Thank you! SS Orion was part of Convoy WS 20 arriving Bombay on August 9th 1942. So my guess is that the painting was sketched somewhere around Durban, going by the date on the sales pitch.
3/8th Gurkha Rifles were part of 32nd Brigade, 20th Indian Inf Div and took part in the fighting at Kyaukchauw and on the Silchar Track in the first few months of 1944. I have copies of tsome pages of their war Diary from Kew byut no mention of Sheldon. Skoyen89
thanks everyone-it is still a bit of a mystery! Skoyen what does it mean 3/8? was there a 1/8 2/8 6/8 etc? This guy obviously was well known as a painter- I found a couple of paintings recently, and I know he ended up in Berkhamstead and died in the last decade. But seemingly left little trace otherwise.
8th Gurkha Rifles had 4 battalions and they were usually written as 1/8th, 2/8th, 3/8th and 4/8th. Three of them served in Burma, 1st, 3rd and 4th, while 2nd served in the Middle East, Persia and later in Italy.
Hi Only just come across this site as I have been doing some follow up research on the 8th GURKHA RIFLES having donated a ceremonial Kunwa and documentation to the Gurkha Museum Wichester from my father Major Kenneth Harvey Brazier late of 2nd Batn 8th Gurkha Riflles HQ Quetta The museum have a great archive service and can be contacted with requests on the following link Find/Contact Us - The Gurkha Museum Winchester Regards Traveller
Guys, the Regiment and the ethnic class should be written as either Gurkha (pre-Independence, 1947) or Gorkha (post-Independence, 1947). Ghurkha is not phonetically correct. 4/8 GR (to use its short, frequently used title) had a very good record in Burma. The battalion served in my father's Division in Secunderabad, S. India in 1974-76. The VC winner, Lachhiman Ghale was from the unit and used to travel down from Nepal annually.
3/8th Gurkha Rifles were part of 32nd Brigade, 20th Indian Inf Div and took part in the fighting at Kyaukchauw and on the Silchar Track in the first few months of 1944. I have copies of tsome pages of their war Diary from Kew byut no mention of Sheldon. Skoyen89 HEYY FOUND UR POST WHILE SEARCHING FOR 3/8 GORKHA RIFLES,, I NOTICED THT U MENTIONED U HAD SOME PAGES FROM THE WAR DIARY ,, IM COMPILING THE HISTORY OF THE 8 GORKHA RIFLES AND IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD FWD ME WHT EVER DETAILS U CAN ABOUT THEM,, N WOULD LOVE TO GET THOSE PAGES YOU HAVE FROM THE WAR DIARIES,, ............ PLZ CONTACT ME ON rao1996@gmail.com
I AM DOING SOME RESEARCH ON 8TH GORKHA RIFLES SO ANYONE HAVING ANY DETAILS OR DOCUMENTS FOR 3/8 GORKHA RIFLES FOR 1ST WW AND 2ND WW PLZ CONTACT ME ON rao1996@gmail.com
just posted 3 more paintings by Sheldon which I found in newspapers in India when I visited. All of Gurkha regs or Baluch medal holder in Italy, so posted them there
Having only just found this site I am pleased to pass on the following information. My father, Kenneth Harvey Brazier, was a member of the 2 Btn. 8th Gurkha (note spelling) Rifles. Commissioned as 2Lt in 1942 & Regimental Adj. Major in 1945, before leaving prior to partition in 1946 and returning to UK. A quantity of photos and documents have been donated by my family to The Gurkha Museum in Winchester. Regretfully - due to age - The 8th Gurkha Regimental Association no longer exists although again some information is held by the Gurkha Museum Winchester
Thanks for posting the photographs of your father. I've been to the Gurkha Museum and it is a wonderful place to visit and learn more about these special soldiers. Best wishes Steve