September 2026 – Sirmoor Rifles Association

Sir John Nott served in the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Goorkhas from 1953-56. An extract from his 2002 autobiography describing his military service can be downloaded here.

The book also contains an interesting exchange between Nott and Field Marshal Lord Bramall, Colonel of the 2nd Goorkhas, during the planning for the Falklands War, when Nott was Secretary of State for Defence and Bramall was a General and Chief of the General Staff:

Nott: Dwin, you can’t send the Gurkhas. We are having frightful trouble holding things together in the United Nations and it is more than likely that the Indians will kick up a frightful fuss. It is just too risky politically to send the Gurkhas in my view.

Bramall: The 7th Gurkhas are part of 5th Brigade, the designated strategic reserve, and if we recoil from sending them now there will always be some reason for not sending the Gurkhas on future operations.

Nott: I agree that point and, as an ex-Gurkha I would, of course, be mortified if we spoilt their chances.

Bramall: Look, Secretary of State, I am the Colonel of your Regiment [the 2nd Goorkhas] and I am telling you that they must go and I am requiring your support to fight our corner with the Foreign Office.

Nott: If you are instructing me in your capacity as Colonel of the 2nd Goorkhas, then of course, Dwin, I have no option but to obey!

Lieutenant General Sir Peter Duffell recalls:

“I was very familiar with that exchange as I was a Colonel in military operations at the time and the CGS had discussed this issue with me. I had encouraged him to take the line he did. Subsequent to his exchange with John Nott and with the FCO still fretting General Dwin, in front of Ministers at a meeting at Chequers, told Mrs Thatcher that he was planning to send a Gurkha Battalion to the Falklands. ‘Only one?’ came her reply and so all was set.”

Total 302 members: 125 full membership; 103 attached/seconded/relatives; 74 honorary.

Extract from Sir John Nott’s autobiography ‘Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: Recollections of an Errant Politician’, covering his military service 1952-56:

Download (PDF, 4.55MB)

Part 1: Meeting on 16th July

On the morning after England’s Semi-final defeat in the World Cup an illustrious gathering of Sirmoorees met at Hurlingham to enjoy some fun on the croquet courts. Sadly, Peter and Annie could not be with us, but Bruce made the long journey from Bristol, John Swanston, Christopher and Griselda from a little closer and Mark, Sophie and Jon Aslett from just around the corner!

After a jolly lunch on the Terrace we occupied the ‘Sirmoor Tent’ on Court 6, with welcome shade from a bright sky and 30 degrees. Jon at 95 set his ball on a perfect line to the first hoop – and otherwise held court in the shade – a wise decision. We played three rounds of Golf Croquet (one doubles and one singles) and suitably the last Round ended in both games being decided by the ‘Golden Hoop’ (when the game is drawn at 6 hoops each).

The Golden Mallet Award. The Player of the Tournament was yet again Sophie – who ran Hoop 6 and 8 from 5 yards, and later on ran Hoop 1 and straight through Hoop 2 with one stroke! A feat that emulated her performance last year.

Tea and scones in the ‘Sirmoor Tent’ was very kindly provided by Sophie and her husband Alistair was the perfect finale to a most enjoyable day – with some enjoyable ‘swinging of the lantern’ from (much) earlier days! We could have gone on chatting for hours!

The ‘Sirmoor’ Tent

Jon ‘on strike’!

The Doc in fine form

Bruce points the way

Enjoying the running of a hoop!

Tales of yore over tea and scones !

For the record:

Round 1
Mark 7 / Bruce 4
John and Christopher 7 / Sophie and Griselda 5

Round 2
Mark and Sophie 7 / Bruce and Griselda 2
Christopher and John had a joyful game.

Round 3

John and Sophie edged out Griselda and Bruce on the Golden Hopp.
Christopher edged out Mark on the Golden Hoop

Part 2: Meeting on 20th August.

Peter and Annie returned to the hallowed courts of Hurlingham for our second outing of the Summer on 20^th August. David Santa Ollala replaced Bruce, otherwise it was the same ‘happy band’ that had so graced the courts a month earlier. Heavy downpours as we assembled on the Terrace made us think we might be in for a long lunch and not much croquet, but someone had done their Puja that morning and bang on time the skies cleared and we took to the courts!

Jon got the ball rolling again before setting up his stall in the Umpires Tent. With an even and well-watered lawn the court played well and while Sophie did not repeat her July heroics, there was some skilled and competitive play around the hoops.

Two hours later the sun was vanquished and an increasing wind and a few drops of rain gave notice of a further downpour. We packed up our mallets and balls with stylish urgency, and managed to gain the shelter of the Conservatory before the deluge – wherein we took tea and scones.

For the record (Golf Croquet):

Round 1:

David and Sophie triumphed over Peter and Annie 7-4

Christopher and the Doctor edged Mark and Griselda 7-3

Round 2:

Peter and Christopher prevailed over Mark and David 7-2

The Umpire decided that Sophie and the Doctor’s game with Griselda and Annie should be drawn at 5-5 as the first drops of rain descended and the wind increased!