History of 2nd King Edward's Own Goorkha Rifles 1921-48

Does anyone here have the above title, the third in a multi-volume set covering the history of 2nd GR?

If so, can you advise on how much of the book is dedicated to 4/2nd GR? Asking because I have a medal group to a man of this battalion but don't necessarily want to shell out for the regimental history if his battalion is given only cursory coverage in it.

The battalion was raised in 1941 and, upon Indian independence, opted en masse for India, at which time it was redesignated 5/8th GR. The battalion still exists and wears the checked band of the 2nd GR on its headgear in honour of its links to that regiment.

I'm interested primarily in the extent to which the author discusses the battalion's service on the NW Frontier from 1942-44, and its service with the 32nd Brigade, 20th Indian Division, in Burma from Apr. 1945. Also interested in its postwar service in Indochina and Borneo if any details are provided. Some granular detail on battles/engagements, casualties, awards, &c. are what I'm primarily after.

Incidentally, the medals are:
Indian Independence Medal to 3159 Rfn. Modibahadur Gurung, 5-8 G.R.
1939-45 Star, Burma Star and War medal all to 31658 Rfn. Modi Gurung, 5-8 G.R.
GSM with clasp SE Asia 1945-46 to 31658 Rfn. Modibahadur Gurung, 4-2 G.R.

Thanks, as always,
W.

 

I'm not at home to get to my book shelf, but if somebody hasn't come back to you by tomorrow I'll take a look and let you know.

 

These are my notes on the 4/2nd Gurkha Rifles from said volume. If memory serves me correctly, there was not a lot of detail on the NWF, but probably more on Burma. At the time, I was more concerned with command and location of the battalion and it was about 30 years ago.

4th Battalion, 2nd King Edward V’s Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)


Dehra Dun Area – Meerut District – 3 March 1941 to 10 January 1942

The battalion was raised at Bechen Lines, Dehra Dun on March 3rd, 1941. It moved into MacPherson Lines in mid-April and then Tigris Lines, where it began training. It moved into a camp near Dehra Dun at Junnipur in November.


Wana Brigade – 10 January 1942 to February 1943

The battalion left Dehra Dun on January 10th, 1942 for Manzai and relieved the 2nd/13th Frontier Force Rifles in the Wana Brigade. The battalion was, in turn, relieved by the 4th/7th Gurkha Rifles in July 1942 at Manzai and moved to Wana on August 3rd, 1942. By December 1942, it was judged fit for operations.


Bannu Brigade – February 1943 to late October 1943

The battalion moved to Bannu in February 1943, where it joined the Bannu Brigade with the 5th/17th Dogras and the Tochi Scouts. Two companies were sent to Mir Ali on February 25th and the rest of the battalion took over Khajuri Fort. The battalion moved to Damdil under the brigade in July 1943. It left the Bannu Brigade in late October.


Razmak Brigade – November 1943 to November 1944

In late October 1943 it moved to Razmak, where it joined the Razmak Brigade in November 1943. In late November it joined ‘Razcol’ with the 2nd Green Howards, the 4th/3rd Gurkha Rifles and the 4th/17th Dogras in operations. Another column took place in March 1944 from Razmak. The battalion was selected for operations in Burma in September 1944.


North Western Army – Mid-November 1944 to 27 February 1945

The 4th Battalion moved to Tablian Camp, Rawalpindi in mid-November 1944 to train for operations in Burma. It left there on February 27th to move to the 20th Indian Division as its reconnaissance regiment.


20th Indian Infantry Division – 5 March 1945 to 3 April 1945

The battalion arrived in Dimapur on March 3rd and then six days later moved to the HQ of the 20th Division to spend ten days. It moved south with the division on March 18th and crossed the Irrawaddy on March 26th/27th. It fought at Kyetshe and Nyaunggwe attached as an extra battalion to the 80th Indian Infantry Brigade.


32nd Indian Infantry Brigade – 3 April 1945 to 31 August 1945

It joined the 32nd Indian Infantry Brigade at Myittha on April 3rd, replaced the British battalion, and joined the 9th/14th Punjabis and the 3rd/8th Gurkha Rifles. It was temporarily attached to the 100th Indian Infantry Brigade from April 7th-11th, but then returned to the 32nd Brigade for the drive south to Meiktila. It reached Taungdwingyi on April 15th. The brigade advanced to Shwedaung down the Prome-Rangoon road on May 5th and the battalion reached Thuyeddinzeh by May 21st. The battalion was located in the Tanbingu area during the rest of May and June. From June 27th through July, it rested at Tharrawaddy. It moved to Indo-China with the brigade on September 4th, 1945.

 

I have Peter Dunn's book 'The First Vietnam War' to hand; checking the Index there are numerous references to the 20th Indian Division, but not your target unit. Might be worth a peek at a copy if you can locate it.

 

There is a short book about the 4/2nd Goorkhas written by Kitson, "The story of the 4th Battalion 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles". I think it some 60 pages long and very rare. I saw couple of copies on eBay but now there is none.

Another book worth looking is "The Second Step" by Adrian Hayter. He served with 4/2nd Goorkhas in NWF and one or two chapters in his book describe his experience with the battalion.

Charles Evens' in his book "A Doctor In The XIVth Army" mention the 4/2nd Goorkhas from his time in French Indochina and Borneo. He was attached or associated with them, I can't remember now.

There is another book which I can't remember now except that author of the book was doctor or officer in the 4/2nd Goorkhas but this book is also quite rare. I'll see if I can dig book name somewhere.

Those are all other sources about battalion I could think off.

 

Many thanks for those informative replies. Good to know there are other references out there as well.

Cheers
W.

 

The first volume, not the second desired volume is available online behind a registration / pay wall via: Fold3 Browse

 

Good to see that link, thanks for reminding me/us.

 

The link you provided is for Volume II of the 2nd Gurkha Rifles regimental history, which covers the period from 1911 to 1921.

Be careful in case you decide to join Fold3 to obtain this volume.

 

Yes, lot of those books on that site are old histories republished by the Naval and Military Press which usually covers periods up to 1920s.

 

Good advice dryan67, I am interested, as you know in all 2 GR history, but it was wise to point out the edition available on Fold3. At the Gurkha Museum (Winchester), I was fortunate to view the 2 GR pages for WW2, as well as other related papers.

 

Four and a half (decent and large format pages) covering the raising of the 4th battalion in Feb '41 and operations on the Frontier (fold-out map included) until its move to Rawalpindi '44 and training up until Feb '45.

Thirteen pages plus two (good) fold-out maps on 4th bn with 20 Ind Div. Moderate-to good level of detail--often down to company-level for engagements with the enemy

Six pages with more general detail on 4th Bn post-war.

Appendices very light and rather unsatisfactory: medals listed by numbers awarded only; Roll of Honour covers only officers; list of commanding officers by battalion and dates.

That notwithstanding, it's a good book and one of the cheaper Gurkha histories on the second-hand market.

 

The following may also be of interest:

The 20th Indian Division in French Indo-China, 1945-46: Combined/Joint Operations & The ‘Fog of War’
By Daniel Marston

Source:
http://www.nids.mod.go.jp/english/event/forum/pdf/2014/08.pdf

 

Thanks for the Marston article link.

 

Charley, dryan67 and readers,

A great find the Marston essay, the book he refers to is excellent 'The Indian Army and the End of the Raj' which I read at the National Army Museum in mid-2018.

Slightly puzzled being a newcomer here that there is no thread on the British in French Indo-China (mainly around in Saigon) after VJ-Day in 1945. There are a few posts scattered around, so I have asked a Moderator how to get such a thread assembled. Standby.

 

Finally found the name of the last book from my first post. It is "Dr Davies, his book: Tales of a Country Doctor". Dr Brian Davies served in 4/2nd Gurkha Rifles but this book is not his wartime memories, although I think there are some stories, but covers his whole life. Small part from the book was used in one of those auctions publications as a story behind Norman Lockey Military Cross. But unfortunately this book is also quite rare.

 

Wilhar,

I do have a original copy of the book that you asked about in your first post & i would have offered to do a few scans for you, but has silly has this sounds, I cant get my scanner/printer connected to my laptop since I've had a new router fitted. I need a geek..

I do know of another book that may be of use to forum members & is going for only [ £30.00]? I'm not going to advertise the book seller on here. If anyone is interested then start a conversation with me & i will give you the heads-up. See Full Image below. Not the best.



SMITH (Lt. - Col. E.D.,DSO,MBE) The Story of the Sirmoor Rifles. 1st Ed.,[ii] plus 58pp., Col. frontis., 6 Col plates, several b/w photos.
Singapore: Jay-Birch ( for the regt.) 1968. Useful short history on the 2nd Goorkha Rifles: raising of the regiment, Indian mutiny(notably on the Delhi Ridge),NWF, WW1 in France & Middle East, WW2 in Burma & MEF.

Regards,
Stu.

 

Thanks once again to all. Some very useful I formation and suggestions here. I think I will pick up a copy of the book after all, and will keep my eyes open for some of these others.

Scanner problems.. I can relate!

W.