The Gurkha Brigade reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Gurkha Brigade

The "Gurkha Brigade" is a collective term for British army units that are composed of Nepalese soldiers. They are famous for their ever-present kukri blade.

The first Gurkhas volunteered as mercenaries in the service of the British East India Company after the war in Nepal of 1814-1816. During the war, the British were impressed by the tenacity of the Gurkha soldiers and encouraged them to volunteer for their armed forces.

Gurkhas served as British troops in the Pindaree War of 1817, in Bhurtbore in 1826 and the Sikh Wars in 1846 and 1848. During the Sepoy Mutiny in 1875, Gurkhas fought on the British side. The 2nd Gurkha Rifles defended Hindu Rao’s house for over three months, losing 327 out of 490 men. 12 Nepalese regiments also took part in the relief of Lucknow. The 2nd Gurkha Rifles served in Malta during the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Gurkhas formed ten Gurkha Rifles regiments. 100.000 Gurkhas fought in the First World War. They served in the battlefields of France in the Battle of Loos, Givenchy, Neuve Chapelle and Ypres; in Mesopotamia, Persia, Suez Canal and Palestine against Turkish advance, Gallipoli, and Salonika. One detachment served with Lawrence of Arabia. 2nd battalion of 3rd Gurkha Rifles was involved in the conquest of Baghdad.

In the interwar years, Gurkhas fought in the Third Afghan War.

During World War Two, the Nepalese crown let the British recruit 20 extra battalions – 40 in total – and let them serve everywhere in the world. In addition to keeping peace in India, Gurkhas fought in Syria, North Africa, Italy, Greece and against the Japanese in Singapore and in the jungles of Burma. 10 Gurkha rifles became a nucleus for the Chindits. They fought in the Battle of Imphal.

After Indian independence – and partition – in 1947 and under the Tripartite agreement, six Gurkha regiments remained in the Indian Army. Four Gurkha regiments joined British service on January 1 1948. They formed the Gurkha Brigade and were stationed in Malaya.

During the Malayan Emergency, Gurkhas worked as jungle soldiers as they had done in Burma. They also formed three new units – Gurkha Engineers, Signals and Transport. They were also used for convoy escort duties, security of the new villages and ambushing guerillas. In the year of Malayan independence, Gurkha Signals units monitored communications during the first free elections.

One Gurkha battalion – 2nd Gurkha Rifles - was stationed in Tidworth, UK in 1962. On December 7, the unit was deployed to Brunei on a day’s notice at the outbreak of the Brunei Revolt. The forthcoming Indonesian Confrontation saw the formation of the Gurkha Independent Parachute Company on April 1 1963. It ended up as a commando unit and worked with the Special Air Service. The unit was disbanded in 1972.

After that conflict ended, the Gurkhas were transferred to Hong Kong, where they had security duties during the upheavals of the Chinese Cultural Revolution.

The Gurkha brigade’s size was reduced to 8000 men when British government changed its defense policy. Hong Kong became their headquarters while other battalions were stationed in the UK and Brunei.

In 1971 the 7th Duke of Edinburgh’s Gurkha Rifles moved to Queen Elizabeth Barracks at Church Crookham, Hampshire. In 1974 Turkey invaded Cyprus and the 10th Gurkha Rifles was sent to defend the British sovereign base area of Dhekelia. Later they remained there on peacekeeping duties and sometimes had to literally place themselves between Greeks and Turks.

On July 1, 1997, the British government handed Hong Kong over to the People's Republic of China, which lead the reduction of the local garrison. The size of Gurkha Brigade was reduced to 3400. In July 1, 1994 four Rifle Regiments were merged into one, 1st Royal Gurkha Regiment and three Corps regiments to squadrons. Gurkha HQ and recruit training were moved to the UK.

Gurkhas have had a role in the Falklands War, Gulf War, NATO operations in Kosovo and UN peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and East Timor. Two Gurkha battalions are stationed in Sierra Leone as of this writing.

Currently all Gurkha recruits begin their service in Gurkha Training Wing in Church Crookham. Brigade HQ is based at Airfield Camp near Netheravon, Wiltshire. 2nd Gurkha Rifles Regiment is stationed in Brunei.

Gurkha regiments have British officers. Past officers have described their troops as silent, reliable and loyal. Their enemies describe them as silent, ruthless and dangerous.

The Gurkha Brigade - or to be precise, their salaries and pensions - is a significant source of income for Nepal. Gurkha recruiters select yearly 270 of ten of thousands of applicants. Usual tribes are Magar, Gurung, Rai and Limbu. There are about 3400 Gurkhas in the British army. They also have the Gurkha Welfare Scheme.

Gurkhas have one five-month leave in Nepal every three years. Some of them can take their families with them to the UK – this becomes a permanent right once they have reached the rank of Colour Sergeant. Most serve unaccompanied.

Gurkha soldiers of the Brigade have won 12 Victoria Crosses. They have affiliations with the Royal Scots, the King’s Royal Hussars and the Royal Green Jackets.

In addition to British Army, Gurkhas are recruited for the Gurkha Contingent of the Singapore Police Force. The Indian army also has Gurkha troops.

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