Remembering 203353 Lieutenant Arthur Sidney Best of the 3/2 Gurkha Rifles who died this day in 1945. A survivor at Dunkirk, this man found himself in one of the ill fated Gurkha columns used as the diversion for the main Chindit thrust in 1943. He was captured and spent nearly two years in Rangoon Jail. Leaving the jail in April 1945 he and 400 other so called fit men were ordered to march out toward the Thai border. The Japanese gave up this attempt to take some of the POW's with them to Thailand and left the party on the roadside near Pegu. Sadly for Arthur he had not been able to keep up with the main group and was escorted away from the march by a guard and was never seen of heard of again. Rest in Peace brave soldier.
Very sad story told to me by veteran Denis Gudgeon (now deceased). The other POW's tried desperately to keep Arthur going on the march but his strength gave way and he fell out of the line. They were all pretty sure he was murdered by the Japanese guards although nobody witnessed this.
If he was with the 6th Cameronians he wouldn't have been at Dunkirk in 1940. They were in 52nd Div and landed in France after Dunkirk for a few days. I've checked the diary and there's no officer field returns so can't confirm if he was with them in 1940. Cheers A
If he was with the 6th Cameronians he wouldn't have been at Dunkirk in 1940. They were in 52nd Div and landed in France after Dunkirk for a few days. I've checked the diary and there's no officer field returns so can't confirm if he was with them in 1940. Cheers A Thanks mate, no great concern to me really, it was mentioned in a book somewhere I think. A very well liked and admired officer inside the jail, kept the younger 2 Lieu's going during those early POW days.
