There were several Gurkha units in Congo during the early 60s but since they were Indian Amy, you don't find much in the books about them. Dad's 1st Gorkha Rifles had a battalion there in '61, and they saw some heavy action in the Katanga area. One of their Indian officers, Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria, was poshtumously awarded India's highest wartime gallantry award. There's a brief mention in Farwell's "Gurkhas" about this.
Since it involves Gurkhas and khukuris in action, I thought some of you might find this interesting. It is the official citation for this officer's gallantry award - it's a bit on the "rah-rah" side, but still makes for an interesting reading:
"On 5 December 1961, a 3/1 GR Company supported by 3-inch mortar attacked a road-block, established by the Katangese troops, between HQ Katanga command and the Elisabethville airfield at a strategic round about. The enemy road-block was destroyed and the Gorkhas established a UN road-block there.
When Captain Salaria in a platoon strength tried to link up with the Gorkha company to reinforce the road-block, he met strong opposition in the old airfield area. Heavy automatic and small arms fire was brought down on his force by the enemy from a dug-in position on the right flank.
The enemy held the area strongly with two armoured cars and 90 men. Captain Salaria was not deterred by the superior enemy strength and fire power. He decided to take the enemy, head-on, to achieve the objective.
The Gorkhas charged the enemy with bayonets, khukris and hand-grenades. A rocket launcher supported them in the attack. In this sharp encounter, Captain Salaria and his men killed 40 of the enemy and knocked out two enemy cars.
The his bold action completely demoralised the enemy who fled helter-skelter despite numerical superiority and well fortified positions. In this engagement, Captain Salaria was wounded in the neck by a burst of enemy automatic fire, but he ignored the injury and continued to fight till he collapsed due to excessive bleeding.
Subsequently, he died of his grave wounds. Captain Salaria prevented the enemy from going to the round-about thereby saving the UN Headquarters in Elisabethville from encirclement. His leadership, courage, unflinching devotion to duty and disregard for his personal safety were in the best traditions of the Army.
Captain Salaria was awarded the highest wartime medal, Param Vir Chakra, for his extraordinary leadership and devotion to duty, posthumously."
- Sonam
