History of Gurkhas

THE GURKHAS AND THEIR HERITAGE

Over 600 years ago, before the time of Prithvi Narayan Shah, I wonder how the Nepali warriors stood against numerous attacks on their villages. Our family history speak of hundreds of small regional heads who carved their own family clans. Life must have been quite tough in those days, the ability to fight and to survive in such hilly and remote terrain that was utmost important. This life style produced the finest potential Gurkha soldiers who began to be recognised around the world. Then Prithvi Narayan Shah came in 1700 to lead the nation from his base in Gorkha and ruled Nepal as one country, having taken Kathmandu.

The 1814 -16 Anglo-Nepal War stands out in the Gurkha history when the Nepali soldiers clashed with the British East India Company in northern parts of India. At a high ground feature near Dehra Dun called Kalunga only 600 Gurkhas fought against 4000 troops of the East India Company. What the British Commander thought it would be easily taken within a week became a one month battle to win, resulting in the British General killed but his commanders erected two stones – one engraved for their soldiers and the other to their adversaries, such was their respect for these Nepali warriors. The Gurkhas were also clever in tactics. In this battle, they chose a high ground which had steep slopes on the enemy side and gentle slope on their side so that they could identify the enemy and fire their weapons from the top while they were supplied with ammunition and ration from the rear, the principles of defense that even today is taught in the British Army. Sadly, the King of Nepal could not send reinforcements from Kathmandu while General Amarsing Thapa struggled to hold his positions to the far west of Nepal, in those days stretched as far as Dehra Dun in west and Sikkim in east. As a result in 1816 the Treaty of Sagauli was signed and Nepal had to give up land leaving only the current borders. What is also significant at this time is that Gurkhas began to be recruited into the British East India Company (later to be replaced by the British Army). Frederick Young, a young British Officer who was taken prisoner by Gurkhas quickly appreciated the quality of his adversaries and obtained permission to recruit these fierce warriors. In 1815, initially three Regiments were raised which were later formalized as 1^st Gurkha Rifles, 2^nd Gurkha Rifles and the 3^rd Gurkha Rifles. Later 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th and 11^th Gurkha Rifles were formed.

When the Indian Mutiny took place in 1857, the Gurkha soldiers demonstrated their loyalty so strongly when they decided to side with the British rather than the mutiny soldiers. It started with a reason given by the mutineers that the musket gun powder packets were greased with cow and pig fat, a very holy action against Hindu and Muslim belief. When The Sirmoor Rifles (Later called the 2^nd Gurkha Rifles) were called to support a British Division attack on the mutineers at Delhi, they marched from Dehra Dun and took position in Hindu Rao house as the east picquet. On the first night the British artillery guns were pointed at the Gurkha Battalion at night just in case but they realized there was no need when dawn came! After the mutineers were rounded up, Queen Victoria was so pleased by the whole action that she presented the Queen’s Truncheon to replace the 2GR flag. The Regimental Association still celebrate Delhi Day on 14 September every year and pay their respect to the Queen’s Truncheon now held by the Royal Gurkha Rifles in the UK.

During World War 1, World War 2 and the Borneo Confrontation, the Gurkhas won 13 Victoria Cross (VC), the highest bravery award in the British Army. In addition two Gurkhas of 8^th Gurkha Rifles won the George Cross (GC) (sometimes called the civilian VC) for saving women and children from collapsing buildings in 1935 when there was a terrible earthquake in Quetta (now in Pakistan). They fought in Malaya, the Gulf War and the Falklands War. Lately they have taken part in operations in Afghanistan and other UN operations. Sergeant Dipparad Pun from the Royal Gurkha Rifles fought against 40 Talibans in Afghanistan defending his post at night and was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC), the second highest bravery award in the British Army.

After India received it’s independence in 1947, four Gurkha Regiments parted to join the British Army while the remaining seven Gurkha Regiments remained with the Indian Army. In 1994, the four Gurkha Regiments (2^nd, 6^th, 7^th and 10^th) in the British Army amalgamated to form the Royal Gurkha Rifles. To date apart from the VCs and GCs, Gurkhas continue to win other bravery awards such as Param Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra in India and the DCM (Distinguished Conduct Medal), the Military Medal (MM) and Military Cross (MC) in the British Army while on military operations.

“I have never seen more steadiness or bravery exhibited in my life. Run they would not and of death they seemed to have no fear, though their comrades were falling thick around them, for we were so near that every shot hold.”

Ensign John Shipp describing the Battle of Makwanpur, February 1816

(Note: RC The Himalayan Gurkhas was set up by Retired British Gurkha and Nepalese Army officers and soldiers on 10 September 2003 in Kathmandu.)