On 8 May 1945 Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allied powers. Although the fighting was over, Europe was in a state of chaos and the further demands on Allied soldiers would be steep. Countless towns and cities were in ruins, millions of refugees wandered the devastated countryside, and thousands of surrendered German soldiers would need to be disarmed and processed. Additionally, in formerly Axis occupied territories partisan groups would also need to be tactfully policed. Safeguarding this fragile peace would present new challenges for Gurkha soldiers stationed in Italy and Greece.

In July 1945, the Burma Campaign reached its brutal climax on the banks of the Sittang River.

After months of retreat, the remnants of Japanese 28th Army were boxed into a stretch of hills called the Pegu Yomas. These Japanese remnants, numbering around 20,000 men, were in little condition to fight. But despite being desperately low on food and equipment, they refused to surrender. Their leaders were determined to break out and make a dash for Japanese occupied Thailand. To do this, they would first need to cross the Sittang.

By summer 1945, the Japanese war effort was collapsing on all fronts. In the first half of 1945, US forces had made major advances in the Pacific, capturing the island of Okinawa after nearly three months of fighting. Just 400 miles from the Japanese home islands, Okinawa was a key staging point for the planned Allied invasion of Japan. In central Burma, Allied troops (including large numbers of Gurkhas) had broken the Japanese on the Sittang river. At home, Japan’s situation was also dire, with many of its cities being subjected to continuous bombing. On the night of 9/10 March 1945, 100,000 people were killed in Tokyo when US bombers caused a massive firestorm.

In 2025, as the nation comes together to commemorate and celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE day) over Nazi Germany and its allies, it is important to acknowledge in May 1945 the war in the Far East against the Japanese continued.

In commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day and in recognition of this significant milestone, The Gurkha Museum Trust has written an insightful article that highlights the remarkable contributions of the Gurkhas during the Second World War. It’s a poignant reminder that on that historic day, May 8, 1945, some Gurkha soldiers were enduring the hardships as Japanese prisoners of war (PoWs).

On 6 April 1945, the Allies launched a massive offensive in Italy. The objective was to liberate northern Italy from German occupation and reach the Austrian border. From there, the Allies could enter the German homeland from the south. Over the following weeks, Allied armies smashed through the German defences at the Senio, Santerno and Po rivers. Six battalions of Gurkhas took part in the offensive, distinguishing themselves at the Santerno river, Medicina and the Gaiana canal.

The Italian Campaign began in July 1943 when Allied forces invaded the island of Sicily. The island was captured after five weeks of fighting, inflicting a defeat on the Italians that led to collapse of Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime. Nine Gurkha battalions fought in Italy. Throughout 1944 they saw some of the worst fighting of the campaign, suffering heavy casualties at Monte Cassino and the Gothic Line. But despite this, the Gurkhas were regarded as some of the finest troops in Italy.

Irrawaddy River at Thabeikkyin and Kyaukmyaung, opening the 1945 offensive into central Burma. The 2nd British and 20th Indian Divisions followed on 14 February, crossing near Mandalay and causing the Japanese forces under General Heitarō Kimura to scramble north towards the city

In the middle of February 1945, 19-year-old Second Lieutenant Patrick Davis was marching towards his first battle. A few months before he had joined the 4th Battalion, 8th Gurkha Rifles in the aftermath of the Battle of Kohima. After a period of restructuring and line holding, 4/8GR was sucked into the 14th Army’s effort to cross Burma’s formidably defended Irrawaddy river.

In January 1945, Gurkha battalions were positioned across various fronts, with some in Italy, others in Greece on peacekeeping duties, and many in Burma preparing for renewed offensives against the Japanese. The Gurkhas had been in action since 1941, and in 1945, they would play a pivotal role in the final push towards peace, which would culminate in the end of World War II.