Sittang Bridge. Two Gurkha Rifle Escapees.

Hi All,

Browsing one of the latest Auction Houses catalogue, I came across these two sets of Gallantry medals to Gurkhas who although captured at Sittang, eventually managed to escape their captors and return to Allied lines.

Definitely something for you Enes. And probably one for me too.

http://www.dnw.co.uk/auctions/catalogue/lot.php?auction_id=320&lot_id=1455

http://www.dnw.co.uk/auctions/catalogue/lot.php?auction_id=320&lot_id=1495

 

Nice find Steve. These are just two of number of others who succeeded to escape while employed for works on road in Tiddim area. Some escaped alone but some, like Subadar Pahal Sing Thapa, were part of the larger groups; I think that one of them was more then 40 men strong. Majority of them came from four battalions caught on the wrong side of the river when the bridge was blown, 1/3rd GR, 2/5th RGR, 1/7th and 3/7th GR. Some others awarded with medals were

Havildar Major Jag Sher, 1/3rd GR - MM
Havildar Lal Bahadur Gurung, 1/3rd GR - MM
Havildar Jas Bahadur Gurung 1/3rd GR - MM
Lance Naik Om Bahadur Gurung 2/5th GR, MM

and some others. I'll see to post some of recommendations here. But one statement in listing is wrong

One of 16 officers of 1/3 Gurkha Rifles to be awarded the M.C. during the Second World War, his is believed to have been the only such award for escape work to a Gurkha Officer.

Jemadar Sanbir Rai of 3/7th GR was also awarded with MC for escape work.

 

Thanks Enes, I look forward to those. The trouble is, as soon as the Auction House states Escapee/Evader, then the price goes through the roof.

 

Thank you for sharing Bamboo. It's a shame my good friend Prof has passed away as there is a high possibility he might have known these men. He was with 3rd Gurkha Rifles and managed to get back to allied lines after he was caught on the wrong side when the bridge was blown.

 

Hi Andy,

It was a very unfortunate situation to say the least and the decision to blow the bridge has been a source of contention to this day. I was interested to find these medals, one of my areas of research is the POW's of Rangoon Jail, many of whom came from the Sittang incident. It is not often that information on an Indian regimental soldier comes to light in this regard even though some 300+ men were held in the jail.

Cheers

Steve

 

Thanks for posting; hope you don't mind another plug

Gurkha Welfare Trust : Providing financial medical and community aid to alleviate hardship and distress among Gurkha ex-servicemen of the British Crown


If members aren't familiar with the Trust's work please visit its site
http://www.gwt.org.uk

4Bn

 

2299 Hav. LAL BAHADUR GURUNG
1st Battalion, 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles

Hav. LAL BAHADUR GURUNG was captured at SITTANG River in Feb 42, sent to RANGOON Jail and employed on the usual humiliating fatigues, and subjected to the brutal treatment the Japs meted out to all Gurkha P.W. Then when their captors hoped they had worn down their resistance came the propaganda lectures, the promises, and the other indiscriminate inducements to join the I.N.A. Hav. LAL BAHADUR GURUNG refused and was therefore employed on various hard fatigues for the whole of his time in captivity.

In June 44 LAL BAHADUR GURUNG and a party of G.O.Rs were employed in the TIDDIM - KALEWA road, and one day he managed to contact the headmen of the local village and sounded him as to the possibility of escape. This man gave him some useful information and on the night of August 3rd LAL BAHADUR GURUNG led 24 G.O.Rs into the jungle at dead of night. They made their way slowly on with the occasional help of ex-soldiers of the Burma Army and finally reached our Forces in Aug 16th.

It was considered that for his courage, devotion to duty, and endurance, he should be recommended for the award of the M.M.

LG. 01.11.45

 

2122 Hav. Maj. JAG SHER
1st Battalion, 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles

Hav. Maj. JAG SHER went to BURMA with his unit in January '42 and was captured the next month at SITTANG RIVER.

He remained in captivity from then until August '44 and was subjected to ceaseless propaganda and extremely bad treatment, but nothing could shake his loyalty.

In Feb 44 he was sent towards TIDDIM and employed on road repair work but it was not until August that an opportunity for escape presented itself. There were at this camp 12 other G.O.Rs with him and he determined they should all escape with him, and so one night they all slipped out one by one, managing to avoid disturbing any of the Japs, and gathered at a previously arranged rendezvous. For four days, they cut their way through the thick jungle, living somehow on berries and roots, until they reached a village. Here JAG SHER, refusing to risk his men, left the party concealed, while he himself approached the villagers, and asked for their help. The villagers hurried him away, fearing Jap spies, but promised some of them would meet him that night.

The promise was fulfilled, and with their aid the party finally reached our lines.

For his staunch courage, and loyalty throughout 1/2 years of extreme hardship, culminating in a well-organised and brave escape it is recommended that Hav. Maj. JAG SHER be awarded the M.M.

LG. 01.11.45

 

Andy, I'm sorry but I can't confirm that your friend was with 1/3rd GR at Sittang. Unlike for 1/4th GR and 2/5th RGR I don't have definitive list of officers for 1/3rd GR but succeeded to form from various sources a list which I think that it's more or less complete but couldn't find any mention of him. So far I didn't find him mentioned in the battalion war diary for 1942. If I find something I'll let you know.

Enes

 

Enes,

Is there a mention of a Dennis Russell Chambers on any of your GR listings. He was supposed to come from 3rd GR's when he joined Chindit 1 training later in 1942. Thanks for posting the above citations.

Steve

 

I don't think so but I'll check if I can find something.

I'll post some more recommendations in next couple of days.

 

Thank you on both counts.

 

Enes,

You were talking about these groups being out of your price range . I would consider Gopal Singh's group if he had been with 3/2 GR in 1943, he would then tick every box for me. However, even if the group went for the lowest estimate shown and there were no other bidders, with commission and fees and taxes, the best price would be around £1500 !!!!

This would mean baked beans for a year and the wrath of Mrs. Chindit 1.

 

Thanks for looking Enes.

In all honestly I'm not really sure which GR unit he was with as at his funeral it was mentioned that he was in 3/3 GR. However, I understand 3/3 GR weren't at Sittang which leads me to think he may have been in 1/3 GR and transferred to 3/3 GR at a later date, but that is all speculation on my part.

 

While are think that it would be nice to have those collections I would rather spent that amount on money on two maybe three official histories of Gurkha Regiment. Hope that one day somebody will republished those because some of them is almost impossible to find while others are quite expensive, especially those about 1st GR, 3rd GR, 4th GR and 5th RGR.

 

Well he could served in HQ of some brigade or was attached to Burma Rifles, or doing some other administrative duty. For example William Somerville, another officer from 3rd GR, was Mentioned in Despatches during first Burma campaign. I still don't know in what unit he served but he wasn't with 1st Battalion. He later during the war took command of 2/3rd GR in Italy and was awarded with DSO.

All the best
Enes

 

I will let you know how much they end up selling for. Nice medal groups though.

 

14737 Hav. MASTA RAM
7th Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment

Hav MASTA RAM was taken prisoner at PA-AN on 12 Feb '42. At RANGOON he was placed in "B" Bn. Japanese Labour Unit. From Sept '42 until his escape from WANTING PW CAMP, he was employed in road construction camps in Western YUNNAN.

During Aug 1944 Allied air raids became frequent on WANTING, and the PWs were dispersed in the jungle under sentries during the alert period. During one of these raids he contacted Kachin in the jungle and asked him to assist him in an escape. The Kachin told him that he would contact him in a day or two. A few days later, he again contacted the Kachin who passed a message from a Bengali (known to "E" Group) to make his way to his village (about ten miles from WANTING).

On 17 Aug. 44 he escaped with a party of thirteen others, and arrived safely at the Bengalo's village. The Bengali told him that there were British officer in the district, but to reach their HQ he would have to march through country patrolled by Japs. He arranged for guides and march to a village (MENGPAW) where they were met by Kachin schoolmaster. the schoolmaster supplied guides and the party arrived at the Chinese Guerrilla village of HSIAO HO safely.

At HSIAO HO the Guerrilla chief told Hav. MASTA RAM that the British Officers in the district did not want to contact him, he did not belive this statement. Daily, he asked for guides to move his party to the British HQ, but the Guerrilla Chief put this off. During this period (ten days) British Officers were negotiating with the Guerrilla chief for the release of this party. Hav. MASTA RAM realising that the chief was not altogether friendly tried to force the issue by ordering his men to go on hunger strike; this had some effect on the Chief, in that he promised guides in a few days.

On Sept. 3, '44, the chief supplied guides and the party moved off. Hav. MASTA RAM led this party into the British HQ at KUNGCHANG on the 11 Sept. '44, after crossing some of the worst country bordering the SALWEEN River.

Hav. MASTA RAM showed fine leadership throughout both in leading his party and dealing with the Guerrillas.

For his bravery in escaping, his leadership and his loyalty it is recommended that Hav. MASTA RAM be awarded the M.M.

LG 01.11.1945

 

13938 Hav. AJAIB KHAN
7th Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment

Hav. AJAIB KHAN was taken prisoner in Feb 1942 at PA-AN. He was moved to MOULMEIN JAIL where he was kept for months, and then sent to RANGOON JAIL. At RANGOON he was placed in 'B' Bn Japanese Labour Unit.

From Sep 1942 until the time of his escape from Jail he was employed in road construction capms in Western YUNNAN.

On 8 Jul '44 he removed a small section of barbed wire for his escape. The same day he told five other PWs that he planned to escape during the night, and suggested that they should join him, to which they all agreed. At 0430 hrs. 9 Jul '44 he lead his party through the barricade and reached a Chinese Guerill post.

For his bravery in escaping, his leadership and loyalty, it is recommended that Hav. AJAIB KHAN be awarded the M.M.

LG 01.11.1945.

 

Brilliant, thanks for these new men Enes.