This Day in History: 1949-09-09

A patrol of B Company of the 1st Battalion found a Gurkha living deep in the Malayan jungle.  He was Havildar (Sergeant) Nakam Gurung of 2nd Battalion 1st Gurkha Rifles, who had been left behind when very sick with malaria during the 1941 retreat from the Japanese.  Not knowing the war was over, and with only a kukri as a weapon and tool, he survived by foraging, fishing and hunting.  When taken in front of the 2nd Goorkhas Commandant, Lieutenant Colonel John Stephens, he recognised him as having been a Staff Captain in HQ 28 Brigade.  Returned to his unit, he continued to serve until 1953 when he retired to Nepal.