Orders, Decorations and Medals

Five: Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Thornber, Gurkha Engineer Regiment

1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (Major J. Thornber, R.E.) mounted as worn, very fine (5) £180-220

M.I.D. London Gazette 8 June 1943: Lieutenant (Acting Captain), for services in Iraq, Syria and Persia.

Early in 1948 a War Office letter circulated to all Engineer Units gave the first notice that a Gurkha Engineer Regiment was to be raised, and called for British officer volunteers to make up the first squadron in Malaya. The Ranks to be found were one Major and five Captains or Subalterns, the main qualification required being previous service with Indian Sappers and Miners and a knowledge of Urdu. The Officer chosen to command the Gurkha Training Squadron was Major. John ‘Jack’ C. Thornber who was attached to 1/6 Gurkha Rifles in June 1948 and had seen service in all three of the Sapper and Miner Groups. He was subsequently appointed Officer Commanding Gurkha Training Squadron 1948-49; Officer Commanding 67 Royal Engineer Field Squadron (Gurkha) 1949-50; and finally Commanding Royal Engineer, British Gurkha's India/Nepal 1959-60, being the first of only two officers to hold this command. Lieutenant-Colonel Jack Thornber retired from the Army in September 1960. Sold with further research.