8th Ghurka Rifles

Discussion in 'British Indian Army' started by zahonado, Dec 22, 2010.

  1. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    Does anyone have anything related to 8th Ghurka Rifles in India 1940-1944. Memoirs , pics etc ? I am interested in trying to find more about an officer named Sheldon , so any useful lines to follow would be great-can´t find much through the usual channels... I seem to generally be pursuing research where there aren't any answers, so here's hoping some of you knowledgeable people can help!

    Edit
    Title now amended to 8th Ghurka Rifles
     
  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Which do you want Burma Rifles or Gurkha Rifles ?
    Totally different units.
     
  3. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    Ghurka Rifles, I believe
     
  4. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    Which do you want Burma Rifles or Gurkha Rifles ?
    Totally different units.
    Sorry put wrong lot in title!
     
  5. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    Soory about the confusion
     
  6. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Attached Files:

  7. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    War diaries at the National Archives, references:

    1/8 GR-WO172/2645 for 1943 and WO172/5027 for 1944.

    3/8 GR-WO172/2646 for 1943 and WO172/5028 for 1944.

    4/8 GR-WO172/2647 for 1943 and WO172/5029 for 1944.

    Never really know how useful these are if you are not within sensible range of Kew?:)

    I will be back with info on places if I find out any!:)
     
  8. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Do you have some more info, like his name or initials?

    There were couple of memoirs written by former members of 4/8th Gurkha Rifles, like the book suggested by Jason, but I'm afraid were little about other three battalions of the regiment.
     
  9. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    Thanks Bamboo and Sol. First name Harry middle initial H. He was a war artist and I have seen some of his paintings. He was about to be invalided out from Karachi, I believe when Auchinleck discovered him (he did portraits of Ghurkas and Indian RAF paintings) He was certainly in Quetta before this, and I think had a bit of an unsavoury reputation... the plot thickens!! It is this I am most interested in, which months, years, places? No chance of visiting Kew as I live abroad, but any info gratefully received!
     
  10. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

  11. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    This is only I could find

    Emergency Commission (Indian Army)

    2nd Lt. H.H. Sheldon 12/12/1942 (W.S./Lt. 12/06/1943)

    If he was in stationed somewhere in India after that than you can exclude 2nd/8th Gurkha Rifles because this battalion was then in the Middle East.
     
  12. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    yes I spotted that the other day. There are also landscapes . But it was more personal info I was after -I've seen his obituary before. Painting's not bad!
     
  13. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    Sol- What is an emergency commission? I presume it was a promotion, but why emergency? was it to get him out of a hot spot I wonder?!
     
  14. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    Also What extra responsibilities would all these different ranks have?
     
  15. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

  16. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    At 150 quid , I'll pass, but if anyone has it already.....
     
  17. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Well I'll be damned, the SS Orion is the troopship my Grandfather travelled to India aboard! July 1942 same as Sheldon.:)

    An emergency commission is just a fast track promotion due to the urgent need for officer's in WW2. Soldiers could find themselves one or two positions higher up the ranks in no time at all.
     
  18. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Naughty I know, but can anyone nobble a copy of that painting for me? My Mac won't do it, apologies if this is not permitted.
     
  19. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    Amazing Bamboo! don´t have a clue about copying the painting, but maybe the guy selling it would do a copy for you -he sounds as though he's quite amenable!
     
  20. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Naughty I know, but can anyone nobble a copy of that painting for me? My Mac won't do it, apologies if this is not permitted.
    PM sent.
     

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