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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 119

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S. E. Asia 1945-46 (2229 Hav/Clk. Ramkishan Gurung, 1-1 G.R.), very fine

Following the surrender of Japan in August 1945, 20th Indian Division was ordered to French Indo-China to take control of the Headquarters of the Japanese Southern Armies. It was to enforce the surrender terms and disarmament of Japanese forces and liberate Allied prisoners of war and internees south of the 16th Parallel and maintain law and order until French troops were able to assume control.

1-1GR was one of the first units of 20th Indian Division to be deployed from Rangoon, Burma to French Indo-China. The leading group of the Battalion, together with the advance party of the Control Commission, flew into Saigon in the middle of September 1945. It was immediately made responsible for providing guards and batmen for members of the Commission and for guarding key points throughout the City. The remainder of the Battalion arrived by air and sea at the end of September and the beginning of October 1945. The 1st Battalion operated in the northern sector of Saigon for the next six weeks during which time it frequently clashed with the Viet Minh and as a result sustained a number of casualties. Towards the end of October 1945, the Battalion (less one company left behind to guard the Commission) was re-deployed to the north of Saigon to begin the disarmament of Japanese troops. In the initial weeks, 1-1GR again clashed with the Viet-Minh as it sought to restore order in its area of operations. By early December 1945, the situation had calmed down sufficiently to allow formal Japanese surrender parades to be held. These went on continuously for several weeks as the Battalion disarmed 7,500 Japanese and accepted the personal surrender of 1000 swords. In late January 1946, responsibility for law and order was handed over to the French authorities and 1/1GR sailed for India.

During the Battalion's four month tour in French Indo-China, three Gurkhas were killed and twelve wounded . In addition to being awarded the General Service Medal 1918 clasp S.E.ASIA 1945-46, which was the last campaign medal to be awarded to 1-1GR in British Service, one Military Medal was awarded to a Gurkha rifleman.

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Sold for
£60

Starting price
£40