A piece of history connected with the Regiment found in the rural village of Liphook, Hampshire, England – an equestrian statue of Field Marshal Hugh Rose – Lord Strathnairn, at the entrance to Foley Manor.

The statue, cast from guns taken during the Indian mutiny, erected in London in 1895, taken down in 1931 during work on a new underground station and kept in storage until 1964. Westminster Council then gave it to the owner of Foley Manor, Liphook on condition that it would have reasonable public access.

On 30th November 1863, the Queen’s Truncheon (devised by Colonel Charles Reid) was presented on behalf of the Queen by Lord Strathnairn, the Commander-in-Chief in India, at a special parade of all troops in the large garrison of Lahore to the Sirmoor Gorkha Battalion for its service in the relief of Delhi during the Indian Mutiny. The Sirmoor Battalion eventually became the 2nd King Edward VII’s Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles).

The Truncheon, which is also known as the “Nishani Mai” is held in considerable reverence by members of the Brigade of Gurkhas to this day.

Major Sudan Dewan with the statue

Simon Chadwick, son of Colonel Geoffrey Chadwick, the 1st Battalion UEO in 1963-5, has digitised some of his father’s cine films showing Hong Kong and Borneo in that era and has kindly made them available online for others to view.

This is the complete list, with Simon’s comments on content and the URL of where they can be viewed:

Borneo 1964, with a lot of footage of Labuan Airfield including a whole host of aircraft movement, (Blackburn Beverley, Bristol Britannia, Gloster Javelin, HP Herald, Percival Pembroke, Avro Shackleton, Twin Pioneer and more), troops disembarking from the Britannia aircraft, flight in a Beverley, WW2 rolls of honour, a river trip and scenery. 23 minutes. Link https://1drv.ms/v/s!Arzt99XdCjRtomDQ7t3JW-g2XMkp?e=7faP21

Dashera Oct/Nov 1964 – not for the squeamish (!) with the ceremonials with animal beheading. 4 minutes. Link https://1drv.ms/v/s!Arzt99XdCjRtoltK6Wi6iNezf11b?e=w8Hh27

Gurkha Dashera Festival 1964 – as above. 4 minutes. Link https://1drv.ms/v/s!Arzt99XdCjRtoltK6Wi6iNezf11b?e=uRgcNs

Gurkhas Map Reading in Hong Kong 1963. 4 minutes 40 sec. Link https://1drv.ms/v/s!Arzt99XdCjRtol9pvNx31o4_5Mgz?e=gJ5abK

Hong Kong 1963-1965 – general film of Repulse Bay, Kowloon Ferry, Peak Tramway, everyday life, the harbour and local people and the flight in. 22 minutes. Link https://1drv.ms/v/s!Arzt99XdCjRtomSUXiwA2dRPpJ3P?e=FLtj64

Hong Kong 1964 – traditional life, Lion Dances and celebrations. 3 minutes Link https://1drv.ms/v/s!Arzt99XdCjRtomjRXZSh8hD8gLqk?e=u7skcn

My brother’s christening, HK 1973. (includes a later brief clip at the end in the flat in Royden Court). Includes many army officers and their wives, my parents, myself (and I know that on the footage are the Hunt-Smiths from Australia, he was forces) 2 minutes Link https://1drv.ms/v/s!Arzt99XdCjRtomcTX438H2uHuHET?e=Sg4hH5

Sarawak 1963 – footage of Gurkhas disembarking from Cargo Ship Auby, Gurkha bands playing, military column and boat and beach footage (including my father and persons unknown) 4 minutes. Link https://1drv.ms/v/s!Arzt99XdCjRtomwvR_i9aBru_rAC?e=sd7GH0

Singapore and HK – year unknown but will be 1960s, footage of Army families at leisure by the pool, river trip including my father and general scenery 4 minutes. Link https://1drv.ms/v/s!Arzt99XdCjRtom_s2J3BnB2TEtlM?e=XmORgv

The New Territories – My father and mother on a car tour, 48 Brigade Open Day with tanks, Gurkha bands and Polo, equestrian displays including riding through fire, local village farming and life, Lion Dances and festival, children going to school in a British Army bus (I would imagine Gurkha children but please do correct me) and more local life. A true time capsule. 32 minutes. Link https://1drv.ms/v/s!Arzt99XdCjRtonRp-lQN-y36sDqS?e=Cp0GdW

 

John Harrop has kindly pointed out that Episode 3 of this 1989 series, which is mostly to do with the Brigade of Gurkhas, is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/hSW4eQsK820. There is an interview with Sandy McNeil and several good shots of Gurkhas in Hong Kong.