The Oldest living Gurkha

Discussion in 'British Indian Army' started by bamboo43, Jan 31, 2019.

  1. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    kopite, Cee, sol and 5 others like this.
  2. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    4th Ind Div by the sounds of it.
    Might have to write to this chap.

    He mentions seeing another Gurkha from 6th Gurkha Rifles.
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2019
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  3. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Worth a go CF, the GWT are pretty good at attempting to pass on communications and he live close by to one of their centres too. Good luck.
     
  4. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I've fired of a polite email to the GWT to enquire with with which unit he served.

    There was certainly one surviving veteran with his name from 1/2 GR, but I can't be sure it's the same man.
     
  5. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Only two Gurkha battalions fought in Tunisia, 1/2nd GR and 1/9th GR. Not sure what that medal on his chest is, but ribbon on it has 2nd Gurkha Rifles red and black chess squares.
     
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  6. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Not a surprise, but there's no sign of his name and number in the 1/2 GR War Diary for 1944.
    Annoyingly, I don't have a copy of 1943.
     
  7. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    They're pretty hot on communications: I received a reply in about an hour:

    Thanks so much for your interest in Lal’s story. You are absolutely right with one of your possibilities – he served in 1/2GR between Nov 1940 and April 1947. He served in 1/2GR between Nov 1940 and April 1947.
    His army number is 2881.
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2019
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  8. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    A good result so far. Did they ask for a donation?
     
  9. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    No, but if their centre in Nepal passes on my letter (as soon as I get back from holiday and actually write it), I might well make one unsolicited.
     
  10. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Looks like medal on his chest is the Commemorative Medal for 200 years of 2nd Goorkhas. On images is miniature version of the medal

    s-l1600.jpg s-l1601.jpg
     
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  11. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks sol. I like the design of this medal and the striking colours of the riband.
     
  12. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    James.

    The red and black chequered squares are certainly the colours of 2 GR and 1/2 GR were at Cassino although I am not sure that he was right about seeing a soldier from 6 GR. 6 GR never served with 4 Ind Div nor 8 or 10 Ind Divs.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  13. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    2nd GR Durbar at Pokhara March 2015. Veterans receive their 200th Year Commemorative Medal:

    2nd GR march off Commemmedal.jpg
     
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  14. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Yes, I reached the same conclusion about 6GR. I wondered whether perhaps he could have been previously a man who he knew had previously been with that battalion, the past perfect (or equivalent) could have been badly translated.

    Total guess, of course.
     
  15. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    It could be that he actually meant 6th Rajputana Rifles which had battalion in 4th Indian Division or 9th Gurkha Rifles, even tho both of this regiments had battalions in different brigade, 5th Brigade while 2nd Goorkhas was in 7th. We could only guess.
     

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