Major Richard Hamilton Gillett was born on the 13th of February 1917 in Ouseburn, Yorkshire. He was educated at Lancing college from 1931 to 1935 before attending Sandhurst. Made a 2nd Lieutenant on 28th September 1940, Gillett was eventually attached to the 152 (Indian) Parachute Battalion from the 7th Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment. 

By March 1944, Major Gillett was the commander of 152 Battalion's A Company during the Battle of Sangshak. He was dispatched by his CO, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Hopkinson, to advance to Point 7378 and support the overwhelmed C Company. However, Gillett's men would have to march down a valley and up the other side. They saw C Company in the final stages of a losing battle. They were eventually ordered to abandon this reinforcement mission as C Company was obliterated. Gillett himself was seriously wounded in the battle at the consolidated position on top of the plateau at Sangshak, on the 26th March 1944. After being evacuated from the position, Gillett met up with Captain Dicky Richards, 152 Battalion's Liaison officer. Dicky's recollection of Gillett's death was retold in John Gerring's Sangshak countdown as follows:

"Captain Dicky Richards recalled that many of the newcomers who joined their group were wounded. At one point Richards came across Major Richard Gillet, Officer Commanding A Coy, 152 Parachute Battalion, seriously wounded in the action, and lying on a stretcher by a stream. He asked for a cigarette and a revolver. Gillet ‘passed away’ soon after finishing the cigarette". 

He was 27 years old. 

He is now buried in Imphal War Cemetery. 

Compiled with information from:

India's Paratroopers, A History of the Parachute Regiment of India (London, 1975), K.C. Praval 

Airborne Assault Archive (Boxes 3 H4 20.1.1, 3 H4 20.1.2 and 3 H4 20.1.3)

John Gerring's Sangshak countdown part 6: https://theparachuteregimentalassociation.com/hermes/sangshak-80-countdown-part-6/

Article written by Alex Walker