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Regiments
History
During the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814-16), the native soldiers from Nepal made an impression on the British. Originally raised by King Prithvi Narayan Shah from the fortified kingdom of Gorkha in Nepal, they became known for their fearlessness in fighting as the Gurkha Regiments.
Known for their valour and loyalty, the Gurkhas' trademark is their lethal “kukri knife”, which tradition demands must draw blood every time it is unsheathed. The Kukri was nick named the Cookree
Gurkha Regiments:-
1st King George V's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment) (raised 1815, allocated to Indian Army at independence in 1947)
2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles) (raised 1815, allocated to British Army in 1948)
3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles (raised 1815, allocated to Indian Army at independence in 1947)
4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles (raised 1857, allocated to Indian Army at independence in 1947)
5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force) (raised 1858, allocated to Indian Army at independence in 1947)
6th Gurkha Rifles, renamed 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles in 1959 (raised 1817, allocated to British Army in 1948)
7th Gurkha Rifles, renamed 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles in 1959 (raised 1902, allocated to British Army in 1948)
8th Gurkha Rifles (raised 1824, allocated to Indian Army at independence in 1947)
9th Gurkha Rifles (raised 1817, allocated to Indian Army at independence in 1947)
10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles (raised 1890, allocated to British Army in 1948)
11th Gurkha Rifles (1918-1922; raised again by India 11 Gorkha Rifles following independence in 1947)
25th Gurkha Rifles (1942-1946)
26th Gurkha Rifles (1943-1946)
29th Gurkha Rifles (1943-1946)
42nd Gurkha Rifles (raised 1817 as the Cuttack Legion, renamed 6th Gurkha Rifles in 1903)
44th Gurkha Rifles (raised 1824 as the 16th (Sylhet) Local Battalion, renamed 8th Gurkha Rifles in 1903)
World War 2:-
During the Second World War (1939-45) over 110,000 men served in 40 Gurkha battalions in battles in the Western Desert, Italy, Greece, Malaya, Singapore and Burma.
Gurkhas at captured Japanese position in Imphal-Kohima battle, 1944
Gurkha Victoria Cross Recipients WW2:-
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1943
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Lalbahadur Thapa
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2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles
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Tunisia
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1943
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Gaje Ghale
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5th Gurkha Rifles
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Burma
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1944
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Michael Allmand
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Att. 6th Gurkha Rifles
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Burma
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1944
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Tulbahadur Pun
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6th Gurkha Rifles
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Burma
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1944
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Netrabahadur Thapa
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5th Gurkha Rifles
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Burma
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1944
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Sher Bahadur Thapa
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9th Gurkha Rifles
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Italy
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1944
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Agansing Rai
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5th Gurkha Rifles
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Burma
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1944
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Thaman Gurung
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5th Gurkha Rifles
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Italy
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1944
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Frank Blaker
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Att. 9th Gurkha Rifles
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Burma
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1944
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Ganju Lama
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7th Gurkha Rifles
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Burma
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1944
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Gyamtso Shangderpa
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7th Gurkha Rifles
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Burma
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1945
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Lachhiman Gurung
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8th Gurkha Rifles
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Burma
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1945
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Bhanbhagta Gurung
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2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles
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Burma
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Almost 30,000 Gurkhas were killed or wounded during the 1939-1945 period.
The database contains over 9,000 Gurkha deaths in WWII.
Post War:-
After Indian independence in 1947, four Gurkha rifle regiments (the 2nd, 6th, 7th and 10th) were transferred to British service and formed into the Brigade of Gurkhas. They were joined by newly formed engineering, signalling and transport units. Six other Gurkha regiments were allocated to the post-independence Indian Army.
During the Malayan Emergency 1948-1960 the Brigade of Gurkhas were stationed in Malaya.
Then 1962-1966 they were involved in the Indonesian Confrontation.
The Gurkha headquarters were then transferred from Malaya to Hong Kong where it stayed till British rule ended in 1997.
Others campaigns which involved the Brigade of Gurkhas were:-
- Cyprus in 1974
- Falklands War 1982
- Gulf War 1990-1991
In 1994 the four rifle regiments were merged into one, the Royal Gurkha Rifles, serving in:-
- Kosovo
- Bosnia
- East Timor
- Sierra Leone
In 2001 the Royal Gurkha Rifles helped overthrow of the Taleban government in Afghanistan.
Queen inspects the Royal Gurkha Rifles
(Express Newspaper Photo)
Information
National Army Museum
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