This Day in History: 1945-10-02

The 4th Battalion embarked at Rangoon on the SS Circassia for operations in Indo-China as part of 20th Indian Division under the command of Major General Douglas Gracey. Their mission was to prevent a communist takeover of the former French colonies by forces under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh, a task which necessitated re-arming not only French citizens but also surrendered Japanese troops to help keep order. Operations lasted until the 25th December 1945 and the arrival of French forces.  Four Gurkhas had been killed and ten wounded.

The SS Circassia, a former Anchor Line cruise liner turned troopship