“A
Gurkha NCO found in the jungle after Seven Years
“
6582 Naik Nakam Gurung of 2/1
GR was contacted after 7 years isolation in the
Malayan jungle by a patrol of 1/10 GR on 20 October
1949 during the Malayan Emergency.
During the Second World War he
was moved to Malaya with his battalion on 5 September
1941, which was based at Ipoh.
He narrated his experiences
in the jungle as follows:
“I was in C Coy. At that
time 2Lt Gold was my Company Commander. As the
war still being waged against the Japanese Imperial
Army, our battalion was ordered to move towards
the line, north of Sungei Patani. We were forced
to retreat from there after fighting against great
odds.
On 7 January 1942 in the Ipoh
area our battalion was trapped in an ambush by
the Japanese. After a considerable period of resistance,
we were fragmented and scattered. I was with a
group of consisting of Subedar Major Lalbahadur
Gurung, Subedar Maniraj Thapa and other 56 ranks,
which managed to fight its way out of the ambush.
We made a plan to march to Singapore
through the jungle. On our journey we came across
‘Kampongs’ where the villagers treated
us with hospitality and offered us food.
After 25 days of continuous
march and cutting paths through the jungle, we
reached the Jementah area where I suffered severely
from Malaria. As I was unable to proceed further
and my comrades were helpless, Subeder Major lalbahadur
told me to stay there until the war was over.
He further suggested that I should return to the
battalion when the Japanese army surrendered.
They left behind some rations for me for three
months and then departed.
Miraculously after a month of
suffering I recovered from Malaria. First of all,
I set up a small shelter for myself and cultivated
the land around it. I discovered some abandoned
huts in the jungle. For survival I set a trap
for wild pig, fished and searched for edible foods.
From 1942 I had not eaten any salt until 20 October
1949 when a patrol of 1/10 GR luckily found me.
From time to time, during my
stay in the jungle, I used to come across the
local Chinese inhabitants; they gave me information
of the whereabouts of the Japanese in the local
area. They suggested that the only secure place
for me to stay was in the jungle; one false move
or exposure to the Japanese would cost me my life.
So, for my own safety, I did
not leave the jungle. When the patrol of 1/10
GR found me on 20 October 1949, I did not know
that war was over!
I was enlisted into 2/1 GR on
28 October 1929 and was promoted to LCpl on 1
July 1941.”
Naik Nakam Gurung later proceeded
on leave in November 1949. He was subsequently
discharged from the Indian Army with his full
retrospective pay and allowances and a pension. |
VC (Victoria Cross) Ram Bahadur Limbu now in his early 60’s still regularly visits Khukuri House to buy khukris for his friends and families. He has been a good and loyal customer of Khukuri House since the day he discovered us. He recently came to buy a couple of khukris and praised the quality and the prices we offer. He also jokingly said, “I know much more about khukris than you guys do because I have used it and moreover used it when it needed the most”..….One of the most respected customers of Khukuri House; he has made all Gurkhas and Nepalese proud. WE SALUTE YOU!!! 
