Campaign Groups and Pairs 283 Five: Major G. Trubridge, 3/1st Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army
1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46 (Major G. Trubridge 3/1 G.R.) mounted court-style as worn, nearly extremely fine (5)
£100-£140
Geoffrey Trubridge was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 1st Gurkha Rifles on 20 September 1942, and was promoted Lieutenant on 20 March 1943, and Temporary Captain on 11 August 1944. He served with the 3rd Battalion, 1st Gurkha Rifles during the Second World War in Burma, with the regimental history of the 1st Gurkhas recording that he rejoined the 3rd Battalion at Imphal in May 1944 from an ‘outside job’, and on the 21 May commanded “A” Company in an attack on Irengbam: ‘When the leading Company, “A,” under Captain G. Trubridge, advanced on the 21 May it drew considerable fire as it approached the village, but the enemy could not face the final charge of yelling Gurkhas and fled in panic. Fugitives trying to make off across the fields were engaged by L.M.G.s and mortars. Two bewildered prisoners were taken…’
Promoted Major on 1 July 1945, Trubridge went on to see further active service with the 3rd Battalion in French Indo-China, 1945-46, and in April 1946 he was part of a detachment sent to the east coast of Borneo to assist Dutch troops in the repatriation of Japanese Prisoners of War. He then served with 2nd Battalion from August 1946 to demobilisation.
284 Five: Captain R. B. Howick, Machine Gun Battalion, The Jat Regiment, Indian Army
1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46 (Capt. R. B. Howick. 9 Jat. R.) good very fine (5)
£100-£140
Robert Bernard Howick was born on 17 March 1923 and was commissioned in the Jat Regiment on 15 November 1942. Promoted Lieutenant on 15 May 1943, he served during the Second World War with the 7th Battalion and then the Machine Gun Battalion of his regiment in Burma. The Machine Gun Battalion saw extensive and arduous active service from Imphal to the Sittang River, 1944-1945. Companies of the battalion nearly always operated independently in support of various forces. From joining the unit in 1944 Howick served as the only company officer of “W” Company and eventually, from May 1945, as company commander. After Burma the battalion saw further service in French Indo-China, qualifying for the General Service with clasp South-East Asia 1945-46.
‘MG Jat’ was organised as four MG Companies (W, X, Y, and Z), each with an establishment of twelve guns, and was the MG Battalion of the 20th Indian Division. The following notes on Howick’s active service in Burma are extracted from the battalion history published at Bangalore in July 1947:
Capture of Monywa
‘From Maukkadaw one platoon ofWCompany under Lieutenant Howick left to join 100 Infantry Brigade where they received orders to form part of a strong mobile column which was to move as rapidly as possible through Budalin to occupy Monywa… The force duly left on the 4th January [1945], but on approaching Budalin found 32 Infantry Brigade in contact with the enemy who contrary to expectations were making a stubborn stand, in well dug in positions inside the village. The platoon then came under command of 32 Brigade, subsequently being joined by the remainder of W Company which remained with the Brigade right through the Burma operations... Monywa was the Division’s first large prize so far, and had been an important base for the Japs this side of the Irrawaddy… W Company under Major Davies and Lieutenant Howick played their share in its recapture.’
The Irrawaddy Crossing
During the battle of the Irrawaddy shore W Company supported 1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment in a desperate action ‘One battalion of 32 Brigade [1 Northamptonshires] had been given the task of making a diversionary landing from Myaung to the South of the main crossing. No. 3 platoon were to cross with the assaulting troops to assist consolidation, while No. 2 platoon gave supporting fire from a sandbank in mid river. The landing was effected according to plan on the 13 February and that night Major Davies, and Lieutenant Howick with Company H.Q. and the remaining platoon crossed to join the platoon with the Northants on the bridgehead... The Japanese reacted strongly to this surprise landing, and launched counter attacks, one after the other mainly at night, all of which were repulsed, assisted by our M.G. fire which took heavy toll of the enemy and won many tributes from the men of the Northants. The bridghead was only 800 yards by 300 yards in very soft sand, and no cover of any description, but in spite of these conditions and merciless enemy Artillery fire day and night the morale of the men remained magnificently high… By the end of the month the bridghead was still firmly holding out… We left W Company entrenched with the Northants on their small bridgehead across the Irrawaddy. Not a day or night passed without incident, and the machine guns were constantly in action, beating off enemy attacks, dealing with jitter parties, map shoots and harassing shoots. Enemy artillery continued to pour shells down on to this relatively small and completely exposed area, making any movement by day a very hazardous procedure, and one not indulged in lightly. With the remainder of the Brigade across the river… the by now completely isolated party had completed its task… Thus ended a very trying period of 25 days, spent in exposed positions, subject to constant attacks, and continual shelling, added to which was blazing heat and myriads of flies… many individual acts of gallantry were performed, and the Company with Major Davies and Lieutenant Howick can truly say they had done a difficult job well… A most appreciative signal was received at Battalion H.Q. from the C.O. of the Northants, thanking W Company for the very excellent support they had rendered, and for the magnificent manner in which they had carried it out.’
Final Advance in Burma
32 Brigade now advanced across country to cut the Mandalay road, and ‘Mopping up of nearby parties of enemy was carried out with machine gun support whenever required… Lieutenant Howick was with the company throughout as Company Officer and frequently out with detached platoons.’ These operations continued until the end of March followed by a rest period from 1-9 April. 32 Brigade, with W Company, still attached, then formed a mechanised column to act as spearhead of the next advance, to Taundingwi, which was accomplished in six days. The history continues: ‘From the 23 to the 27 April, one platoon under Lieutenant Howick with guns and ammunition on bullock carts moved South with the 4/2nd Gurkha Rifles, and by the end of the month the Company had concentrated North of Allanmyo on the Rangoon Road... W Company continued with 32 Brigade and reached Tharrawaddy in May. Major Davies had left the company at Tharrawaddy to proceed on leave in India, leaving Lieutenant Howick in charge. While in India orders came through sanctioning Major Davies his home leave in lieu of repatriation, and that was the last we saw of him for about six months.’
Presumably Captain Howick remained in charge of W Company for the remainder of the campaign in Burma and the move to Saigon in French Indo-China, where the task of disarming and rounding up 72,000 Japanese was hampered by a state of near civil war and considerable unrest. The Battalion was still on active service and in action with rebels on a number of occasions. There were casualties and several awards for gallantry were earned during this period. Around October 1945 Howick went on leave to India and was away for several months but must have returned before the Battalion was disbanded in India in August 1946 as he appears in the group photograph of officers present on disbandment.
www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186
