3/2 Gurkhas in the Arakan.

I have nothing to add......... just thought I would just pop in and say what a great thread this is guys nice one

 

P/A/Naik Parbir Pun
25914
3rd Bn, 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)

Awarded with the Military Medal

Naik Parbir was commanding a section of C Coy which scaled the cliffs and reached the crest of the Mayu Range North of Pt.1433. At 0430 hrs on 8 Sep. At 0500 hrs he led his section into the Assault under heavy fire with the greatest dash. He drove enemy from forward positions and finally seized a small hill 80 yards North of Pt.1433. He established his section on this hill and returned the enemy's fire with such effect that no counter attack was launched. He was later joined by portions of the two other sections of his platoon, which had now lost its Commander and 2nd i/c. He assumed command of the platoon, and organised it for all round defence. Although under constant fire from various enemy bunkers close at hand, he encourage his tired men and inspired them with his determination to hold his precarious position at all costs. This he did for ten hours until relieved by a Platoon of D Coy. This position, from which the enemy made determined efforts to dislodge our troops, was held throughout and without doubt made the enemy realise that his remaining positions on the feature were untenable and finally decide to withdraw.

This junior N.C.O. influenced the battle in away scarcely to be expected of one so young and displayed outstanding gallantry and powers of leadership under the most adverse conditions.

 

P/L/Naik Narjang Gurung
10040
3rd Bn, 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)

Recommended for the Indian Distinguished Service Medal
Awarded with the Military Medal

L/Naik Narjang was commanding a section of A Coy, which reached the crest of the Mayu Range South of Pt.1433 at 0500 hrs on 8 Sep. '44. He gallantry led his section into the attack and overcoming opposition, occupied a Japanese position. Although under heavy fire from bunkers 30 yards away, he held his position until relieved on the following morning. He led an I.E. demolition party to some enemy bashas, where an ammunition dump was destroyed, and documents obtained. Some of the bashas contained food, water and bedding. These bashas he arranged to keep under fire from his section position and inflicted losses on the several enemy parties which tried to reach them by day and by night.

It was probably to no small extent due to his devotion to duty in holding his unfavourable position under adverse conditions that the enemy, deprived of his supplies, was soon forced to withdraw from Pt.1433.

 

Rifleman Haribahadur Khattri
28213
3rd Bn, 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)

Recommended for the Indian Distinguished Service Medal
Awarded with the Military Medal

Rifleman Haribahadur is serving in a section of C Coy, which reached the crest of the Mayu range a little North of Pt.1433 at 0430 hrs on 8 Sep. '44. At 0500 hrs his section led the Assault on the enemy positions to the South. In the face of intense enemy M.M.G., small arms and grenade fire he was to fore and, passing Japanese bunkers, he reached the top of the objective alone. Looking back he saw one of our Bren gunners lying near an occupied enemy trench. In the thick jungle he could see none of our men, so he decided to attack the trench single handed. This he successfully did, killing or wounding several Japs with his grenades. Still under heavy fire from other positions he picked up our Bren, the rifle of another of our killed, one of the dead Jap's rifles and with his own arms intact succeeded in rejoining his section, which had been pinned by fire a little further North.

The courage, determination and devotion to duty of this young soldier in his first action, after an extremely arduous approach march, is in the best traditions of the Service.

 

sol,

Would you like a copy (Excel) of the listing I am working from?
It's the least I can do really!

You can upload it here and I'll see what I can find.

 

P/A/Naik Parbir Pun
25914
3rd Bn, 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)

Awarded with the Military Medal


Parbir Pun was previously wounded during the actions on the Maungdaw/Buthidang road.

 

Rifleman Haribahadur Khattri
28213
3rd Bn, 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)

Recommended for the Indian Distinguished Service Medal
Awarded with the Military Medal


Haribahadur Khattri was eventually wounded in the build up to the Tamandu action in 1945.

 

Ok,

With the massive input from sol over the last 2 nights here are the listings for 3/2 Gurkhas over the period of the war and a little beyond.

I tried to hand some reps out to the man but was told to spread it around a bit more!!!

Credit where credit is due say I.

Thanks also must go to a contact on another forum too. Thanks Chris.

Please feel free to download and use, also any comments or corrections are welcome.

 

Steve I don't think that all those listed as died on 30 April 1944 were killed in some action. Especially because none was listed as wounded on that day. Is it possible that they were actually somehow connected with the first Chindit expedition and was pronounced as MIA but later that was changed as KIA. Similar with those listed as died on 1.11.1948. Just a thought.

 

Steve I don't think that all those listed as died on 30 April 1944 were killed in some action. Especially because none was listed as wounded on that day. Is it possible that they were actually somehow connected with the first Chindit expedition and was pronounced as MIA but later that was changed as KIA. Similar with those listed as died on 1.11.1948. Just a thought.


Thanks for the input sol,

When I first got these lists last year and began to work on them, I wondered about that date as being of possible Chindit relevance? Firstly, as you say a kind of cut off period for those MIA in 1943 or found to be POW even. Then I wondered if some of the survivors from 'Longcloth' went back in on Chindit 2? They would have been attached to other units in this case though.

All if's and but's as usual mate.

 

Steve if you want I can post citation for all members of 3/2nd Gurkhas who were awarded with some medal in Arakan.

There is also some other thing that could be interesting for you. Adrian Hayter, who served with the battalion in Arakan, wrote couple of autobiography books. One of then which cover his military life is "The Second Step". I didn't read it and I don't how much details about operations in Arakan you can find in book or is there any info of some men who served with Chindits but maybe it could be interesting reading. He spent most his war service with 4/2nd Gurkhas on the North-West Frontier but seems that for some time during 1945 he was CO of 3/2nd Gurkhas.

 

Steve if you want I can post citation for all members of 3/2nd Gurkhas who were awarded with some medal in Arakan.

There is also some other thing that could be interesting for you. Adrian Hayter, who served with the battalion in Arakan, wrote couple of autobiography books. One of then which cover his military life is "The Second Step". I didn't read it and I don't how much details about operations in Arakan you can find in book or is there any info of some men who served with Chindits but maybe it could be interesting reading. He spent most his war service with 4/2nd Gurkhas on the North-West Frontier but seems that for some time during 1945 he was CO of 3/2nd Gurkhas.

Anything you have is always welcome my friend, this area of work is a supplement to my overall goal of collating as many of the participants from operation 'Longcloth' as possible.

Thanks also for the note about Hayter's book.

Steve.

 

Anything you have is always welcome my friend, this area of work is a supplement to my overall goal of collating as many of the participants from operation 'Longcloth' as possible.

Thanks also for the note about Hayter's book.

Steve.

Ok, I will start tomorrow. Now cuz we already said so much about Pt.1433 here's the map which show where is it

 

Maybe you already know for this but I found it only the last night. Story about Subedar Tikajit Pun who served with battalion during the First Chindit and later in Arakan.

The MV Sangola Bugles.

 

Steve those listed as having died on 1 Nov 1948 are not listed in the Roll of Honour of the Regiment for Malaya 1948-60

Dead of the British Armed Forces During the Malaya Emergency 1948-1960

So I guess that they were probably on that day pronounced as dead instead of MIA.

 

Here is a page from the battalion War diary for 1944. I cannot recall where I got hold of these, as I do not have the whole diary on my computer!!

These documents show the battalion's position as of January 1944, through to just before (annoyingly) their involvement at Maungdaw.

 

Another page continuing the battalion's story in early 1944. Here, a listing of medal awards to men, most of who are cited by sol earlier in this thread. They received their awards from Major General Wood.

Well done sol.

 

Steve those listed as having died on 1 Nov 1948 are not listed in the Roll of Honour of the Regiment for Malaya 1948-60

Dead of the British Armed Forces During the Malaya Emergency 1948-1960

So I guess that they were probably on that day pronounced as dead instead of MIA.


sol,

I think you are right and that the dates 30.04.44 and 01.11.48 are dates of no return for soldiers lost prior, in the Chindit 1 and 3rd Arakan campaigns.

The men killed during the Malayan emergency throws up another massive question for me, how many of the Gurkhas from WW2 went on to serve in the post war actions with the British Army?

It is very frustrating looking at those names and wondering if they took part in operation 'Longcloth'!!!

I know that it is unlikely that too many would have completed all the WW2 actions and still be fit enough to progress to service in the BA, but we are talking about very tough men here.

 

W/S Lieutenant Dominic Fitzgerald Neill
E.C.6430
3rd Bn, 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)

Awarded with the Military Cross

During the month of June 1944, bodies of Japanese troops were operating in the villages North of the Ton Chaung, about 10 miles South of Maungdaw. A request that a force be sent to the area was made by village headman.
In acocordance with this request, Lieut. Neill was snt on 27th June with small escort, an improvise H.Q. and one Rifle Platoon. His instructions were to:

(a) Restore the confidence of villagers
(b) Secure identifications
(c) Inflict losses of the enemy

During the seven days of independant command, at a considerable distance from the nearest troops, Lt. Neill boldly harrassed the enemy and dominated the whole area. With his small force he fought three brisk actions, which resulted in at least 27 Japanese being (known) killed, without suffering a single casualty. He undoubtedly inflicted other losses, and arranged for artillery fire which definitely caused further casualties. He obtained identifications, and captured one enemy agent and one JIF. On one occasion, when breaking off contact with a superior enemy force, he assisted six Gurkhas, who were very tired and weighed down with their Arms and equipment, to swim across deep swiftly fibwing chaungs.

On another occasion he relentlessly pursued a party of Japanese for 3,000 yards through fields and villages and finally destroyed it entirely.

The manner in which Lt. Neill carried out his task was outstanding. He was throughout in close touch with the enemy, day and night. He displayed great courage, devotion to duty and powers of dealing with rapidly changing situations. His leadership undoubtelly inspired all ranks under his command.

 

P/Lance Naik Deb Sing Thapa
10043
3rd Bn, 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)

Awarded with the Indian Distinguished Service Medal

L/Nk. Deb Sing, of the Battalion Intelligence Section, accompanied Lt. Neill on all recconaissances and in all actions during the operations North of the Ton Chaung from 27th June to 4th July.
He coolly killed several Japanese outright at close range with single rounds from his rifle. On one occasion he obtained permission to take a Bren gun round a flank to deal at close range with an enemy party concealed in some scrub. He worked his way alone to within 50 yards of the enemy, who then opened fire on him. Exposing himself to fire from several directions he placed the Bren gun on the top of a bund and effectively engaged his target, thus materially assisting the remainder of the patrol. On another occasion he fearlessly sprinted ahead of a charge against the survivors of a party of Japanese who had been with small arms fire. The only two enemy who were unhurt immediately fled. L/Nk. Deb Sing shot one, and captured the other at the point of the bayonet.

Throughout he reacted immediately, with total disregard for his own safety, to every situation, and displayed outstanding courage and devotion to duty.