About Robert Atkins

Robert Atkins and his twin brother, Geoffrey, were born in 1927 in India where their father was serving with the Punjab Regiment. Both were educated at Rugby School.
Commissioned into the 8th Gurkha Rifles in 1944, Robert’s diary records his involvement during Indian Partition. After Independence, he returned to England joining a British regiment.
In 1950 he joined the 6th Gurkha Rifles in Malaya and spent the next eight years fighting Communist terrorists, earning the Military Cross.
Two years after marrying Anabel in 1956, Robert retired from the Army and they moved back to England, settling in Kent.
A successful career in international commercial property followed. Robert finally retired aged 83.
Robert and Anabel have two daughters, Celestine and Vicky. A former Army Boxing champion, he has pursued an active lifestyle, with many friends and interests, notably gardening and art.

About Sir Peter Duffell

Lieutenant General Sir Peter Duffell KBE CBE MC was commissioned into the 2nd Gurkha Rifles in 1960. As a young company commander, he was awarded the Military Cross leading his Gurkhas in clandestine operations against Indonesia in the 60s. As the General Commanding British Forces in Hong Kong between 1989 and 1992 he served there during a challenging period for the Territory, before becoming the British Army’s Inspector General. On retirement he worked for 20 years for an American company in London, New York, Beijing and Moscow. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and a Trustee of the Foyle Foundation, which supports the Arts. For several years he was a member of the Advisory Board of the School of Oriental and African Studies. He has lectured widely on the Gurkha soldier and Hong Kong.