Hugh Seagrim
Encyclopedia
Major Hugh Paul "Grandfather Longlegs" Seagrim GC
DSO
MBE
(1909–1944) was a famous leader of Karen rebels, fighting Japanese invaders in Burma during World War II
.
His brother was Derek Anthony Seagrim
VC
. He and his brother have the distinction of being the only siblings awarded the Victoria Cross
and George Cross
(both posthumously).
, Hampshire
, England
in 1909. He graduated from Sandhurst
and joined the British Indian Army
, becoming an officer in the 19th Hyderabad Regiment
. He was later seconded to the 20th Burma Rifles with the temporary rank of Major, becoming an expert in several Burmese languages. When the Japanese invaded Burma, he was given the task of raising irregular guerilla forces from the Karens and other groups.
The British were driven from Burma by May, 1942, and Seagrim and his force were isolated for a long time. Eventually, Force 136
dropped agents and wireless operators who made contact with his guerillas in October, 1943.
Seagrim led Karens in a campaign of sabotage against the occupation. His force enjoyed much support from Karen civilians despite a series of brutal Japanese reprisal killings against Karen villages. His force was gradually wiped out by a concentrated Japanese manhunt. To prevent further bloodshed Seagrim surrendered himself to the Japanese forces on March 15, 1944.
He and eight of his Karen companions were executed by the Japanese on September 22 in Rangoon. For gallantry under captivity, he was posthumously awarded the George Cross in 1946.
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1909–1944) was a famous leader of Karen rebels, fighting Japanese invaders in Burma during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
His brother was Derek Anthony Seagrim
Derek Anthony Seagrim
Lieutenant Colonel Derek Anthony Seagrim VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. His VC was earned during the North Africa CampaignHis brother was Hugh...
VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
. He and his brother have the distinction of being the only siblings awarded the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
and George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
(both posthumously).
Life
He was born in AshmansworthAshmansworth
Ashmansworth is a village and civil parish in the Basingstoke and Deane district of the English county of Hampshire.-Location:It is about south of Newbury in Berkshire, and from Andover in Hampshire. The village has the distinction of being not only one of the highest villages in Hampshire, but...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1909. He graduated from Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
and joined the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
, becoming an officer in the 19th Hyderabad Regiment
19th Hyderabad Regiment
The 19th Hyderabad Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed following the post World War I reforms of the Indian Army when they moved from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...
. He was later seconded to the 20th Burma Rifles with the temporary rank of Major, becoming an expert in several Burmese languages. When the Japanese invaded Burma, he was given the task of raising irregular guerilla forces from the Karens and other groups.
The British were driven from Burma by May, 1942, and Seagrim and his force were isolated for a long time. Eventually, Force 136
Force 136
Force 136 was the general cover name for a branch of the British World War II organization, the Special Operations Executive . The organisation was established to encourage and supply resistance movements in enemy-occupied territory, and occasionally mount clandestine sabotage operations...
dropped agents and wireless operators who made contact with his guerillas in October, 1943.
Seagrim led Karens in a campaign of sabotage against the occupation. His force enjoyed much support from Karen civilians despite a series of brutal Japanese reprisal killings against Karen villages. His force was gradually wiped out by a concentrated Japanese manhunt. To prevent further bloodshed Seagrim surrendered himself to the Japanese forces on March 15, 1944.
He and eight of his Karen companions were executed by the Japanese on September 22 in Rangoon. For gallantry under captivity, he was posthumously awarded the George Cross in 1946.
Sources
- Burma: The longest War, Louis Allen, Dent Paperbacks, ISBN 0-460-02474-4