THE VICTORIA CROSS AND CAMPAIGN MEDALS AWARDED TO HON CAPTAIN GAJE GHALE, 5TH ROYAL GURKHA RIFLES, HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE LORD ASHCROFT VC COLLECTION. |
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23 January 2015 |
The Victoria Cross and campaign medals awarded to Hon Captain Gaje Ghale, 2nd Bn, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles, has been acquired by the Michael Ashcroft Trust the holding institution for the Lord Ashcroft VC Collection. The Gaje Ghale VC group will go on display in the Imperial War Museum's Lord Ashcroft Gallery.
The action in which Gaje Ghale earned his VC was fought in the final phase of 17th Indian Division's withdrawal and life-and-death struggle with the Japanese 33rd Division on the Tiddim Road on 27 May 1943. If their line was to be held against sustained Japanese pressure, it was essential for 2 / 5th Gurkhas to clear the enemy from positions overlooking their own. Two assaults on Basha East Hill, the key to the Japanese position, had failed. Casualties among the platoon commanders had been so heavy that Gaje was made an acting havildar in command of a platoon of D Company and led it in the third assault. For the award of the Victoria Cross. [ London Gazette, 30 September 1943 ], Basha East Hill, Burma, 24 - 27 May 1943, Havildar Gaje Ghale, 2nd Bn, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles.
In order to stop an advance into the Chin Hills of greatly superior Japanese forces it was essential to capture Basha East hill which was the key to the enemy position. Two assaults had failed but a third assault was ordered to be carried out by two platoons of Havildar Gaje Ghale's company and two companies of another battalion.
Gaje Ghale was invested with his Victoria Cross by the Viceroy of India, Field Marshal Lord Wavell, at the Red Fort, Delhi, on the 6th January 1944.
Gaje Ghale was promoted Jamadar in October 1943. His VC was presented to him by the Viceroy, Field Marshall Lord Wavell in 1944, and he was a member of his regiment's contingent at the Victory Parade in London. He maintained the closest links with his former British officers of the 5th Gurkhas, and visited England on a number of occasions under the auspices of the VC & GC Association. His most recent visit was in the Autumn of 1990. |
Iain Stewart, 23 January 2015