leese to sack Slim at the high point of the Burma Campaign as Rangoon was about to fall. This reviewer had also not known that the Field Marshal was recalled from his retirement to become CIGS. Oddly Mr Miller does not mention the peculiar coincidence of Bill Slim taking over Burma Corps to find two of his fellow officers in 1st / 6th Gurkha Rifles as his Divi- sional Commanders - surely a unique moment. The end product is sadly spoiled by an unexplainable absence of any maps - which are essential to understanding the Burma Campaign. By comparison Slim included 21 maps in own book ‘Defeat into Victory'. There are also a number of irritating typos throughout the book. The author and the publisher should have served the memory of arguably the finest British commander in the Second World War with greater thought and attention to detail. Bill Slim would have sacked him! Nevertheless for those that have read Bill Slim's excellent and defini- tive account of the Burma Campaign - 'Defeat into Victory' - and those that have not, this is essential reading to have a better understanding of 'Bill' the man - but have your own map of Burma close to hand!

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The Happy Warrior: from Leeds United to Burma By Jan Rippin published by The Oldfield Bookshop, Bath

This book tells the life of Eric Stephenson in his own words and those of his contemporaries using letters, original photographs, maps, press reports, recollections and regimental records. In his short life Eric trav- elled from working class home in East London to the war torn jungles and mountains of Burma. As a young man he played football for Leeds United FC, achieving national success eventually playing for England.

41 He served in 2 GR from 1942 to 1944 joining 3 rd Battalion on the first Wingate Expedition, after which he served in the Arakan commanding C Company and was a contemporary of Colonel DF Neil [1941 – 72] . He was killed on 8 September 1944.

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Traffic jams in China

42 WORLD WAR ONE

INDIA AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR By Major Gordon Corrigan, MBE As the year 1914 opened there were five great empires in the world. Four – the Russian, German, Austro-Hungarian and British – were ruled by emperors or kings, and one – the French – was republican. On the surface all seemed normal, but the system of checks and bal- ances that had kept the peace in Europe, more or less, since the Con- gress of Vienna in 1815, was beginning to fall apart. Five years later three of those empires had ceased to exist, one emperor had been mur- dered, one had died and one was in exile. The French empire sur- vived, but barely avoiding bankruptcy, and only the emerged looking more or less as it had been in 1914, although huge changes were rumbling beneath the surface. Russia, in 1914 with a population of 164 million, was a huge country stretching 4,000 miles from the Baltic to the Pacific. Nicolas II was the eighteenth Tsar of the Romanov dynasty that had governed Russia for 300 years. His grandfather, Alexander II, was a liberal reformer who had liberated the serfs and, in an attempt to change Russia from an Asian to a European country, made beards illegal. He was then assas- sinated, presumably by a man with a beard. Nicolas’s father, Alexan- der III, was an unrepentant autocrat with the force of will and the abil- ity to impose his will. He built the Trans-Siberian Railway. Nicolas wanted to be an autocrat but lacked the strength of character to be so, having a tendency to listen to whoever spoke to him last, and to agree with the next speaker. Shocked by defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904, and embarrassed by her inability to support the Serbs in the Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913, Russia had embarked on a wholesale programme of military reform, which was coming to fruition in 1914. Since 1892 she had been allied to France. France, defeated and humiliated by Prussia in 1870, her emperor, the nephew of Napoleon I, captured, her government having to witness the promulgation of William of Prussia as German emperor in the Halls of Mirrors in Versailles, her population dragooned into watching 43 a Prussian victory parade down the Champs-Elysées and forced to pay an enormous indemnity, she found herself isolated in Europe and al- lied herself to Russia in 1892. The Entente Cordiale with Britain in 1904 had begun to cool the traditional enmity between the two powers, but as it was intended to resolve colonial rivalry in Africa there was no commitment to assist France in Europe. By 1913, nervous of Germany and with a declining population France increased her term of compul- sory military service from two years to three. Austria-Hungary, the crumbling remnants of the Holy Roman Empire (which as Voltaire remarked was neither holy, roman nor an empire), comprised not only Austria and Hungary but what is now the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina and bits of Poland, Italy, Romania and the Ukraine. Riven by ethnic tensions and increasing separatism with German speaking Austrians occupying the senior posts in government and the army, she was ruled over by the emperor Franz Josef, who had been on the throne since 1848. He had little luck: his empress was assassinated, his only son and heir committed suicide, one daughter died aged two and the other was widely believed not to be his, and his grand nephew, now the heir, would soon also be assassinated. The empire was allied to Germany. By a series of lightning wars against Denmark, Austria and France, Germany had become a united country in 1871 and had great power ambitions. The mark of a great power then was the possession of colo- nies, but now there were none to be had. Searching for Germany’s ‘place in the sun’ found some crumbs left over by the British and the French, and by 1884 Germany had a few territories in Africa, a handful of Pacific islands and treaty ports in China, but none were of much commercial value. Wilhelm II, a grandson of Queen Victoria, was the third German Kaiser and came to the throne in 1888 aged 29. He was probably not a warmonger himself, but he was headstrong, bombastic, jealous of England and allowed himself to be surrounded by those who thought that a pre-emptive war was the only way for Germany to break out of what she saw as a circle of potential enemies (potential through her, Germany’s, own fault). Once the Kaiser dismissed Bis- marck, the architect of German unification, in March 1890, such control that could be exercised to prevent warlike ambitions was gone. 44 Wilhelm’s decision not to renew the ‘reinsurance treaty’ with Russia, a longstanding Prussian policy to prevent having to fight a war on two fronts, not only pushed Russia into the alliance with France but left Germany with no allies save the ramshackle Austro-Hungarian em- pire. For England the policy of splendid isolation was no longer workable. From 1870 she had become less pro-German and less anti-French. Al- though neither the Entente with France, nor the Anglo-Russian agree- ment of 1907 which removed the threat to India, obliged England to intervene in Europe, her guarantee of the integrity of Belgium, a British creation and a client state, certainly did, and the maintenance of the balance of power in Europe, where no one nation could be allowed to dominate the continent, had been a major constituent of British foreign policy for at least 300 years. Then, in 1906, Britain launched the ‘Dreadnought’, an all-big-guns bat- tleship with heavy protective armour and a speed of 21 knots. Over- night it made every warship in the world obsolete and Germany, hith- erto unable to challenge British naval supremacy, began to build too, and initiated the naval arms race. Between 1906 and 1914 Britain launched 29 of the super battleships, and Germany 17. Why would Germany want a blue-water navy? She did not have an empire to de- fend, nor did she depend upon sea routes for trade, while the imported almost 30% of the food that her people consumed. It could only be to challenge the Royal Navy, and as Germany contin- ued to build warships despite a British offer to guarantee her trade routes and access to her colonies, it became obvious that if there were to be a European war then Britain would have to support France. Then, on 29 June 1914, the archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, paying an official visit to Bosnia, annexed in 1908, was assassinated in Sarajevo by a Serbian nationalist. From then on it was only a matter of time. Austria-Hungary issued an ulti- matum to Serbia; Germany supported Austria-Hungary; Russia sup- ported her fellow Slavs in Serbia and France supported her ally Russia. Britain, whose government had initially hoped to be a mere spectator, and then a participant at sea only, was inevitably persuaded to inter- 45 vene on land. In August 1914 the British expeditionary force of four infantry divisions, one cavalry division and an independent brigade began to cross the channel. It was said then and has been said since that the BEF of 1914 was the best equipped, the best trained and the best led body of troops ever to leave these shores, and that is probably true, but it was pitifully small beside the sixty infantry and ten cavalry divisions that the French put in the field. If Britain was to play any meaningful part in the war on land, as opposed to on the seas, then that army had to be reinforced and expanded hugely and swiftly. In time the Territorial Force, the New Armies, and the armies of the Dominions would contribute but that time was not yet, and in 1914 the only source of professional trained manpower was the Indian Army, almost as big as the British army (which latter was spread all over the Empire) and regular volunteers all. As the law stood at the time, once the King declared war then all of the Empire was automatically at war, but successive Secretaries for India had emphasised to the Indian government that in the event of a Euro- pean war the Indian army would not be involved. This was a budget- ary issue, rather than a statement of principle. If India was to prepare for European warfare against a first class enemy then she would have to be armed and equipped to do so, and while the Indian army had plentiful mountain artillery it had no field or heavy artillery units; its infantry were armed with the Mk II SMLE rather than the Mk III and it had no wheeled transport. Neither the British nor the Indian government was prepared to spend the money that would be needed. Fortunately the Indian army paid little heed to po- litical penny pinching: it was obvious that the British would have to call upon them if the war was to last for any length of time – and what- ever civilians and politicians said about a war being over by Christmas, the soldiers knew better – and Indian units had been earmarked for overseas deployment when required. That requirement came very quickly: a division was despatched to Per- sia to protect the oil fields and on 6 and 7 of August the Lahore and Sirhind Infantry divisions (containing, inter alia , six Gurkha battalions) 46 and the Secunderabad cavalry brigade were mobilised for the Western Front and began to move to the embarkation ports of Bombay and Ka- rachi. By September they were landing in Marseilles. Their baptism of fire would not be long in coming. Although figures are uncertain, in all there were probably some 70,000 men from the King Emperor’s India who served in Europe during WW1 between 1914 and 1917, plus about 7, 000 Gurkhas. Of this total, perhaps 40, 000 were killed or wounded.

A TRIP AROUND THE NEUVE CHAPELLE AREA, FLANDERS, JANUARY 2014 By John Lauderdale

I consider myself fortunate that I was born into the Brigade of Gurkhas as my father, Len, served in 2/2GR [1956-1971]. This resulted in an abiding interest from an early age of things Gurkha and Indian Army. As the years passed this developed into a passion for most things mili- tary, albeit with a strong bent towards the Gurkhas and the Indian Army, and all sorts of associated history. From a very early age I had intended to follow in my father’s footsteps, however I chose a career as a Geologist. A few years back while driving to Pairs I noticed a lot of familiar names on the road signs and it suddenly dawned on me that I was traversing the battlefields and that they were incredibly easy to access from southern England. My visit to the Vimy Ridge battlefield, (in March 2009), had no distinct plan as I was in “holiday mode” and thought just to see how things developed. I stayed in Arras, with all the historical links with the Brit- ish Army in WWI, and started to explore the countryside towards Vimy Ridge. Someone recognised my Gurkha badge and told me there was a Gurkha buried in Canadian Cemetery No. II. This then became my first port of call before the Park closed for the day. I was very surprised to find the grave of Major FGC Ross (2 nd KEO Gurkha Rifles [The Sirmoor Rifles] 2 November 1914). I was subse- 47 quently told that there is a very interesting story behind why Major Ross is buried where he is, but perhaps that is a story for someone else to relate. It was also interesting that his brother (6 th Jãt Light Infantry) and father (Bengal Lancers?) were in other Indian Army Regiments, the former mentioned in the 2 GR Regimental History and the latter in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Register for Cana- dian Cemetery No. II. I was then determined to find where Major Ross had been killed as this was some 20 odd kilometres from Vimy, at Neuve Chapelle, a signifi- cant distance taking cognisance of the intensity of the continual ‘attri- tion’ and major battles fought all along the British lines during the long stalemate that ensued from 1914 onwards. Using the Regimental History as a start point I began researching the Neuve Chapelle area which lead to reading up on the various battles in the immediate vicinity, viz Neuve Chapelle in March 1915, the Aubers Ridge and Festubert-Givenchy battles both in May 1915, and subse- quently Fromelles in which the Australians played such a part in July 1916. There were all sorts of other interesting aspects to these battles linking them to other major actions going on along the Western Front at the time, to wider historical points such as a young Adolf Hitler who served in the Fromelles area. All that remained was to find time to actually visit the area! The oppor- tunity arose in early January this year as I was on break from our ex- ploration programmes in central Africa. Making use of ‘Le Shuttle’ for the first time could not have made the trip easier. Within 45 minutes of driving off the train on the French side I was in B éthune, one of the small towns in Flanders much used by the British Army throughout the long period of trench warfare. From here Neuve Chapelle and the areas where 2GR and the other Indian Army Regiments had fought during 1914-15 were only 15 minutes drive away. The trip was more organised than the last self-driven battlefield tour due to all the reading beforehand and there was a lot that I wished to take in. Of paramount importance was the location of the skirmish so blandly described in the Regimental History where Major Ross and other members of 2GR lost their lives. This turned out to be an area of 48 incredibly flat, deeply ploughed arable land that is so common in Flanders and for which the region is both named and has its reputation over the years as being an extremely difficult terrain in which foot sol- diers could operate. Using the sketch maps from the Regimental His- tory coupled with both Google Earth images and the French equiva- lents of our high quality Ordnance Survey maps, (but which can be downloaded online for free at different scales!), I was able to trace the actions of early November 1914, from where the Company HQ was sited, through the approximate positions of the ‘trenches’, and the routes of the supporting and relieving units. The contrast of the quiet, rural scenes without any significant foot or vehicular traffic, made the whole scene more poignant. I tried to compare it to the time of the ac- tions of those brave men who had come so far, to a theatre which was so very different to that which they were accustomed. Once I had walked this action and its locale, I was able to trace sections of the other major actions in the vicinity. I walked the village of Neuve Chapelle and traced out the battlefield of 2GR during the Neuve Chapelle battle itself, from their start line close to Port Arthur to the Bois de Biez, and where they retired back to the Lys brook close to the Smith Dorrien line. Trying to imagine the actual situation of the troops advancing across such flat but sticky ground, heavily laden as they probably were, was difficult. Then realising that they were advancing across such open and torn up ground that was being swept by machine gun and rifle fire, exploding grenades and artillery shells, required real imagination and I could only admire their tenacity, courage and sheer professionalism as men and soldiers. These feelings returned time and again as I toured through the different battlefields and sites of so much heroism, suffering and sacrifice. I spent the next three days touring around, a small area of less than 10km from one end to the other but which had seen so much ‘action’ over the period 1914-1916. The effect of ‘terrain’, such an innocuous phrase, is superbly exemplified in this area as the Aubers Ridge rises a mere 30m above the Flanders plain. It does not appear to be much from the plains where our lines were for much of the war, but viewed from the ridge, for example the location of the newest CWGC cemetery, Fromelles, the advantage is strikingly clear. 49 While the involvement of 2GR was what had brought me into the area in the first place and looking for the skirmish that had cost Major Ross his life and that of a number of other Gurkha officers, NCOs and men, it was important to realise that the contribution of 2GR and the other Indian Army units, was part of a much, much bigger ‘whole’. All the contributions were important to a greater or lesser degree and ensured ultimate victory of the Allied side. The early part of the year in which I happened to visit both Vimy Ridge and the Neuve Chapelle area is in some ways a very good time to visit. The weather is usually terrible, or has the potential to be awful at any given time, and therefore provides a very real indication of just how ghastly it must have been to fight in these conditions, especially if ill-equipped as the Indian Army was during at least part of the 1914-15 winter. There are also very few other people around such that the vast majority of places you have to yourself, especially those that are more off the beaten track and/or were not part of the famous ‘big’ battles. The down side is of course, there are no caf és open and you either have to be prepared and take your own ‘grub’ along, or go hungry to the end of the day. The CWGC graveyards are usually in immaculate condition (repairs were on-going in several while I was there) and provide a very poign- ant reminder of the supreme sacrifice by so many in the line of their duty. Less obvious are the sacrifices made by those who survived but were scarred either physically or mentally. For me personally I find this sort of trip to be fascinating from all sorts of historical and profes- sional perspectives, but also extremely humbling. Would I have ‘meas- ured up’ given such conditions, would I have been able to serve with such honour as these men? I do not think that I will ever know. Despite this, I would again consider myself fortunate that I will proba- bly never have to undergo such tests due, in part, to what my forebears had undergone in the area around Neuve Chapelle.

50 THE CHATTRI MEMORIAL, BRIGHTON Contributed by Major JJ Burlison North of Brighton near the village of Patcham there stands a fine edi- fice of white marble with surrounding granite steps set among the green fields of the South Downs. This is what is called ‘The Chattri’ and is a memorial to the soldiers of the Imperial Indian Army who died while patients at the military hospital that had been set up in the Royal Pavilion in the town. The Royal Pavilion, Brighton

King George IV first visited Brighton in 1783, and acquired the prop- erty of Grove House as a place to escape to from London. The resi- dence went through many revisions between 1815 and 1822. The de- signer John Nash redesigned and greatly extended the site which then became know as ‘The Pavilion’, and it is the work of Nash which can be seen today. The palace looks rather striking in the middle of Brigh- ton, having a very Indian appearance on the outside. During the First World War, the Pavilion, along with other sites in Brighton, was transformed into a military hospital. From November 1914 to early 1916, recovering soldiers from the Imperial Indian Army were stationed here. In 1916 the Indian Army Soldiers were moved on from Brighton after their redeployment in the Middle East. By that stage, roughly 14,000 wounded Indian, Sikh and Gurkha servicemen

51 had passed through the town's hospitals. The Pavilion continued to be used as a hospital for wounded British soldiers until the end of the war in 1918. The Hospital With large numbers of sick and wounded Indians in hospitals at Brigh- ton inevitably there were sadly deaths from time to time. It was impor- tant to respect religious or caste requirements in the matter of their fu- neral arrangements. Hindus, including Sikhs and Gurkhas, were traditionally cremated and their ashes scattered. The cremations of all Indian soldiers who died in Brighton hospitals took place at the spot 500 feet above sea level on the South Downs near Patcham that we now know as the site of the Chat- tri. 53 cremations took place at Patcham, the first on 31st December 1914 and the last on 30 December 1915. The small number of deaths at Brighton in proportion to the total number of men hospitalised was rightly a matter of pride to the hospi- tals concerned but it should be remembered that most deaths from wounds occurred at Field Ambulances and Casualty Clearing Stations within the proximity of the front line. The men at Brighton had sur- vived these facilities and also voyages and treatment on hospital ships before completing their treatment and convalescing here.

Dedicated to soldiers of the Imperial Indian Army who fought on the Euro- pean Western Front during the First World War.

52 The Chattri After the end of the war the contribution made by the Indian Army was seen as crucial in defeating the enemy, and two monuments were erected in recognition and appreciation. The first of these, the Chattri Memorial, was built on the Downs near Patcham to honour the Indian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. The second memorial commemorates the part Brighton and its inhabi- tants played in caring for the wounded Indian soldiers. As a tribute to 'Doctor Brighton', a gateway was erected at the Royal Pavilion to mark the appreciation from the people of India for nursing their kinsmen. The Chattri, which means umbrella in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu, was designed by EC Henriques from Mumbai. Three large granite slabs lie over the original concrete crematory bases. The design symbolises the protection offered to the memory of the dead. The Chattri bears the following inscription in Hindi and English: To the memory of all the Indian soldiers who gave their lives for their King in the Great War, this monument, erected on the site of the funeral pyre where the Hindus and Sikhs who died in hospital at Brighton, passed through the fire, is in grateful admiration and brotherly affection dedicated. The Chattri stands in memory of all soldiers from the Indian sub- continent who died during the First World War, 1914-1918, but it is particularly associated with the 53 Hindu, Gurkha and Sikh soldiers who died in hospitals in Brighton and whose remains were cremated at this spot. The original idea for a memorial is attributed to Lieutenant Das Gupta of the Indian Medical Service, who approached the then mayor of Brighton, Mr J (later Sir John) Otter in August 1915 for permission to erect a memorial on the site where cremations took place. The mayor embraced the idea with great enthusiasm and became the driving force behind it. The Prince of Wales performed the opening ceremony on 1 February 1921.

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The Chattri Memorial Service On the Downs near Patcham, Brighton (Standen Lane, Patcham, Brighton, BN1 8ZB) However there was much discussion thereafter regarding maintenance of the site and inevitably the Chattri fell into disrepair. The first public service of commemoration since the 1921 opening ceremony took place on 18 September 1932 for which the site was read- ied. There was a large gathering of veterans and officials, chief among them being the High Commissioner for India. For the next few years some repair work was carried out and there was an annual pilgrimage, coordinated by the British Legion, until the Second World War when the surrounding land became part of a training area. The British Legion Pilgrimage was restarted in 1951 annually in the last week of June, with a parade around the memorial, until 1999. Then a local Sikh teacher, Davinder Dhillon, hearing of the second demise of the Chattri Pilgrimage, approached the British Legion with a view to resurrecting the event and under his stewardship it has continued to be held annually on the third Sunday in June since 2000. Attendance includes representatives of the Undivided Indian Ex- Service Association, the Brighton and Hove Hindu Elders Group, members of the Armed Forces and police, the local MP, the mayor and local people. Thus a unique and fittingly dignified memorial service is maintained.

54 Tail Piece

Re: HOTEL BREAKFASTS When travelling the world I generally enjoy meals in hotels. You and the other guests are given a menu of local dishes from which to choose. This is the chef’s short selection of seasonal fare and it is the same choice for everyone. I usually go for something I don’t get at home as a change. But not for breakfast. For the first meal of the day you don’t want something different from home: everyone seeks his/her personal or national preference. Thus hotels feel obliged to supply a large range of international foods for their guests. The Germans must have their cold meats and pickles; the Danes their cheese and fruit; the French demand coffee, bread and confiture ; the Italians like their salami and gherkin; the Greeks presumably like yoghurt and fruit; the American day can not start without pancakes, nutella or peanut butter, and eggs ‘over easy’. [I have often tried at home to turn fried eggs over in the cooking and it is not easy – they break up, so why the name? The alternative style seems to be ‘sunny side up’ which is a pretty banal name for or- dinary fried eggs.] The point here is that whereas lunch and dinner are served in a smart, neat dining room in a convivial atmosphere with tables well spaced and with a show of style, the breakfast selections necessitate such a large buffet of choices it often has to be laid out in the ball room or some other large impersonal gathering place of no grace or appeal. I stayed at one hotel where half the breakfast array strayed into the car park. Apart from the curious question one is asked about which side you want your eggs cooked (try that on the chicken) there is then the possi- ble problem of whether the toaster will work. Despite lessons from the waiters one sometimes finds that the machine only cooks one side, and that slowly, or neither side because the filament is broken although the movement still works, or that it goes so fast the next person gets your toast.

55 It is also frustrating trying to get a refill of coffee from a waiter (or waitress) whose eye will not be caught. They must be trained how to travel round the room clearing used plates and laying new places while avoiding the attention of guests who actually need further provi- sions. One sits there feeling like a grinning scarecrow, but now trying to attract attention – although not too obviously, conscious that other guests’ eyes are on you watching how you get on, and the answer is - not very well: you still haven’t got any more coffee! All this is after you have persuaded a somewhat stern lady leaning on a lectern at the entrance to the breakfast place that you are indeed a paid-up guest entitled to breakfast, but have left your breakfast coupon upstairs in your room which is number … – well it must on the key, but nowadays the key is a plastic card, and is blank. You remember the room is on the third floor and you tell her that coming down you passed a lovely array of orchids and a fine figure of a deity who is holding up two fingers…! Anyway you convince her eventually and get your breakfast – no less than what some hotels at home call a ‘Full English’, presumably to baf- fle the foreigners! JJB

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The Editor thanks Jane Spurr as always for detailed proof reading and advice . The Editor

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