Hugh Seagrim
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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).
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[edit] Life
He was born in Ashmansworth, 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.
[edit] Notes
He was 6 foot, 4 inches tall, and sometimes referred to as Grandfather Longlegs.
[edit] Sources
- Burma: The longest War, Louis Allen, Dent Paperbacks, ISBN 0-460-02474-4
