Heroes of the British Empire

72 years on, it is worth remembering the harrowing story of Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung of the 8th Gurkha Rifles. The 27 year old Gurkha who along with 2 of his comrades were cut off and surrounded when 200 Japansese suddenly attacked their position near Taungdaw, Burma in May of 1945. Gurung was severely wounded by a gr***de explosion during the attack and suffered severe injuries to his hand, arm, face, body and right leg.

An excerpt from his VIctoria Cross Citation in the London Gazette reads:

"...Of the 87 enemy dead counted in the immediate vicinity of the Company locality, 31 lay in front of this Rifleman's section, the key to the whole position. Had the enemy succeeded in over-running and occupying Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung's trench, the whole of the reverse slope position would have been completely dominated and turned.

This Rifleman, by his magnificent example, so inspired his comrades to resist the enemy to the last, that, although surrounded and cut off for three days and two nights, they held and smashed every attack.

His outstanding gallantry and extreme devotion to duty, in the face of almost overwhelming odds, were the main factors in the defeat of the enemy."

ON the 12th and 13th of May 1945 near Taungdaw, Burma (Myanmar), Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung of the 8th Gurkha Rifles, 7th Indian Infantry Division was gravely wounded during a Japanese attack on his position.

Rifleman Gurung and two of his comrades were manning the forward most position of their platoon. Their position would bear the brunt of an attacking Japanese force numbering at least 200 in strength. It was reported that Rifleman Gurung, without regard to his life, twice hurled back Japanese gr***des which had fallen on his trench.

While attempting to throw a third gr***de out of his trench the explosive detonated in his right hand. The resulting blast claimed all the fingers on Rifleman Gurung’s right hand, shattering the bone in his arm and wounding him with shrapnel in the face, body and right leg. The two men sharing Rifleman Gurung’s position both received incapacitating wounds. Rifleman Gurung continued to fight on despite having been seriously injured. With only the use of his left hand, Pte. Gurung loaded and fired his rifle. For four hours he repelled brutal and incessant enemy attacks at ranges approaching point blank.

After the engagement, it was reported that a survey discovered 31 dead Japanese soldiers scattered around his position that he had killed.

Pte. Gurung survived the battle and was moved to the rear and taken to hospital. Despite having lost his right eye and the use of his right hand, Pte. Gurung continued to serve with the 8th Gurkhas. For his conspicuous gallantry in the face of the enemy, Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung was awarded the Victoria Cross on 19 December 1945 by the Viceroy Of India, Field Marshal Archibald Percival Wavell, GCB, GCSI, GCIE, CMG, MC, PC.

Mr. Gurung survived the war and eventually moved to Hounslow, Middlesex, England in 1997. After contracting pneumonia, his health continued to decline. He passed away on 12 December 2010 at the age of 92 in Hammersmith, London, England.

"In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields."

- Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, CEF

https://youtu.be/6e4jqTF6aks

In Flanders Fields This video includes a reading of the poem 'In Flanders Fields' by Lt. Col. John McCrae and the well known excerpt from the poem 'For the Fallen' by Laurence ...

"In the days of lace-ruffles, perukes and brocade
Brown Bess was a partner whom none could despise--
An out-spoken, flinty-lipped, brazen-faced jade,
With a habit of looking men straight in the eyes--
At Blenheim and Ramillies fops would confess
They were pierced to the heart by the charms of Brown Bess.

Though her sight was not long and her weight was not small,
Yet her actions were winning, her language was clear;
And everyone bowed as she opened the ball
On the arm of some high-gaitered, grim grenadier.
Half Europe admitted the striking success
Of the dances and routs that were given by Brown Bess.

When ruffles were turned into stiff leather stocks,
And people wore pigtails instead of perukes,
Brown Bess never altered her iron-grey locks.
She knew she was valued for more than her looks.
"Oh, powder and patches was always my dress,
And I think am killing enough," said Brown Bess.

So she followed her red-coats, whatever they did,
From the heights of Quebec to the plains of Assaye,
From Gibraltar to Acre, Cape Town and Madrid,
And nothing about her was changed on the way;
(But most of the Empire which now we possess
Was won through those years by old-fashioned Brown Bess.)

In stubborn retreat or in stately advance,
From the Portugal coast to the cork-woods of Spain,
She had puzzled some excellent Marshals of France
Till none of them wanted to meet her again:
But later, near Brussels, Napoleon--no less--
Arranged for a Waterloo ball with Brown Bess.

She had danced till the dawn of that terrible day--
She danced till the dusk of more terrible night,
And before her linked squares his battalions gave way,
And her long fierce quadrilles put his lancers to flight:
And when his gilt carriage drove off in the press,
"I have danced my last dance for the world!" said Brown Bess.

If you go to Museums--there's one in Whitehall--
Where old weapons are shown with their names writ beneath,
You will find her, upstanding, her back to the wall,
As stiff as a ramrod, the flint in her teeth.
And if ever we English had reason to bless
Any arm save our mothers', that arm is Brown Bess!"

- Rudyard Kipling, "Brown Bess"

A worthwhile article on the bravery and ferocity of Sikh soldiers at the Battle of Saragarhi in 1897. Prior to 1911, Indian troops serving in the British Indian Army were ineligible to be awarded the Victoria cross. Instead, the highest award for gallantry an Indian soldier could receive from the Crown was the Indian Order of Merit. As a result of the fighting at Saragarhi all 21 Sikh's who fought there were posthumously awarded the Indian Order of Merit for their valour and sacrifice.

24 August, 1814 British troops under the command of Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn and Major-General Robert Ross march on Washington D.C. and set a number of government buildings on fire. Among the structures razed was the presidential home of the United States President, James Madison. This action was in retaliation for the unscrupulous attack launched by the United States against Upper Canada on the shores of Lake Erie the previous year. The attack against the provincial capital of York culminated with many of the cities structures being razed to the ground and/or looted, including Parliament and others of a non-military nature.

The attack was so reprehensible that the Governor General of The Canadas, Sir George Prévost wrote to the British Government demanding retaliatory attacks against the United States for the "wanton destruction of private property" in violation of the laws of war. Sir Prévost demanded that:

"...in consequence of the late disgraceful conduct of the American troops in the wanton destruction of private property on the north shores of Lake Erie, in order that if the war with the United States continues you may, should you judge it advisable, assist in inflicting that measure of retaliation which shall deter the enemy from a repetition of similar outrages."

(Picture property of it's original authors.)

ON 31 August 1858, Captain Samuel James Browne VC of the 2nd Punjab Irregular Cavalry was posted near Uttar Pradesh, India during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 when the following actions took place.

The 2nd Punjab Irregular Cavalry was one of five regiments raised to police and guard the vast and rugged expanse of the North West Frontier of India. Hostilities had been raging across India since May of 1857 when groups of native soldiers rebelled against their British and Indian officer's.

At dawn on 31 August 1858, the 2nd Punjab Irregular cavalry and a group of Infantry were advancing on rebel positions at Seerporah, Rohilkhand near Uttar Pradesh. As the Anglo-Indian force approached the enemy position, they were at once bombarded by enemy artillery fire. Capt. Browne and one of his Sowars (Indian Cavalry Trooper) put spurs to their horses and charged the guns in a desperate attempt to prevent continued shelling of the infantry. In the ensuing melee, Capt. Browne was severely wounded on his left knee by an enemy sword strike but managed to cut down his assailant. However, the struggle continued with another member of the gun's crew. Capt. Browne was severely wounded a second time by a sword cut to his left arm, severing it at the shoulder. Despite grave wounds and a severe loss of blood, Capt. Browne survived. The artillery emplacements were later captured by the advancing infantry and the surviving gun crews were dispatched.

Capt. Browne was later promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and served as Commander of the Peshawar Field Force during the Second Afghan War (1878 - 1880). Lt Col Browne was knighted as Knight Commander of the Order of Bath for his command leadership at the Khyber Pass near Jalalabad in 1878. Under his skillful command, 16,000 troops and 48 guns captured the enemy fortress of Ali Masjid, which commanded the entry to the Khyber Pass. The Peshawar Field Force advanced through the pass and captured Jalalabad. Browne was promoted to General following the battle and awarded the Order of the Bath's Grand Cross in 1891. General Sir Samuel James Browne VC GCB KCSI eventually retired from military service in 1898 and relocated to Ryde on the Isle of Wight.

General Browne passed away peacefully at his home on 14 March 1901, aged 76.

The legacy of General Browne lives on in the form of the "Sam Browne Belt." After suffering the loss of his arm during the Campaign at Rohilkhand, Browne began wearing a modified belt with shoulder strap to assist in the weight distribution of his sword and pistol. The belt was quickly adopted by other officer's of the regiment and those who served with Browne in India. However, the belt would not become standard issue in the British Army until 1900. Today, the Sam Browne Belt is worn by many foreign militaries and police agencies across the world.

"I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

I heard my country calling, away across the sea,
Across the waves and waters, she calls and calls to me.
Her sword is girded at her side, her helmet on her head,
And around her feet are lying the dying and the dead;
I hear the noise of battle, the thunder of her guns;
I haste to thee, my mother, a son among thy sons.

And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace."

- "I Vow To Thee My Country" poem by Sir Cecil Spring Rice, 1921. Set to music by Gustav Holst.

Photograph: The Exchange Newsroom War Memorial.
Liverpool, England

Credit: Alan M.

ON 24th July 1920, Captain George Stuart Henderson VC DSO & Bar MC of the 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment was posted near Hillah, Mesopotamia (Iraq) during the Arab Revolt of 1920 when the following actions took place.

Under a burning desert sun in the summer of 1920, Arab insurrection was spreading like wildfire throughout Mesopotamia. In May, a British troop train carrying Indian Sepoys was ambushed north of Baghdad and any non-Muslim captured was slaughtered. Beginning on 4th June and throughout the following weeks, several local government buildings were attacked in Tel Afar, Rumeitha and Basra resulting in the capture and ex*****on of governing officials. On 23rd July 1920, insurgents advanced to the south of Baghdad and captured the railway station at Al Kifl. At the request of local political officer's a relief column was assembled by the British Commander at Hillah to present a show of force.

The relief column was commanded by Brevet-Lieutenant Colonel R.N. Hardcastle DSO and contained:
3 Companies of infantry from the 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment.
2 Squadrons of cavalry from the 35th Scinde Horse.
2 Sections of heavy guns from the 39th Battery, Royal Field Artillery.
1 Company of sappers from the 1/32nd Sikh Pioneers.
1 Section of Medical personnel from the 24th Combined Field Ambulance.

The unrelenting desert sun battered the column until 24th July when 60% of the infantry were suffering from heat exhaustion. At the recommendation of the Medical Officer, the column stopped near Rustumiya Canal for a 24 hour rest period. Cavalry were sent ahead to scout Al Kifl while the infantry fortified the position. The return of the cavalry four hours later brought distressing intelligence as a force of 10,000 insurgents was seen advancing from Al Kifl towards the British encampment. Facing certain annihilation, the decision was made to withdraw back to Hillah.

Five hundred yards into their withdraw, Capt Henderson's company came under heavy fire from a considerable enemy force on all sides. This sudden violent action caused the column's support wagons to stampede through the Manchesters with Arab horsemen in close pursuit. In the chaos, Capt Henderson realised the gravity of the situation and reformed his company for an aggressive counter attack. Despite facing an enemy force much larger than his own, the Manchesters were successful in temporarily halting the Arab advance. Throughout a valiant rearguard action, Capt Henderson personally inspired and led his company on two bayonet charges preventing the utter destruction of the column. During the second charge Capt Henderson was himself wounded but insisted on remaining with his company, he was then incapacitated by a second wound. Though mortally wounded, Capt Henderson continued to fight on until succumbing to his injuries. His last standing order to the surviving non-commissioned officer's was "I'm done, don't let them beat you."

The following is an excerpt from the official Victoria Cross citation that was published in the London Gazette on 29 October 1920:
"At one time, when the situation was extremely critical and the troops and transport were getting out of hand, Capt. Henderson, by sheer pluck and coolness of his command prevented the Company from being cut up and saved the situation."

It was for these aforementioned actions that Captain George Stuart Henderson was awarded the Victoria Cross.

In all, 17 commendations were awarded for actions during the withdraw from Al Kifl.

2nd Battalion, The Manchester Regiment

Captain George S. Henderson VC DSO & Bar MC
Sergeant J. Willis DCM
Lance Sergeant R. Fairhurst MM
Private W. Boyd MM
Private E. Peverley MM
Private D. Collins MM
Private F. Cooper MM

35th Scinde Horse

Lieutenant James H.G. Knox MC
Lieutenant William E.D. Robinson MC
Jemadar Muhammad Niaz IDSM
Ressaidar Dur Khan IOM 1st Class

39th Battery, Royal Field Artillery

Lieutenant Neufville Cross MC & Bar
Lieutenant Bernard Lorenzo de Robeck MC & Bar
Sergeant U.A.V. Deering DCM & Bar
Sergeant E.H. Hinxman DCM
Driver Surej Bhan IDSM

1/32nd Sikh Pioneers

Naik Kaka Khan IOM 2nd Class

The initial casualty figures after the battle were 20 Killed, 60 wounded and 318 missing presumed captured or dead. Of the 318 missing, 160 were released at various times by their captors. It is estimated that 100 prisoners from the Manchester regiment were tortured and executed by their captors. The dead and missing are commemorated on the Jedburgh War Memorial and Basra memorial.

ON 4 July 1940, Leading Seaman Jack Foreman Mantle of the Royal Navy was posted to anti-aircraft ship HMS Foylebank when the following occurred at Portland Harbour, Dorset, England.

The port at Portland Harbour was vitally important to the war effort and particularly susceptible to attack from the German Luftwaffe. With the fall of France, the attention of Hitler's war machine shifted to Britain and air attacks on the channel ports were an increasingly grim threat. As a result of it's vulnerability, the Royal Navy began strengthening anti-aircraft defences at Portland Harbour. The decision was made to dispatch HMS Foylebank to the harbour, she arrived on 9 June 1940.

In the morning hours of 4 July 1940 a force of German JU-87 "Stuka" aircraft were spotted to the south of the harbour. As the crew of HMS Foylebank cleared for action, LS Mantle took his position on the Starboard 40 mm "pom-pom." As the German aircraft began their attack, anti-aircraft fire was successful in bringing down several enemy aircraft. However, early in the battle several bombs struck Foylebank and shattered LS Mantle's left leg. Despite being gravely wounded, LS Mantle remained at his gun position and continued firing. HMS Foylebank continued to take additional hits, causing the loss of electrical power and a list to port. In the course of the fighting, LS Mantle sustained further wounds but continued to remain at his gun, manipulating and firing it without the aid of electricity. HMS Foylebank was engulfed in flames and began taking on water, it sank the next day with the loss of 176 crewmen, including LS Mantle.

It was reported that 26 German aircraft attacked the harbour with HMS Foylebank bearing the brunt of the action. By the end of the battle, an estimated 22 bombs had struck HMS Foylebank resulting in it's sinking.

The official citation for LS Mantle's Victoria Cross was published in the London Gazette, 3 September 1940:

"Leading Seaman Jack Mantle was in charge of the Starboard pom-pom gun when HMS Foylebank was attacked by enemy aircraft on the 4th of July 1940. Early in the action his left leg was shattered by a bomb, but he stood fast at his gun and went on firing with hand-gear only: for the ship's electric power had failed. Almost at once he was wounded again in many places. Between his bursts of fire he had time to reflect on the grievous injuries of which he was soon to die but his great courage bore him up till the end of the fight, when he fell by the gun he had so valiantly served."

Leading Seaman Jack Foreman Mantle VC is the second Victoria Cross awarded for action's in the British Mainland.

July 1st marks the 99th Anniversary of the Somme Offensive. The battle began on 1 July 1916 and ended 18 November that same year. For four grueling months the battle raged on, earning it's place as one of the bloodiest battles in recent human history. When the battle ended, over one million men were killed or wounded. July 1st would also become known as the deadliest day in British Military History when 20,000 men were killed and 40,000 wounded on the first day of battle. In all, 10 Victoria Crosses were awarded that day for gallantry and sacrifice.

Major Stewart Walter Loudoun-Shand VC, The Yorkshire Regiment (Posthumous)

Major Lionel Wilmot Brabazon Rees VC MC, Royal Flying Corps

Captain Eric Norman Frankland Bell VC, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (Posthumous)

Captain John Leslie Green VC, Royal Army Medical Corps (Posthumous)

Lieutenant Geoffrey St. George Shillington Cather VC, Royal Irish Fusiliers (Posthumous)

Sergeant Robert Quigg VC, The Royal Irish Rifles

Sergeant James Youll Turnbull VC, The Highland Light Infantry (Posthumous)

Corporal George Sanders VC MC, West Yorkshire Regiment

Drummer Walter Potter Ritchie VC, The Seaforth HIghlanders

Rifleman William Frederick McFadzean VC, The Royal Irish Rifles (Posthumous)

ON 1 July 1916 Major Stewart Walter Loudoun-Shand of The 31st Division, The Princess of Wales Own Regiment (The Yorkshire Regiment) was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions near Fricourt, France.

On the first day of the Somme Offensive, Major Loudoun-Shand and his regiment were tasked with capturing the French village of Fricourt. At zero hour the men of The Yorkshire Regiment began climbing out of the trenches and were met by a concentrated and devastating enemy fire. Unable to advance, The Yorkshire Regiment became stalled in the trenches. Major Loudoun-Shand realised the gravity of the situation unfolding and without regard for his own life scaled the parapet. Amidst the withering enemy fire, Major Loudoun-Shand helped the men of his unit over the top and encouraged them in every way possible until he was mortally wounded. Despite severe loss of blood, Major Loudoun-Shand refused to be removed from the frontline trench and continued to encourage the men under his command until he succumbed to his injuries.

The attack on the village of Fricourt would last two days. British forces would envelope the village on all three sides on 1 July but German reinforcement's reached the city and relieved the besieged defenders. British Forces under the protection of a creeping artillery barrage would secure the city on 2 July.

On 30 June 1916, Company Sergeant Major Nelson Victor Carter of the 12th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment was awarded the Victoria Cross when the following deeds took place in Richebourg, France.

The Royal Sussex Regiment was issued orders to take part in a diversionary attack against German positions near Richebourg known as "The Boar's Head." The attack was planned for 30 June, 1916 on the eve of the Somme Offensive. The goal of the diversion was to lead the German Army into redeploying a portion of their forces to the North and away from the front lines in the area of the impending Somme Offensive. In theory this would allow the Somme Offensive to press forward against lighter resistance.

Company Sergeant Major Carter was in command of the fourth wave of the assault. After climbing out of their trenches, CSM Carter and his group were exposed to withering machinegun fire and intense shelling. Despite the devastating fire poured out by the German's, CSM Carter and a few of his party were successful in reaching the enemies second line of trenchworks throwing bombs and inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy there. The enemy launched an aggressive counter attack and forced CSM Carter and his group to withdraw back to the first German trench. At that point, CSM Carter observed an enemy machine-gun position firing at his fellow soldiers. Without regard for his own life and in the highest traditions of the British Army he rushed the enemy machinegun, dispatching the gunner with his revolver. CSM Carter then returned to his group and began tending to his casualties. After carrying several wounded men to safety, he was mortally wounded and died a few minutes later.

It was for these aforementioned actions that Company Sergeant Major Nelson Victor Carter was awarded the Victoria Cross. The London Gazette published the citation for CSM Carter VC on 9 September 1916, stating that "His conduct throughout the day was magnificent."