| Hugh Paul Seagrim GC | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Grandfather Longlegs |
| Born | March 24, 1909 |
| Died | September 22, 1944 (aged 35) |
| Place of birth | Highclere, Hampshire |
| Place of death | Rangoon, then Burma |
| Buried at | Rangoon War Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1928-1944 |
| Rank | Major |
| Service number | 49359 |
| Unit | British Indian Army |
| Battles/wars | Second World War † |
| Awards |
 George CrossDistinguished Service Order MBE |
Major Hugh Paul Seagrim GC DSO MBE (1909–1944) (also known as "Grandfather Longlegs") was a famous leader of Karen rebels, fighting Japanese invaders in Burma during the Second World War.
His brother was Derek Anthony Seagrim VC. He and his brother have the distinction of being the only siblings awarded the Victoria Cross and the George Cross (both posthumously).
Life[]
Seagrim was born in Ashmansworth, Hampshire, England. in 1909. He graduated from the Royal Military College, 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 guerrilla forces from the Karens and other groups.[1]
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 guerrillas 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 15 March 1944.[2]
He and eight of his Karen companions were executed by the Japanese on 22 September in Rangoon. For gallantry under captivity, he was posthumously awarded the George Cross in 1946.[3]
George Cross citation[]
George Cross and its ribbon bar
Seagrim's George Cross citation appeared in the London Gazette on 12 September 1946:
Awarded the George Cross for most conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner. Major Seagrim was the leader of a party which included two other British and one Karen officer working in the Karen Hills of Burma. By the end of 1943 the Japanese had learned of this party who then commenced a campaign of arrests and torture to determine their whereabouts. In February 1944 the other two British officers were ambushed and killed but Major Seagrim and the Karen officer escaped. The Japanese then arrested 270 Karens and tortured and killed many of them but still they continued to support Major Seagrim. To end further suffering to the Karens, Seagrim surrendered himself to the Japanese on 15th March 1944. He was taken to Rangoon and together with eight others he was sentenced to death. He pleaded that the others were following his orders and as such they should be spared, but they were determined to die with him and were all executed.
— London Gazette
Notes[]
He was 6 foot 4 inches (1.93 m) tall, and sometimes referred to as Grandfather Longlegs.
Sources[]
- Burma: The longest War, Louis Allen, Dent Paperbacks, ISBN 0-460-02474-4
External links[]
- Page about the Seagrim brothers
- Major Hugh Paul SEAGRIM, G.C. - Biographies at www.BritishMilitaryHistory.co.uk
The original article can be found at Hugh Seagrim and the edit history here.