This document provides a biography and obituary of Major William Alexander Brown, who played a key role in leading the Gilgit Rebellion in 1947 that resulted in Northern Areas and Baltistan being captured by Gilgit Scouts and acceding to Pakistan. Some key details: - Brown was a British officer born in Scotland who joined the British Indian Army and was posted to Gilgit Scouts as Commandant in 1947. - On October 31, 1947, Brown led the Gilgit Rebellion when the Gilgit Scouts planned to revolt as the Maharaja of Kashmir wanted to disband them. This resulted in the area becoming part of Pakistan. - Brown received an MBE from the British government for his

1. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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”.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

16. Father , self and Colonel Rathore , the hero of Paksey Bridge
1890s while on term break from PMA in
1982

17. 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

18. 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

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