“ Farewell Sgt Kaman Sing Gurung: A Life of Service, Dedication, and Camaraderie”

On Monday, January 13, 2025, the Colchester community gathered to bid farewell to Sgt Kaman Sing Gurung, ex-6th Gurkha Rifles, who passed away on the morning of December 31, 2024, at Colchester General Hospital. He had been battling health complications since suffering a stroke in late 2024, which left him paralysed on his left side. He was later admitted to Oak Care Home in Lexden, where he experienced a second fatal stroke on December 29, 2024.

Sgt Gurung, born in March 1942 in Raile Mirlungkot, Tanhun District, Nepal, led a life that spanned continents and was defined by his dedication to family, community, and service. Despite growing up without formal schooling, he learned valuable skills from his father’s traditional teachings and community. At the age of 20, he joined the British Army. He served with the 1st Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles during significant periods of conflict, including the Malayan Emergency and the Borneo Confrontation, where he fought against guerrillas to help secure peace for Malaysia.

After 17 years of military service, Sgt Gurung was pensioned out as a sergeant and returned to Nepal, where he focused on providing a better future for his children, moving to Pokhara and setting up various businesses, including a taxi and minibus service. His determination to provide his children with an education led him to work in Bahrain as a bus and tanker driver before moving to Hong Kong for a short period. In 2006, he relocated to Colchester to join his son, Nainasing, and his family.

In Colchester, Sgt Gurung became an active member of the Colchester Nepalese Society and the Gurkha Home, where his warmth, wisdom, and humility were highly valued. Despite his lack of formal education, he was a skilled craftsman, excelling in metalwork, carpentry, electrical matters, and sewing. His quiet, diligent nature and deep camaraderie made him a beloved figure in the community, known for his work ethic and his willingness to help others.

The funeral service, a fitting tribute to his life, was meticulously organized and deeply moving. A special thank you goes to Isabella Carr, Dan Miller, and their team for their compassionate care in his final days. Khenpo Sonam Gurung and Lama Kaji Gurung led the spiritual ceremonies, ensuring that Sgt Gurung’s journey to eternity was conducted with the reverence he deserved. His family and friends, particularly Mr. Tarachand Gurung and Mr. Kiran Gurung, provided steadfast support, guiding the family through their darkest hours with encouragement and practical assistance, ensuring the smooth running of the funeral.

The community rallied together to ensure the service was memorable, with Paul Young playing the bagpipes, Ingrid Leatherdale providing the bugle, and Paul Hart, Standard Bearer for the Chelmsford Branch of the Royal British Legion, adding dignity to the proceedings. Thanks also go to the Jwain who carried the ALAN, the Tin Dovan Tanahun Samaj ladies, and the pallbearers for their unwavering dedication.

After the funeral, attendees gathered for refreshments at the Royal Gurkha Lounge in Colchester, thanks to Sita Magar and her husband, who graciously hosted the community.

We say goodbye to a true gentleman who lived a life of service, hard work, and love for his family and community. Sgt Kaman Sing Gurung’s legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. His memory is a reminder of the strength and resilience of the Nepalese spirit, and he will be deeply missed.

May his soul rest in peace.

Udai B Gurung MBE

Chair/Trustee

CNS