🇬🇧 WWII uncovered: Major Frank Blaker of The Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)/9th Gurkha Rifles Posthumously Awarded the Victoria Cross.

🇬🇧 WWII uncovered: Major Frank Blaker of The Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)/9th Gurkha Rifles Posthumously Awarded the Victoria Cross

According to the Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment) Association: "Frank Gerald Blaker was born in Kasauli, Punjab, India on 8 May June 1920.

On gaining his commission in mid 1941 he served in the Highland Light Infantry, and requested to be sent out to India to be seconded to the 9th Gurkha Rifles in 1942. He became a very able commander in the jungle force that became known as the “Chindits”.

Frank Blaker had a unique and rare perspective for the war in Burma, earning the Military Cross for his skill and daring in jungle operations against the Japanese in Burma in 1943, 14 months before his Victoria Cross action."

⭐Captain (temporary Major) Frank Gerald Blaker's Victoria Cross Citation reads as follows:

War Office, 26th September, 1944

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the VICTORIA CROSS to Captain (temporary Major) Frank Gerald Blaker, M.C. (193864), The Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment) (attached 9th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army).

In Burma on 9th July, 1944, a company of the 9th Gurkha Rifles was ordered to carry out a wide, encircling movement across unknown and precipitous country, through dense jungle, to attack a strong enemy position on the summit of an important hill overlooking Taungni.

Major Blaker carried out this movement with the utmost precision and took up a position with his company on the extreme right flank of the enemy, in itself a feat of considerable military skill.

Another Company, after bitter fighting, had succeeded in taking the forward edge of the enemy position by a frontal assault, but had failed to reach the main crest of the hill in the face of fierce opposition.

At this crucial moment Major Blaker's Company came under heavy and accurate fire at close range from a machine gun and two light machine guns, and their advance was completely stopped.

Major Blaker then advanced ahead of his men through very heavy fire and, in spite of being severely wounded in the arm, he located the machine guns, which were the pivot of the enemy defence, and single handed charged the position. When hit by a burst of three rounds, he continued to cheer on his men while on the ground.

His fearless leadership and outstanding courage so inspired his Company that they stormed the hill and captured the objective, while the enemy fled in terror into the jungle.

Major Blaker died of wounds while being evacuated from the battlefield. His heroism and self sacrifice were beyond all praise and contributed in no small way to the defeat of the enemy and the successful outcome of the operation" - The London Gazette Friday, the 22nd of September, 1944

Major Blaker's parents learned of his passing through the supplement in the London Gazette announcing his award of the Victoria Cross. The Victoria Cross was presented to Frank's brother Hugh, of the Merchant Marine, in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on 26 September 1944.

Major Frank Blaker was 24 years old at the time of his passing. He lies in rest at Taukkyan War Cemetery in Burma. Lest We Forget.

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