Gallipoli Hero’s Medals and Papers Acquired by the 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles Regimental Association for The Gurkha Museum

THE Gurkha Museum in Winchester has been gifted the medals and some personal papers of a Great War officer.

Colonel Cecil John Lyons Allanson CMG CIE DSO, served with the 6th Gurkha Rifles in the 1914-18 war.

Thanks to the generosity the 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles Regimental Association and Trust.

Major Allanson commanded 1/6 Gurkha Rifles at Gallipoli in 1915 where they gained immortal fame for the action at Sari Bair: they were the only troops in the whole campaign to reach and hold the crest line and look down on the Straits which was the ultimate objective.

Allanson himself was severely wounded, as was every British officer in the 1/6 GR who had not been killed, except for the Medical Officer, Capt Phipson. Having captured the crest line the Battalion came under heavy fire, sadly from Allied artillery, and were forced to withdraw under command of Subedar-Major Gambirsing Pun, who spoke no English and relied on Capt Phipson to interpret for him.

The battalion withdrew in good order and Gambirsing was awarded the Military Cross for his leadership and gallantry. Total casualties amounted to 204 all ranks in three days fighting, of whom 45 were killed, three of them British officers. Allanson and Phipson were awarded the DSO.

From August the 28 to September 10 1915 1/6 GR were engaged in the usual routine of trench warfare but, after a spell of 34 days fighting, were relieved by the 19th Australian Infantry Battalion and sent into reserve.

On December 12 battalion commanders were told in great secrecy that it was intended to evacuate the Anzac and Suvla areas of the Peninsula. At 4pm on the 21st the 1/6 GR left Murdos on S.S. Knight Templar and arrived in Alexandria on Christmas Eve.

The 6GR were subsequently awarded the Battle Honours “Helles”, “Suvla”, “Krithia”, “Gallipoli 1915”, and “Sari Bair”. This latter award appears in a place of honour at the top of the cipher of the Regiment’s cross-belt plate as well as on the drums of the Pipe-band.

President of the 6GR Association, Brigadier J.A. Anderson OBE, said: “It is vital that the history of all our regiments is preserved for posterity, and it is the very least we can do to honour all those who made so many sacrifices for this country. The Gurkha Museum, as the repository for our legacy, is the right place for this and merits the support of all.”

Martin Brooks, chairman of The Gurkha Museum said: “We are extremely grateful to the 6th Gurkha Regimental Association for securing these fine medals for us all to share them with the public as part of the wider collection of the Brigade of Gurkhas held at the Gurkha Museum.”

This follows on from their assistance in the purchase of the medals of Major General ‘Punch’ Cowan CB CBE DSO* MC, Commander of 17 Gurkha Division during the Burma Campaign.