Living History: Honouring Gurkha Veterans 80 Years After VJ Day
This month marks a significant anniversary for many of our Gurkha veterans, as we commemorate 80 years since Japan accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration on 15 August 1945, marking the end of World War II.
The Gurkhas in Burma and Beyond
Gurkha troops played a key role in the Eastern theatres of war, making use of their unique martial skillset to harry the enemy whilst on the move, most notably in South East Asia. In his book “Britain’s Gurkhas”, military historian Brig Christopher Bullock estimates that around 35,000 Gurkhas fought in Burma alone. Indeed, 22 Gurkha Battalions and two Gurkha Para Battalions received the Battle Honour “Burma 1942-45”.
Our Welfare Pensioners – a personal connection
103-year-old veteran Motiras Gurung recalls his time fighting in Kohima in WWII.
“I was posted in Bakela centre for a while and went into operation in 1944 starting from Kohima. Kohima was where Gaje Ghale was awarded the Victoria Cross. We travelled at night to reach Kohima and were stationed there for 9 days. We crossed the Chindwin River into Mandalay. It was a big city. The Japanese had captured the city. We later attacked along with fighter planes and tanks. We were able to fend away the enemies from the city.”
During his service in the Burma Campaign, Motiras recalls being wounded during a battle with the Japanese in the late evening. His regiment had crossed into the city of Mandalay, held by the Japanese. Supported by fighter planes and tanks, Motiras tells our field team the story of how he survived a near-fatal bullet that flew past his head.
“It was during one of the patrols in the evening. We were ambushed, I was hit and I fell to the ground. I remember another friend was also hit behind me. I was immediately carried away, they put a tight bandage on me and gave me an injection, I don’t know what happened after that. I was fortunate the bullet hit my arm, if it was 6 inches to the left, I may not have lived. I also got immediate treatment. The day was 29 April 1945!
After being discharged on medical grounds, Moritas moved to India to work and later returned to Nepal, living with his eldest son in Pokhara. Motiras is hard of hearing but can see quite well. He likes to keep up to date with current affairs, getting up early in the morning to read the local Nepali newspaper and after breakfast, he likes watching Hindi news channels on TV.
A message from Motiras:
“Thank you very much. Our best wishes and much blessings to you all.”
Gurkha veteran Kerbahadur Ghale remembers
99 year-old Kerbahadur Ghale enlisted in Kunraghat, Gorakhpur, India in 1943. After completing his recruit training in Dehradun, he was posted to the 2/3 Gurkha Regiment (GR). At the height of the war, he had pre-deployment training in Ranchi and was then deployed straight to Burma (1944-45).
During his deployment in Burma he tended to the wounded of 4 coy, 2 platoon of the 2/3GR as a medical orderly. At the end of the war, he returned to Dehradun where he was selected for redundancy.
“While being deployed and going through one of the cities, I remember seeing a road that was used for vehicles and right above it was a league where trains would pass. I was amazed.”
Kerbahadur now lives alone in his recently built Earthquake-Home which had been funded through Trailwalker sponsorship. His home is adjacent to his daughter-in-law’s (Yamkumari) who looks after him and as with many traditional Nepali families, Yamkumari cooks and cleans for her father-in-law. Kerbahadur cannot hear well but is very outspoken, and is usually found sitting at the verandah and listening to the radio and looking at the people and vehicles passing by in front of his house.
“I just sit outside and listen to the radio. I’m not fond of television. My daughter-in-law prepares my meals and looks after me. I don’t have to worry much. I am very thankful.”
Our debt of honour
Victory over Japan Day effectively represents the true ending of the Second World War. Men like Motiras and Kerbahadur were among the countless thousands that fought, suffered and died to ensure that the Allies emerged triumphant.
Thanks to your support we can help repay our debt of honour to these courageous men and their widows.