REUNIFICATION OF L42A1 WITH ITS RIGHTFUL OWNER

[30Three]

I have my European firearms pass, but there's a bit of extra paperwork to do for the UK. Would be worthwhile though.
thanks.

[gundoc2112]

Thank you for sharing this, it is wonderful that you were able to track down the veteran that was issued the rifle. I was able to do the same with mine thanks to the veteran writing his name on the lens cap strap and the wonders of social media. In my rifle's case, the veteran belonged to 7th Gurkhas and was at Falklands as well and is now living in London.

[Gil Boyd]

Great to see him being allowed to stay in the UK. Many were sent back home after their valuable service WITHOUT a pension...........a stain on the MOD and this country. Glad to say that has been rectified after much public outrage

[browningautorifle]

G Company on top of Mount Tumbledown

I remember all that, we watched with great interest...

[Roy W]

Great to see him being allowed to stay in the UK. Many were sent back home after their valuable service WITHOUT a pension...........a stain on the MOD and this country. Glad to say that has been rectified after much public outrage

Not necessarily the victory that Joanna Lumley wanted. A large number of retired Ghurkas brought their extended families to the UK and set up home in their former Garrison towns, such as Aldershot, Fleet, Farnborough and Church Crookham. With the drawdown of the military in these places, nobody reckoned on the complete lack of employment for the younger generation and now entire families share homes, spend all day sitting on street corners, and looking for work.

A good example of public outrage leading to an outcome that nobody foresaw

[Gil Boyd]

Roy,
Absolutely correct, and a language barrier is to blame in so many Gurkha cases, sadly especially in Aldershot as one example, where it is highly, visually obvious, that they have nothing to do, occupying all the main streets!!
2 PARA had a whole company of them Para trained, and sadly it was the cross fertilisation that was a problem with commands and language, leading to a short lived hope and idea that it could work!!

[GeeRam]

What a great thing to re-unite like that

A mate of mine is a ex-Coldstream sniper from the same era, will have to ask him next time I see him if he can remember his L42's number(s).

[Jeremy Phillips]

There must have been satisfaction in this Gil, his emotion on meeting his rifle again i can only imagine would have been tearful, it would if i met George again.

[Gil Boyd]

Jerry,

Welcome to the site mate. Yes it was a tear jerker for lots of people on the day, especially Nigel who last saw his broken rifle at the top of Tumbledown mountain which saved his life 36 years later during the battle!!.

I know your knowledge base on the rifle Jerry especially as a seasoned sniper trained with 3 PARA, will be very useful on this site as many own them.
PARA's best in numbers lol, few Royal Marines and U.S Marines on here so be prepared for some flak!!
I am sure we will all try and reunite you with your rifle too over time, it happens quite regularly on here!

[DanL96a1]

Jeremy I think this might be “George”, if you look JMoore has a L42 with 1 Para Phillips k Coy. Might be b Coy
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=19309&page=3