Overland vehicle expedition UK to India
In 1967 I was posted back to serve with the British Brigade of Gurkhas. Previously I had been with them in Malaya, Singapore, Brunei, Sarawak, Sabah and Nepal. But this assignment was in the New Territories of Hong Kong-- adjacent to mainland China.
To get there I led a four man vehicle expedition overland through Europe, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal, down to Calcutta.
The 9000 mile journey took about 8 weeks. The vehicle was an old 2 liter diesel land rover.
I flew from Calcutta to Hong Kong and was there for three years.
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Ready to go from Bulford in Wiltshire. I got a hundred sponsors for food and materials
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In front of the Vatican in Rome. I don't think security would allow this now!
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Istanbul. The incomparable San Sophia.
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Crossing river in Turkey
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Disaster! Cylinder head froze between Istanbul and Ankara
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Eastern Turkey
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Eastern Turkey
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Erzuram Eastern Turkey
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The desert in Iran
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The Blue Mosque
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North central Iran
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Eastern Iran. Incidentally I have never experienced greater hospitality from people who had little but gave much.
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Crossing one of the main Punjab rivers which form the Indus
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The Russian built road to Khandahar
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Pashtu tribesmen in Afghanistan
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The top of the Kyber Pass. British military signs and memorials from days on the Northwest Frontieir
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The Kyber Pass
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The Kyber Pass
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Entering Pakistan on the dry side
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A detour up to Mussouri
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Kim's gun in Lahore (Note our vehicle behind)
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A reasonable highway near Amritsar Pakistan/India border
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Three of us at the Taj
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We visited the British Gurkha headquarters in Dharan Nepal
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Typical of the roadside villages between Southerrn Nepal and India
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Calcutta
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