Major William Alexander Brown,MBE,Sitara e Pakistan-British Scot Leader of Gilgit Rebellion

Major William Alexander Brown,MBE,Sitara e Pakistan-British Scot Leader of Gilgit Rebellion

Major William Alexander Brown-Obituary

Major Agha.H.Amin (Retired) , Armoured Corps

Major William Alexander Brown,MBE,Sitara e Pakistan-British Scot Leader of Gilgit Rebellion

Major William Alexander Brown-Obituary

Major Agha.H.Amin (Retired) , Armoured Corps

Major William Alexander Brown was born at Melrose,Scotland on 22 December 1922.

His father had served in the Gordon Highlanders in WW One and won an MC.His grandfather had been a liberal MP from 1886 to 1892.

After education at St Marys preparatory school and George watson College Edinburgh Brown joined Argyll snd Sutherland Highlanders as a plain soldier in April 1941.

In December 1941 he sailed for India and was selected for the Officer Training School Bangalore,receiving his commission as a second lieutenant in the 10/12 Frontier Force Regiment.

Soon after being commissioned he was transferred to the frontier scouts and served in South Waziristan  Scouts with which he fell in love.He here acquired proficiency in Pashto.In early 1943 Brown was posted as APA in Chilas where he built a polo ground.Here he acquired proficiency in the local language Shina as well as Burushaski.In 1946 he was posted to the Tochi Scouts in North Waziristan.In June 1947 he was posted to Chitral as Acting Commandant of Chitral Scouts.

On way to Chitral he was posted as Commandant of Gilgit Scouts in view of new developments as Lord Mountbatten had decided to transfer back lease of Gilgit to Kashmir state.He was promoted to rank of major and arrived in Gilgit on 29 July 1947.Gilgit was handed over to Jammu and Kashmir state on 1 August 1947 and the British flag lowered.He was now 25 years old.

In October 1947 the unofficial  Kashmir war began.The Maharaja of Kashmir decided to disband Gilgit Scouts as it was an All Muslim unit and feared a revolt.To pre-empt this the Gilgit Scouts planned a rebellion.They found an unexpected ally in major Brown who decided to lead them.On 31 October 1947 Major Brown led the Gilgit Rebellion as a result f which Northern Areas and Baltistan were captured by Gilgit Scouts and the area aceded to Pakistan.Major Brown planned all major attacks of the Gilgit Scouts.He returned to Pakistan from Gilgit in January 1948.

In July 1948 the British Government awarded him an MBE with a very vague citation.This proves that his actions were accepted as that of a hero in higher quarters of the British Empire.

He joined the ICI and stayed on in Pakistan till 1959.

In July 1957 he married Margaret Rosemary Cooksley who was serving in the British High Commission at Karachi from whom he had a son named William in 1958.

Brown died of a heart attack on 5 December 1984.

He was posthomously awarded Pakistans highest civilian award Sitara e Pakistan on 23 March 1994.

His diary titled Gilgit Rebellion was posthomously published by her widow in 1998.

Major Brown had a deep understanding of human nature in war.This was off course a result of his knowledge of frontier warfare.

He thus defined " Blood Lust" as the most powerful desire in human nature ! A desire he said was even more powerful than the sex lust !

He loved the Pashtun tribesmen and his tombtone contained the epitaph " DATTA KHEL" in fond memory of his service as a Wing Commander in North Waziristan.DATTA KHEL was also the code word for commencing the coup detat at Gilgit.

Major Brown thus assessed the Baramula massacre of 1947 in the following words--

"The ghastly story of the sack of Baramula is too well known to be repeated.I would however like to say that an excess of blame for the dreadful atrocities must not be laid on the tribesmen.They committed atrocities no doubt,but they committed them while under the influence of bloodlust.Bloodlust is the most powerful  human desire,even more so than the sex lust.When a man is under its spell he cannot be held responisble for his actions.As those with experience of warfare between so called civilised nations will testify,the bloodlust is not merely confined to barbaric races such as the trans frontier Pathans.I am not attempting  to condone the massacre of Europeans at Baramula,or the dreadful things which happened to the nuns of St Josephs hosital;but they were not treated thus because they were Europeans,rather they were victims in the general welter of blind fury and unbridled passion which raged in the township".

Brown identified himself in the spirit of man with the Pashtuns who he loved.

He thus compared himself with the tribal Pashtuns in the following words-

"My views may be influenced by my Scottish Border blood.In the good old days of receiving and robbing in the "debatable land" it was a case of every man for himself and the survival of the fittest.We had a slogan which went: "Let him take who has the power" , " And let him hold who can". And this ,I thought was Pakistan should have done in Kashmir".

Major Brown a keen shot loved his Gilgit lunches of Chukor (Red Legged Partridge) washed down with good wines and liquors.

Major Brown noted that Pandit Kak the Kashmir state prime minister sacked on 11 August 1947 saw the future peace and prosperity of Kashmir in joining Pakistan.

My association with Northern Areas began in July 1979 when my father was posted as commander of a brigade group with headquarters at Jaglot Farm for being vocal in making fun of the tinpot Zia regime in July 1979.

This was a dark period in Pakistans chequered history when a shabby looking man with a most unofficer like appearance , through extreme sycophancy had become Pakistans army chief !


There is no doubt that we all hated him !

It was here at Jaglot where I read a much unknown book titled "The Liberation of Northern Areas" by one Major Sikandar Khan (later colonel).The book contained details of one Major Browns central role in this small but decisive campaign.This was October 1979.Much later I met Sikandars son who served with me in my fourth unit 15 Lancers in 1988-90.

In 2000 after I wrote my book Pakistan Army till 1965 I received a letter from one Mr Peter Inchbald who had served in Northern Areas with Major Brown.Inchbald also sent me Browns book " The Gilgit Brown" as directed  by Mrs Major Brown.

This obituary is part based on the above mentioned books.

Major Sikandar states in his book that Major Brown was on verge of escaping to Chitral on his horse when he was dissuaded by the Gilgit Scouts and requested that he lead their rebellion ! This Major Brown gladly did ! The reason for his going to Chitral was that he loathed and disliked the Dogras as he identified himself with the Muslims.

My account of the Gilgit Rebellion was more influenced by Major Sikandar Khans book rather than Major Browns book which I saw for the first time only in 2000.

After reading Major Browns account it appears that the Gilgit Rebellion was not as smooth as depicted in Sikandars book.

Both Brown and Mr Peter Inchbald with whom I actually communicated by e mail were at loggerheads with Captain Mirza Hassan.

Brown actually described Hassan at various places as ambitious, a liar and one who made himself as a field marshal.The following are Browns summing up of Captain Mirza Hassan.

“Captain Mirza Hussan , anglicized,dashing and quite the man of the world.He was tall,thin yet well built,he had a fair complexion with handsome features,a neatly clipped moustache,and dark wavy hair.He wore a well cut uniform of the cavalry style which showed off his figure to a perfection.He carried the purple and white ribbon of the military cross.His family were ordinary peasants in Gilgit proper.They had managed to educate their son,who had repaid their trouble by doing well for himself in the Jammu and Kashmr State Forces.Whatever Hussan’s failings were,one could not help admiring his original initiative”.

Mirza Hussan , Brown states wanted to usurp Browns achievement of planning and leading the rebellion.Thus Brown states that Mirza Hussan told Brown ; “Now , Major Brown,we are all very grateful for the help you gave us last night.But you must understand that this blow and all succeeding blows are being struck in the name of Islam,and since you are a non-Muslim we regret that we cannot allow you to join our glorious bnd of Ghazis and take oart in our Jehad.This off course applies to Captain Mathieson as well”.

Major Brown states that Mirza Hussan wanted to proclaim Gilgit as an independent Islamic State.

Thus Hussan said “ We know of course that you are loyal to Pakistan-all Britishers are-but it is not our intention to join Pakstan.Wwe intend to set up an independent Islamic State called the United States of Gilgit,and although we shall keep friendly relations with Pakistan we shall in no way owe allegiance to that dominion”

Brown saw Mirza Hussan as over-ambitious.He thus states “He removed his captains badges of rank and replaced them with those of a general.On arrival at Bhup Singh Parri he announced that he had been appointed Commander-in-Chief of all forces in Gilgit area”.

“Major Brown, Hussan began, you may not have heard , but we have formed a Provisional Government, and he looked around at those present.”You must understand that it is impossible to appoint you or Captain Mathieson to an executive post in an Islamic State as you are outsiders by religion.We have therefore decided that you will be Chief Military Advisor and Assistant Advisor respectively.You will hold the rank of Major-General and Mathieson that of Brigadier.I am now Field Marshal”.

Mirza Hussan , Brown states ignored his suggestion to immediately capture Skardu and thus in opinion of Brown made a fatal strategic blunder.Thus Major Brown stated “There is no doubt at all that if Hussan had taken Skardu when I suggested he should,then,with the help of the Frontier Constabulary and Chitrali reinforcements which arrived in the spring,all Baltistan and Ladakh-in fact all the country of the Indus basin up to Leh and Zoji La Pass, would have been in our hands by the middle of the summer.Instead of that long siege gave the Indian Army the chance to secure the Zoji La…..resulting in their securing the major portion of Ladakh including Leh”.

All these matters can be researched into by future historians but there is no doubt that Major Browns role in the Gilgit Rebellion was central and decsisive.As an officer who had held command of a wing he was far superior in planning abilities to the JCOs of Gilgit Scouts.

Brown particularly admired Shah Khan who was to remain a central figure in Gilgit much later.

However there is no doubt that the rebellion was a joint effort of both the Ismailis , the Shias who Brown and Inchbald did not like and some Sunnis too.

It may be too late to understand the reality now as most key characters of that era are dead or senile in their old age.

Father , self and Colonel Rathore , the hero of  Paksey Bridge

1890s while on term break from PMA in 1982 

 On the Khunjerab Top , January 1981.From left Saleem Khan the greatest hunter of Northern Areas from Raheemabad near Dih , myself , father ,jeep driver , Lieutenant Colonel Khokhar

 On the Khunjerab Top , January 1981.From left Saleem Khan the greatest hunter of Northern Areas from Raheemabad near Dih , myself , father ,jeep driver , Lieutenant Colonel Khokhar