soon selected to train to become an officer, being
commissioned in 1944 as Second Lieutenant.
But that year he was released on compassionate
grounds because his father had do undergo an
operation, so he ran the solicitors’ practice in
Newport as an 18-year-old articled clerk, with
special permission from the Law Society.
John later returned to the Army and was posted
to India in December 1944, joining the Queen
Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Rifles, where all the
officers were British. He said: “I had to learn
elementary Urdu, the language of the Indian
Army, and did so in one month, and then learned
Gurkhali, which the Gurkhas speak. I went to
a jungle warfare training centre, and then into
Burma as Lieutenant with the 1st Battalion 3rd
Gurkha Rifles.
“I found Burma most attractive; the Gurkhas
were very friendly, jolly and intensely loyal, and
I can’t speak too highly of them. I learned a lot
of Gurkha songs we used to sing, and I still can
remember and sing them to this day.” He suddenly was two years as an articled clerk in Newport.”
When John returned home he passed the
burst into song to prove his point!
solicitors’ final exam, with honours, becoming
John was in Taunggyi, Burma when the Second
a solicitor on May 6, 1949. He said: “There were
World War ended and after a skiing holiday
three of us in the firm - my father, myself and
in Kashmir, followed by a short spell with the
Worcestershire Regiment in Burma, he successfully one other - but my father died a month after I
qualified, leaving me as the senior partner at a
requested to join the War Crimes Courts in
young age.”
September 1946. He said: “I started in Rangoon as
A further office was opened in Portsmouth in
British Advisory Officer to the Japanese defence
1958 as Gurney-Champion and Co, and John’s son
team. My job was to advise on British military
Nicholas now runs that office. However, there are
law for tribunals. Most of the war atrocities
plans for Nicholas to
the Japanese
return to the Island
committed were
and to re-open the
about 50 per
Quay Street premises
cent against our
that John still owns.
forces and 50
In the meantime,
per cent against
John still works from
the civilian
home, and says: “I am
population.
working flat out; at
“The usual
least six days a week.
defence was
I shall never retire
that the atrocity
because I still find
did occur, but
the work interesting.
they had got the
I was also a founder
wrong person
member of Newport
John and Elizabeth outside their home
for it - basically
Round Table, and still
mistaken identity.
belong to both Vectis
The lawyer side of
and Cowes 41 Clubs. I try to keep fit, still do a lot of
me took priority over the army side; I regarded the
Japanese as my clients and it was my duty to do the walking, and lead several walks during the Isle of
Wight Walking Festival. I keep myself very busy!”
best I could for them.
John also appointed himself unofficial historian
“I worded a lot of their appeals, and a number
for the Gurney family, and following extensive
of appeals were a success. So the powers-that-be
research has managed to trace the family tree as far
decided I was getting too good at defending the
back as a ninth century Viking, who settled in the
Japs, so I ought to prosecute them instead. I had
town of Gournay in northern France. The Lords
the rank of Captain when I was defending, but
of Gournay came to England with William the
when I started prosecuting I went up to Major, and
Conqueror and fought at the Battle of Hastings in
moved to Malaya, based in Singapore.
1066, and John is a direct descendant.
“The biggest trial I prosecuted was at the age
The Gurney family also had strong links to
of 23 against a complete unit of Japanese Secret
Norfolk, and Elizabeth Fry, an English prison
Police, which resulted in five death by hanging,
reformer known as the ‘Angel of Prisons’, was born
and the rest imprisoned. All that, and my only
in 1780 as Elizabeth Gurney.
previous experience before the War Crimes trials
“I found Burma
most attractive; the
Gurkhas were very
friendly, jolly and
intensely loyal, and
I can’t speak too
highly of them"
John and Elizabeth
getting married
June 26 1952 at St
Georges Church,
Arreton
John (second left) with
friends in Burma 1945
Rangoon (lieutenant) NAFI