Commonwealth Expedition

The Commonwealth Expedition or Comex started in 1965 as an expedition from Britain to India in support of the multicultural ideals of what was then called the British Commonwealth. The idea was conceived by Lt Colonel Lionel Gregory, OBE, late of Queen's Gurkha Signals, who attributes some of the ideas to conversations he had with Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru invited young people "to organise a new consciousness in the Commonwealth through cultural and intellectual activities as well as common adventure." Nehru's death in 1964 led to the cancellation of the project, but at the invitation of the Government of India, an expedition of 204 young people set out from London on 30 July 1965. This was Comex 1.

Not to be confused with Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition.

In India, the five contingents from Cardiff, London, Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh visited different regions - then known as Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, Rajasthan, and Lucknow. They all met up again in Simla – staying at the Viceregal Lodge and performing at the Gaiety Theatre.

Comex came under the patronage of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The young participants, mostly students, had been trained by the Royal Air Force to be competent drivers, navigators, and radio operators. The experience had a huge impact on all who took part and on those they met. In the days before 'gap years' and cheap travel, the journey gave those who took part an unusual combination of responsibility, enjoyment, challenge and reward.

The history of Comex is outlined in several books by its founder and leader, Lionel Gregory OBE. They include Crying Drums, With a Song and not a Sword, Together, Unafraid, and Journey of a Lifetime.

The model has been followed subsequently at regular intervals, for a total of 14 expeditions, overland across the Asian Highway, within India itself, and into Africa, with Zambia serving as a base.

Comex 11 flew from London to Delhi and toured India from Simla in the North to Ootacamund in the South. Led again by Lnt Colonel Lionel Gregory and George Brew. The contingent was ostensibly from Manchester, including police officers and cadets. The parties age ranged from 20 to 72 and transport through India was mainly train including Bombay, Chandigarh and Amritsar.

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