Hubbry Logo
GurkhaGurkhaMain
Open search
Gurkha
Community hub
Gurkha
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Gurkha
Gurkha
Gurkha
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Nepali soldiers; drawing by Gustave Le Bon, 1885
Monument to the Gurkha Soldier in Horse Guards Avenue, outside the Ministry of Defence, City of Westminster, London
A khukuri, the signature weapon of the Gurkhas
Kaji (equivalent to Prime Minister of Gorkha Kingdom) Vamshidhar "Kalu" Pande and Chief of the Gorkhali Army; one of the most highly decorated Gorkhali commanders

The Gurkhas or Gorkhas (/ˈɡɜːrkə, ˈɡʊər-/), with the endonym Gorkhali (Nepali: गोर्खाली [ɡoɾkʰaːliː]), are soldiers native to the Indian subcontinent, chiefly residing within Nepal and some parts of North India.[1][2]

The Gurkha units consist of Nepali and (in India) Indian Gorkha, Nepali-speaking Indian people. They are recruited for the Nepali Army (96,000),[3] the Indian Army (42,000), the British Army (4,010),[4] the Gurkha Contingent in Singapore, the Gurkha Reserve Unit in Brunei, and for UN peacekeeping forces and in war zones around the world.[5] Ordinary citizens of the two demographic groups become a Gurkha by applying for, and passing, the selection and training process.[6]

Gurkhas are closely associated with the khukuri, a forward-curving knife, and have a reputation for fearless military prowess. Former Indian Army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw once stated that:

"If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a Gurkha."

— Sam Manekshaw[7]

Origins

[edit]

Historically, the terms "Gurkha" and "Gorkhali" were synonymous with "Nepali", which originates from the hill principality Gorkha Kingdom, from which the Kingdom of Nepal expanded under Prithvi Narayan Shah, who was the last ruler of the Gorkha Kingdom and first monarch of the Kingdom of Nepal .[8][9] In fact, the Gorkhas’ impressive conquests of the Kathmandu Valley supplied the British with an exaggerated view of Nepal’s strength, ultimately helping lead to the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814-1816).[10] The name may be traced to the medieval Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath[11] who has a historic shrine in Gorkha District. The word itself derived from Go-Raksha (Nepali: गोरक्षा i.e., 'Protector (रक्षा) of cows (गो')), raksha becoming rakha (रखा). Rakhawala means 'protector' and is derived from raksha as well.

There are Gurkha military units in the Nepalese, British and Indian armies enlisted in Nepal, United Kingdom, India and Singapore. Although they meet many of the criteria of Article 47[12] of Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions regarding mercenaries, they are exempt under clauses 47(e) and (f), similar to the French Foreign Legion.[13]

King of Gorkha Kingdom and founder of modern Gorkhali Force Maharajadhiraja Prithvi Narayan Shah, (1743–1775) consulting with his first Army Chief Senapati Shivaram Singh Basnyat (d. 1747)

During the 1814–16 Anglo-Nepalese War between the Gorkha Kingdom and the East India Company, the Gorkhali soldiers impressed the British, who called them Gurkhas.[14][failed verification]

British East India Company army

[edit]
Gurkha soldiers during the Anglo-Nepalese War, 1815

The Anglo-Nepalese War was fought between the Gurkha Kingdom of Nepal and the British East India Company as a result of border disputes and ambitious expansionism of both belligerents. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816.[citation needed]

David Ochterlony and British political agent William Fraser were among the first to recognize the potential of Gurkha soldiers. During the war the British used defectors from the Gurkha army and employed them as irregular forces. Fraser's confidence in their loyalty was such that in April 1815 he proposed forming them into a battalion under Lt. Ross called the Nasiri Regiment. This regiment, which later became the 1st King George's Own Gurkha Rifles, saw action at Malaun Fort under the leadership of Lt. Lawtie, who reported to Ochterlony that he "had the greatest reason to be satisfied with their exertions".[citation needed]

About 5,000 men entered British service in 1815, most of whom were not just Gorkhalis, but Kumaonis, Garhwalis and other Himalayan hill men. These groups, eventually lumped together under the term Gurkha, became the backbone of British Indian forces.[citation needed]

As well as Ochterlony's Gurkha battalions, Fraser and Lt. Frederick Young raised the Sirmoor Battalion, later to become the 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles. An additional battalion—the Kumaon—was also raised, eventually becoming the 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles. None of these units fought in the second campaign.[citation needed]

Gurkhas served as troops under contract to the British East India Company in the Pindaree War of 1817, in Bharatpur in 1826, and the First and Second Anglo-Sikh Wars in 1846 and 1848.[8]

During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Gurkhas fought on the British side and became part of the British Indian Army on its formation. The 8th (Sirmoor) Local Battalion made a notable contribution during the conflict, and 25 Indian Order of Merit awards were made to men from that regiment during the Siege of Delhi.[15]

Three days after the rebellion began, the Sirmoor Battalion was ordered to move to Meerut, where the British garrison was barely holding on, and in doing so they had to march up to 48 kilometres a day.[16] Later, during the four-month Siege of Delhi, they defended Hindu Rao's house, losing 327 of 490 men. During this action they fought side by side with the 60th Rifles and a strong bond developed.[17][18]

Twelve regiments from the Nepalese Army also took part in the relief of Lucknow[19] under the command of Shri Teen (3) Maharaja Jung Bahadur Rana of Nepal and his older brother C-in-C Ranodip Singh Kunwar (Ranaudip Singh Bahadur Rana) (later to succeed Jung Bahadur and become Sri Teen Maharaja Ranodip Singh of Nepal).[citation needed]

After the rebellion the 60th Rifles pressed for the Sirmoor Battalion to become a rifle regiment. This honour was granted in 1858 when the battalion was renamed the Sirmoor Rifle Regiment and awarded a third colour.[20] In 1863, Queen Victoria presented the regiment with the Queen's Truncheon, as a replacement for the colours that rifle regiments do not usually have.[21]

British Indian Army (c. 1857–1947)

[edit]
The Nusseree Battalion, later known as the 1st Gurkha Rifles, c. 1857
Hindu Rao's house shortly after the siege
Gurkha soldiers (1896). The centre figure wears the dark green dress uniform worn by all Gurkhas in British service, with certain regimental distinctions.

From the end of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 until the start of World War I, the Gurkha Regiments saw active service in Burma, Afghanistan, Northeast India and the North-West Frontier of India, Malta (the Russo-Turkish War, 1877–78), Cyprus, Malaya, China (the Boxer Rebellion of 1900) and Tibet (Younghusband's Expedition of 1905).

After the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the British authorities in India feared the inclusion of Hindu castes in the army. They discouraged Brahminical influence in the military and considered the Hindu castes more susceptible to Brahminical values.[22] As a result, they discouraged the inclusion of Thakuri and Khas groups in the Gorkha units[22] and refused to recruit tribes other than Gurungs and Magars for Gorkha units.[23] They also exerted diplomatic pressure on Prime Minister Bir Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana to ensure that at least 75% of new recruits were Gurungs and Magars.[22]

Between 1901 and 1906, the Gurkha regiments were renumbered from the 1st to the 10th and re-designated as the Gurkha Rifles. In this time the Brigade of Gurkhas, as the regiments came to be collectively known, was expanded to 20 battalions in the ten regiments.[24]

2nd/5th Royal Gurkha Rifles, North-West Frontier 1923

During World War I (1914–1918) more than 200,000 Gurkhas served in the British Army, suffering approximately 20,000 casualties and receiving almost 2,000 gallantry awards.[25] The number of Gurkha battalions was increased to 33, and Gurkha units were placed at the disposal of the British high command by the Gurkha government for service on all fronts. Many Gurkha volunteers served in non-combatant roles, serving in units such as the Army Bearer Corps and the labour battalions.

A large number also served in combat in France, Turkey, Palestine, and Iraq.[26] They served on the battlefields of France in the battles of Loos, Givenchy, and Neuve Chapelle; in Belgium at the battle of Ypres; in Iraq, Persia, Suez Canal and Palestine against Turkish advance, Gallipoli and Salonika.[27] One detachment served with Lawrence of Arabia. During the Battle of Loos (June–December 1915) a battalion of the 8th Gurkhas fought to the last man, hurling themselves time after time against the weight of the German defences, and in the words of the Indian Corps commander, Lt. Gen. Sir James Willcocks, "found its Valhalla".[28]

During the unsuccessful Gallipoli Campaign in 1915, the Gurkhas were among the first to arrive and the last to leave. The 1st/6th Gurkhas, having landed at Cape Helles, led the assault during the first major operation to take a Turkish high point, and in doing so captured a feature that later became known as "Gurkha Bluff".[29] At Sari Bair they were the only troops in the whole campaign to reach and hold the crest line and look down on the straits, which was the ultimate objective.[30] The 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Gurkha Rifles (2nd/3rd Gurkha Rifles) fought in the conquest of Baghdad.

Following the end of the war, the Gurkhas were returned to India, and during the inter-war years were largely kept away from the internal strife and urban conflicts of the sub-continent, instead being employed largely on the frontiers and in the hills where fiercely independent tribesmen were a constant source of trouble.[31]

As such, between the World Wars the Gurkha regiments fought in the Third Afghan War in 1919. The regiments then participated in numerous campaigns on the North-West Frontier, mainly in Waziristan, where they were employed as garrison troops defending the frontier. They kept the peace among the local populace and engaged with the lawless and often openly hostile Pathan tribesmen.[citation needed]

During this time the North-West Frontier was the scene of considerable political and civil unrest and troops stationed at Razmak, Bannu, and Wanna saw extensive action.[32]

Gurkhas in action with a six-pounder anti-tank gun in Tunisia, 16 March 1943

During World War II (1939–1945) there were ten Gurkha regiments, with two battalions each, making a total of 20 pre-war battalions.[33] Following the Dunkirk evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in 1940, the Nepalese government offered to increase recruitment to enlarge the number of Gurkha battalions in British service to 35.[34] This would eventually rise to 43 battalions.

In order to achieve the increased number of battalions, third and fourth battalions were raised for all ten regiments, with fifth battalions also being raised for 1 GR, 2 GR and 9 GR.[33] This expansion required ten training centers to be established for basic training and regimental records across India. In addition, five training battalions (14 GR, 29 GR, 38 GR, 56 GR and 710 GR) were raised, while other units (25 GR and 26 GR) were raised as garrison battalions for keeping the peace in India and defending rear areas.[35] Large numbers of Gurkha men were also recruited for non-Gurkha units, and other specialized duties such as paratroops, signals, engineers and military police.

A total of 250,280[35] Gurkhas served in 40 battalions, plus eight Nepalese Army battalions, parachute, training, garrison and porter units during the war,[36] in almost all theatres. In addition to keeping peace in India, Gurkhas fought in Syria, North Africa, Italy, Greece and against the Japanese in the jungles of Burma, northeast India and also Singapore.[37] They did so with distinction, earning 2,734 bravery awards in the process[35] and suffering around 32,000 casualties in all theatres.[38]

Gurkha military rank system in the British Indian Army

[edit]

Gurkha ranks in the British Indian Army followed the same pattern as those used throughout the rest of the Indian Army at that time.[39] As in the British Army itself, there were three distinct levels: private soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and commissioned officers. Gurkha commissioned officers in Gurkha regiments held a "Viceroy's Commission", distinct from the King's or Queen's Commission that British officers serving with a Gurkha regiment held. Any Gurkha holding a commission was technically subordinate to any British officer, regardless of rank.[40]

The 2nd/5th Royal Gurkha Rifles marching through Kure soon after their arrival in Japan in May 1946 as part of the Allied forces of occupation

Rank equivalents in modern Indian and British Armies

[edit]
British Indian Army Modern Indian Army British Army[41] NATO code
Viceroy Commissioned Officers (VCOs, –1947) and Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs, 1947–)
Subedar Major Subedar Major no equivalent —
Subedar Subedar no equivalent —
Jemadar Naib Subedar no equivalent —
Warrant officers
Regimental Havildar Major Regimental Havildar Major Warrant Officer Class 1 OR-9
Company Havildar Major Company Havildar Major Warrant Officer Class 2 OR-8
Non-commissioned officers
Company Quartermaster Havildar Company Quartermaster Havildar Colour Sergeant OR-7
Havildar Havildar Sergeant OR-6, OR-5
Naik Naik Corporal OR-4
Lance Naik Lance Naik Lance Corporal OR-3
Enlisted
(no rank) (no rank) Private OR-2, OR-1

Notes

  • British Army officers received Queen's or King's Commissions, but Gurkha officers in this system received the Viceroy's Commission. After Indian independence in 1947, Gurkha officers in regiments which became part of the British Army received the King's (later Queen's) Gurkha Commission, and were known as King's/Queen's Gurkha Officers (KGO/QGO). Gurkha officers had no authority to command troops of British regiments. The QGO Commission was abolished in 2007.
  • Jemadars and subedars normally served as platoon commanders and company 2ICs but were junior to all British officers, while the subedar major was the Commanding Officer's advisor on the men and their welfare. For a long time it was impossible for Gurkhas to progress further, except that an honorary lieutenancy or captaincy was (very rarely) bestowed upon a Gurkha on retirement.[40]
  • The equivalent ranks in the post-1947 Indian Army were (and are) known as Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs). They retained the traditional rank titles used in the British Indian Army: Jemadar (later Naib Subedar), Subedar and Subedar Major.
  • While in principle any British subject may apply for a commission without having served in the ranks, Gurkhas cannot. It was customary for a Gurkha soldier to rise through the ranks and prove his ability before his regiment would consider offering him a commission.[40]
  • From the 1920s Gurkhas could also receive King's Indian Commissions, and later full King's or Queen's Commissions, which put them on a par with British officers. This was rare until after the Second World War.
  • Gurkha officers commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Short Service Officers regularly fill appointments up to the rank of major. At least two Gurkhas have been promoted to lieutenant colonel and there is theoretically now no bar to further progression.[40]
  • After 1948, the Brigade of Gurkhas (part of the British Army) was formed and adopted standard British Army rank structure and nomenclature, except for the three Viceroy Commission ranks between Warrant Officer 1 and Second Lieutenant (jemadar, subedar and subedar major) which remained, albeit with different rank titles Lieutenant (Queens Gurkha Officer), Captain (QGO) and Major (QGO). The QGO commission was abolished in 2007; Gurkha soldiers are currently commissioned as Late Entry Officers (as above).[40]

Regiments of the Gurkha Rifles (c. 1815–1947)

[edit]
Memorial of 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles, Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire
Princess Mary's Own

Second World War training battalions

[edit]
  • 14th Gurkha Rifles Training Battalion[42]
  • 29th Gurkha Rifles Training Battalion
  • 38th Gurkha Rifles Training Battalion[42]
  • 56th Gurkha Rifles Training Battalion[42]
  • 710th Gurkha Rifles Training Battalion[42]

Post-independence (1947–present)

[edit]
THE GURKHA SOLDIER

Bravest of the brave,
most generous of the generous,
never had country
more faithful friends
than you.

Professor Sir Ralph Lilley Turner MC: Inscription on a monument to Gurkha soldiers (unveiled 1997, Whitehall, London)[43]

Under the Tripartite Agreement signed between the governments of the United Kingdom, India and Nepal after Indian independence and the partition of India, the original ten Gurkha regiments consisting of the 20 pre-war battalions were split between the British Army and the newly independent Indian Army.[35] Six Gurkha regiments (12 battalions) were transferred to the post-independence Indian Army, while four regiments (eight battalions) were transferred to the British Army.[44]

To the disappointment of many of their British officers, the majority of Gurkhas given a choice between British or Indian Army service opted for the latter. The reason appears to have been the pragmatic one that the Gurkha regiments of the Indian Army would continue to serve in their existing roles in familiar territory and under terms and conditions that were well established.[45] The only substantial change was the substitution of Indian officers for British. By contrast, the four regiments selected for British service faced an uncertain future, initially in Malaya - a region where relatively few Gurkhas had previously served. The four regiments (or eight battalions) in British service were subsequently reduced to a single regiment of two battalions. The Indian units have been expanded beyond their pre-Independence establishment of 12 battalions.[46]

The principal aim of the Tripartite Agreement was to ensure that Gurkhas serving under the Crown would be paid on the same scale as those serving in the new Indian Army.[47] This was significantly lower than the standard British rates of pay. While the difference is made up through cost of living and location allowances during a Gurkha's actual period of service, the pension payable on his return to Nepal is much lower than would be the case for his British counterparts.[48]

With the abolition of the Nepalese monarchy in 2008, the future recruitment of Gurkhas for British and Indian service was initially put into doubt. A spokesperson for the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (later the "Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre)"), which was expected to play a major role in the new secular republic, stated that recruitment as mercenaries was degrading to the Nepalese people and would be banned.[49] However, as of 2023, Gurkha recruitment for foreign service continues.

British Army Gurkhas

[edit]
Main article: Brigade of Gurkhas
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles on patrol in Helmand Province in Afghanistan in 2010.

Four Gurkha regiments were transferred to the British Army on 1 January 1948:

They formed the Brigade of Gurkhas and were initially stationed in Malaya. There were also a number of additional Gurkha units including the 69th and 70th Gurkha Field Squadrons, both included in the 36th Engineer Regiment. Since then, British Gurkhas have served in Borneo during the confrontation with Indonesia, in the Falklands War and on various peacekeeping missions in Sierra Leone, East Timor, Bosnia and Kosovo.[50]

Major Gurkha Formations:

  • 43rd Independent Gurkha Infantry Brigade (Italy, circa 1943)
  • 26th Gurkha Brigade (Hong Kong, 1948–1950)
  • 17th Gurkha Division (Malaya, 1952–1970)
  • 51st Infantry Brigade (Hong Kong disbanded 1976)
  • 48th Gurkha Infantry Brigade (Hong Kong, 1957–1976; renamed Gurkha Field Force 1976–1997; returned to old title 1987 – c. 1992)

As of August 2021, the Brigade of Gurkhas in the British Army has the following units:

The Brigade of Gurkhas also has its own chefs posted among the above-mentioned units. Gurkhas were among the troops who retook the Falklands in 1982 and have served a number of tours of duty in the War in Afghanistan.[52][53][54]

Indian Army Gurkhas

[edit]
The soldiers of 5th Gurkha Rifles of the Indian Army take position during a training exercise.
Main article: Gorkha regiments (India)

Upon independence in 1947, six of the original ten Gurkha regiments remained with the Indian Army.[44] These regiments were:

Additionally, a further regiment, 11 Gorkha Rifles, was raised. In 1949 the spelling was changed from "Gurkha" to the original "Gorkha".[55] All royal titles were dropped when India became a republic in 1950.[55]

Since partition, the Gurkha regiments that were transferred to the Indian Army have established themselves as a permanent and vital part of the newly independent Indian Army. Indeed, while Britain has reduced its Gurkha contingent, India has continued to recruit Gorkhas of Nepal into Gorkha regiments in large numbers, as well as Indian Gorkhas.[46] In 2009 the Indian Army had a Gorkha contingent that numbered around 42,000 men in 46 battalions, spread across seven regiments.

Although their deployment is still governed by the 1947 Tripartite Agreement, in the post-1947 conflicts India has fought in, Gorkhas have served in almost all of them, including the wars with Pakistan in 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999 and also against China in 1962.[56] They have also been used in peacekeeping operations around the world.[55] They have also served in Sri Lanka conducting operations against the Tamil Tigers.[57]

Singapore Gurkha Contingent

[edit]
A trooper of the Gurkha Contingent of the Singapore Police Force gives directions to a civilian.

The Gurkha Contingent (GC) of the Singapore Police Force was formed on 9 April 1949 from selected ex-British Army Gurkhas. It is an integral part of the police force and was raised to replace a Sikh unit that had existed prior to the Japanese occupation during the Second World War.[58]

The GC is a well trained, dedicated and disciplined body whose principal role is as riot police and counter-terrorism force. In times of crisis it can be deployed as a reaction force. During the turbulent years before and after independence, the GC acquitted itself well on several occasions during outbreaks of civil disorder. The Gurkhas displayed the courage, self-restraint and professionalism for which they are famous and earned the respect of the society at large.[58]

Brunei Gurkha Reserve Unit

[edit]

The Gurkha Reserve Unit (GRU) is a special guard and elite shock-troop force in the Sultanate of Brunei. The Brunei Reserve Unit employs about 500 Gurkhas. The majority are veterans of the British Army and the Singaporean Police, who have joined the GRU as a second career.

Indian Special Frontier Force

[edit]

The Special Frontier Force (SFF) is an Indian paramilitary organization consisting of Tibetan refugees, Nepali Gurkhas, and other ethnic groups from mountainous areas. The SFF is tasked with conducting covert actions against China in the event of another Sino-Indian war. The SFF was originally intended to exclusively consist of Tibetan refugees living in India, however, the SFF began recruiting Nepali Gurkhas and hill tribesmen in 1965 to make up for a declining recruitment rate among Tibetans. It is believed there are around 700 Gurkhas serving in the SFF.[59]

Other

[edit]

Victoria Cross recipients

[edit]
Main article: List of Brigade of Gurkhas recipients of the Victoria Cross

There have been 26 Victoria Crosses (VC) awarded to soldiers of Gurkha regiments.[60] The first was awarded in 1858 and the last in 1965.[61] Thirteen of the recipients have been British officers serving with Gurkha regiments. Since 1915, the majority have been awarded to Gurkhas serving in the ranks as private soldiers or NCOs.[25] Since Indian independence in 1947, Gurkhas serving in the Indian Army have been awarded three Param Vir Chakras, which are equivalent to the Victoria Cross.[62]

Two George Cross (GC) medals have been awarded to Gurkha soldiers for acts of bravery.[25] The George Cross (GC) is the highest award bestowed by the British government for non-operational gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. In the UK honours system, the George Cross is equal in stature to the Victoria Cross. This has been the case since the introduction of the George Cross in 1940.[63]

Treatment of Gurkhas in the United Kingdom

[edit]
Nick Clegg being presented a Gurkha Hat by a Gurkha veteran during his Maidstone visit, to celebrate the success of their joint campaign for the right to live in the UK, 2009

The treatment of Gurkhas and their families was the subject of controversy in the United Kingdom once it became widely known that Gurkhas received smaller pensions than their British counterparts.[64] The nationality status of Gurkhas and their families was also an area of dispute, with claims that some ex-army Nepali families were being denied residency and forced to leave Britain. On 8 March 2007 the British Government announced that all Gurkhas who signed up after 1 July 1997 would receive a pension equivalent to that of their British counterparts. In addition, Gurkhas would, for the first time, be able to transfer to another army unit after five years' service and women would also be allowed to join, although not in first-line units, conforming to the British Army's policy. The act also guaranteed residency rights in the UK for retired Gurkhas and their families.

Despite the changes, many Gurkhas who had not served long enough to entitle them to a pension faced hardship on their return to Nepal, and some critics derided the government's decision to only award the new pension and citizenship entitlement to those joining after 1 July 1997, claiming that this left many ex-Gurkha servicemen still facing a financially uncertain retirement. An advocacy group, Gurkha Justice Campaign,[65] joined the debate in support of the Gurkhas.

In a landmark ruling on 30 September 2008, Mr Justice Blake in the High Court in London decided that the Home Secretary's policy allowing Gurkhas who left the Army before 1997 to apply for settlement in the United Kingdom was irrationally restrictive in its criteria, and overturned it. He upheld the claim of six Gurkha soldiers for the right to settle in Britain at the end of their service, reciting the Military Covenant and observing that granting them residence in Britain "would, in my judgment, be a vindication and an enhancement of this covenant".[66] In response to the decision of the High Court, the Home Office said it would review all cases that were affected by it.[67]

On 29 April 2009 a motion introduced by the Liberal Democrats that all Gurkhas be offered equal right of residence was passed in the House of Commons by 267 votes to 246. This was the only first-day motion defeat for a government since 1978. Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, stated that "this is an immense victory ... for the rights of Gurkhas who have been waiting so long for justice, a victory for Parliament, a victory for decency." He added that it was "the kind of thing people want this country to do".[68]

On 21 May 2009 Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced that all Gurkha veterans who retired before 1997 with at least four years service would be allowed to settle in the UK. Actress Joanna Lumley, daughter of Gurkha corps Major James Lumley who had highlighted the treatment of the Gurkhas and campaigned for their rights, commented, "This is the welcome we have always longed to give".[69]

A charity, The Gurkha Welfare Trust, provides aid to alleviate hardship and distress among Gurkha ex-servicemen.[70]

On 9 June 2015, a celebration called the Gurkha 200, held at The Royal Hospital Chelsea and attended by members of the royal family, commemorated the bicentennial of the Gurkha Welfare Trust by paying tribute to Gurkha culture and military service.[71][better source needed]

Gurkha Square in Fleet, Hampshire, which contains the Fleet war memorial, is named after the Gurkhas.[72]

Settlement rights

[edit]

A 2008 UK High Court decision on a test case in London, R. (on the application of Limbu) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2008] EWHC 2261 (Admin), acknowledged the "debt of honour" to Gurkhas discharged before 1997. The Home Secretary's policy allowing veterans to apply on a limited set of criteria (such as connection to the United Kingdom) was quashed as being unduly restrictive. The Court found that the Gurkhas had suffered a "historic injustice" and that the policy was irrational in failing to take into account factors such as length of service or particularly meritorious conduct.[73]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Gurkha

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Gurkhas are Nepalese soldiers of renowned bravery, loyalty, and martial skill, originating from the ethnic groups of Nepal's hill regions and recruited into British service following the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814–1816, when British forces were impressed by their tenacity during conflict with the Kingdom of Gorkha. Distinct for their curved kukri knife wielded in ferocious close combat and their regimental motto "Better to die than be a coward," Gurkhas have formed elite units prized for discipline and effectiveness in diverse terrains from mountains to jungles. Gurkha regiments have fought in nearly every British campaign since their inception, including the Indian Mutiny of 1857—where units like the Sirmoor Battalion endured heavy losses while remaining loyal—the two World Wars, with over 250,000 serving and suffering tens of thousands of casualties, the Malayan Emergency, Falklands War of 1982, and recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their service yielded 26 Victoria Crosses for gallantry, the highest military decoration, awarded to both Gurkha troops and their British officers, affirming their status as one of the most decorated forces in British military history. Post-Indian independence in 1947, four Gurkha regiments transferred to the British Army, evolving into the modern Brigade of Gurkhas, which maintains rigorous annual recruitment from Nepal—selecting around 230 candidates from over 20,000 applicants—while also serving in Indian, Singaporean, and Bruneian forces.

Etymology and Cultural Origins

Historical Roots in the Gorkha Kingdom

The Gorkha Kingdom was established in 1559 CE by Dravya Shah, the second son of King Yasho Brahma Shah of Lamjung, who conquered the region from its indigenous Magar rulers in the central hills of present-day Nepal. This small principality, primarily inhabited by Magar hill tribes, served as the cradle for a martial tradition rooted in the rugged Himalayan terrain, where local clans developed skills in guerrilla warfare and close-quarters combat suited to mountainous ambushes. Dravya Shah's rule from 1559 to 1570 laid the foundational structure, with his successors gradually consolidating power through inter-clan alliances and defenses against neighboring hill states. By the mid-18th century, under Prithvi Narayan Shah, who ascended the throne in 1743, the kingdom transformed into an expansionist force initiating unification campaigns in 1744, beginning with the strategic capture of Nuwakot to control trade routes to Tibet. These efforts, marked by tactical encirclements and blockades—such as the 1766 cordoning of the Kathmandu Valley to restrict supplies—culminated in the conquest of the valley kingdoms by 1768, forging a centralized Nepali state from disparate principalities. Prithvi Narayan's armies, drawn from loyal Gorkha clans including Magars and Gurungs, exemplified a warrior ethos of fierce independence and collective discipline, honed through generational feuds and defenses in the hill regions. The designation "Gurkha" or "Gorkhali" originates from the Gorkha district, denoting warriors hailing from this kingdom, with etymological ties to the 8th-century Hindu ascetic Guru Gorakhnath, whose legendary patronage is said to imbue the fighters with spiritual ferocity—a tradition invoked in Gorkha lore to foster unyielding resolve. This cultural reverence reinforced clan-based loyalty to the Shah dynasty, where familial and ethnic ties ensured steadfast service in regional skirmishes against rival hill kingdoms, utilizing the khukuri as a versatile tool for both utility and decisive edged combat in close terrain. Such practices embedded a code of martial prowess, prioritizing endurance and audacity over numerical superiority in pre-unification conflicts.

Ethnic Composition and Martial Traditions

Gurkha recruits are drawn predominantly from Nepal's hill ethnic groups, including the Magar, Gurung, Rai, Limbu, and Sunuwar, who reside in the central and eastern Himalayan foothills. These communities, adapted to high-altitude hardships, exhibit physical endurance suited to prolonged exertion in steep terrain, with cultural norms prioritizing communal defense and personal valor over individual preservation. Recruitment patterns historically favor these groups for their demonstrated reliability in combat roles, as evidenced by consistent representation in Nepalese military formations predating foreign involvement. Martial traditions among these ethnicities trace to indigenous practices emphasizing close-quarters combat and asymmetric warfare, honed through inter-clan conflicts and territorial defense in Nepal's fragmented pre-unification landscape. The khukuri, a curved knife integral to daily and ceremonial life, symbolizes this ethos, used for both utility and ritual beheading in battle to ensure no retreat. These groups supplied core contingents to the Gorkha Kingdom's armies, where tactics relied on mobility, ambushes, and morale-driven charges rather than numerical superiority. During Nepal's unification campaigns from the 1740s to 1769 under Prithvi Narayan Shah, forces from these hill tribes overcame larger coalitions of valley kingdoms and hill principalities, capturing Kathmandu in 1768 through sieges and highland maneuvers that exploited terrain advantages. This era showcased their prowess against numerically superior foes, with victories attributed to disciplined infantry formations and unyielding resolve, as chronicled in royal edicts and contemporary accounts. Cultural influences, blending Hindu warrior codes with indigenous animist and Buddhist elements, reinforced a fatalistic bravery, where capture was deemed dishonorable, fostering preferences for death in combat over surrender in documented skirmishes.

Early Encounters with British Forces

Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–1816)

The Anglo-Nepalese War stemmed from territorial disputes over Butwal and Syuraj, areas annexed by Nepal from the Kingdom of Palpa, which had recognized British suzerainty through tribute payments. These border encroachments, coupled with Nepal's expansionist policies under the Shah dynasty, prompted the British East India Company to invade in November 1814 with multiple columns aimed at subduing Nepalese forces in the western hills. Gurkha troops, serving as the core of Nepal's army, mounted a vigorous defense leveraging the rugged Himalayan terrain to counter the Company's superior numbers and artillery. The Battle of Nalapani, fought from October 31 to November 30, 1814, exemplified Gurkha tenacity, as Captain Balbhadra Kunwar's garrison of about 600 soldiers repelled assaults by a British force initially numbering over 3,500, inflicting approximately 750 casualties on the attackers through sustained rifle fire and countercharges. Deprived of water for days during the siege, the defenders refused surrender and executed a breakout with only 70 survivors, many wielding khukuris in desperate melee to escape encirclement. Such engagements highlighted Gurkha tactics of fortifying hill positions, employing guerrilla ambushes, and prioritizing hand-to-hand combat with the curved khukuri blade, which proved devastating in close quarters and contributed to lopsided casualty ratios favoring the Nepalese. British advances eventually overwhelmed Nepalese resistance due to logistical superiority and reinforcements, culminating in the Treaty of Sugauli signed on December 2, 1815, and ratified March 4, 1816, which required Nepal to cede territories west of the Kali River, including Kumaon, Garhwal, and parts of the Terai, while acknowledging British paramountcy. Despite the defeat, British commanders lauded Gurkha valor and discipline, with survivors offered enlistment in Company service as a testament to their martial prowess observed in the field.

Initial Recruitment and Impressions of Bravery

Following the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814–1816, the British East India Company initiated Gurkha recruitment in 1815, utilizing prisoners of war and deserters impressed by their combat performance against British forces. The Sirmoor Battalion, the first such unit, was raised on 24 April 1815 by Lieutenant Frederick Young at Nahan in the Sirmoor region from approximately 200 Gurkha captives and volunteers who had surrendered or deserted amid wartime hardships under Nepalese commanders like Amar Singh Thapa. British officers, initially viewing Gurkhas as "ill-armed and undisciplined barbarians," revised their assessments to praise their cheerfulness, discipline, and tenacity in battle, with Major-General David Ochterlony recommending their enlistment for these qualities. Officers like John Shipp highlighted Gurkha bravery despite sustaining heavy casualties, contrasting their ferocity and resilience with the perceived lesser endurance of Indian sepoys in irregular warfare. This perceived superiority stemmed from the Gurkhas' hill origins, fostering physical hardiness suited to demanding infantry roles, unlike the sepoy troops drawn from the plains. Recruitment appealed to Nepalese hill farmers facing economic precarity, offering steady pay and rations that exceeded subsistence agriculture yields in rugged terrains with limited arable land. British accounts emphasized the Gurkhas' martial ethos, reflected in their traditional motto "Kaphar hunnu bhanda marnu ramro" ("Better to die than live like a coward"), which underscored a cultural aversion to cowardice and contributed to impressions of unyielding loyalty and aggressive valor in early service.

Integration into British Indian Army

Formation of Gurkha Regiments (1815–1857)

Following the Anglo-Nepalese War, the British East India Company began recruiting Gurkha soldiers in 1815, impressed by their combat prowess during the conflict. The first units were established that year, including the Sirmoor Battalion raised by Lieutenant Frederick Young at Nahan in the Sirmoor region, which became the precursor to the 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles. On 24 April 1815, by order of the Governor-General, the 1st Nusseree (Nasiri) Battalion, Sirmoor Battalion, and Kumaon Battalion were formally formed as part of the Company's forces. These early battalions were integrated into the Bengal Army, serving under British officers while retaining Gurkha non-commissioned officers with ranks such as jemadars and subadars drawn from Nepalese martial traditions to preserve unit cohesion and discipline. By the 1840s, Gurkha units had expanded and participated in the Sikh Wars, with the Nasiri and Sirmoor Battalions contributing to key engagements like the Battle of Aliwal in 1846, where they helped subdue Sikh forces alongside British and other Company troops. This service demonstrated their reliability in frontier campaigns. The regiments numbered around eight battalions by the mid-1850s, focused on hill and border duties within the Bengal Army structure. During the Indian Mutiny of 1857, Gurkha regiments proved their loyalty to the British, remaining steadfast while many Bengal sepoys revolted. Units such as the Sirmoor Battalion fought at the Siege of Delhi, holding positions like Hindu Rao's House against rebel assaults and aiding in the suppression of the uprising. Their fidelity contrasted sharply with the mutinous behavior of native infantry, reinforcing British trust in Gurkha formations and leading to their formal incorporation into the reorganized Indian Army post-mutiny.

Evolution During Colonial Conflicts (1857–1914)

During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Gurkha units demonstrated exceptional loyalty to British forces amid widespread sepoy mutinies. The Sirmoor Battalion, positioned at Hindu Rao's House overlooking Delhi, endured continuous assaults from rebel forces for over two months while supporting the British siege operations. Similarly, the Kumaon Battalion participated in the assault on the Kashmir Gate on September 14, 1857. In recognition of their steadfast service, the Sirmoor Battalion was awarded the Queen's Truncheon, a ceremonial mace symbolizing royal favor, and subsequently granted rifle regiment status. Following the rebellion's suppression, Gurkha forces underwent formal integration as permanent components of the British Indian Army, with an emphasis on rifle marksmanship training tailored to their proficiency in mountainous terrain. Units like the Nusseree Battalion, active during the mutiny, exemplified this transition, evolving into specialized rifle regiments suited for irregular warfare. This reorganization capitalized on Gurkha hill-dwellers' innate expertise in navigation and combat within rugged landscapes, similar to Nepal's Himalayas, enabling effective adaptation to frontier conditions. Clan-based recruitment from specific ethnic groups such as Magars and Gurungs fostered unit cohesion, contributing to notably low desertion rates compared to other native troops, as evidenced by their unwavering fidelity during the 1857 crisis when many Bengal Army units defected. Gurkha regiments saw extensive deployment in North-West Frontier operations and the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–1880), where their ambush tactics proved highly effective against tribal irregulars. In the 1878 Battle of Peiwar Kotal, the 5th Gurkha Rifles executed a night flanking maneuver under Major-General Frederick Roberts, dislodging entrenched Afghan positions and securing a decisive victory. Frontier campaigns, such as the 1891 Hunza expedition, further highlighted their prowess, with 5th Gurkha Rifles officers earning Victoria Crosses for gallantry in hill assaults. These engagements underscored Gurkha advantages in kill ratios during skirmishes, attributed to disciplined rifle volleys and close-quarters kukri charges in ambushes, yielding superior outcomes in verifiable reports from punitive expeditions against Pashtun tribes. Reliable pay structures and ethnic homogeneity sustained morale, minimizing desertions even in prolonged, arduous service.

World Wars and Peak Expansion

First World War Service and Expansion

During the First World War, Gurkha units of the British Indian Army were rapidly expanded and deployed to multiple theatres, including the Western Front in France and Belgium, the Gallipoli campaign, and Mesopotamia. Pre-war, the ten Gurkha regiments comprised 20 battalions; by 1918, this had increased to 33 battalions to meet demands, reflecting the British reliance on their combat effectiveness. Approximately 100,000 Gurkhas served overseas, with battalions such as the 1/6th and 2/8th Gurkha Rifles engaging in early actions like the defence around Festubert in late October 1914, where they held positions amid harsh conditions and German assaults during the First Battle of Ypres. Gurkha troops distinguished themselves in major Western Front offensives, notably at Neuve Chapelle in March 1915, where units like the 2/3rd Gurkha Rifles advanced into contested village positions under heavy fire, capturing key points despite significant losses. Their tactics emphasized close-quarters assaults with kukri knives when ammunition ran low, often charging entrenched German machine-gun positions in subsequent battles such as Loos and Givenchy. Three Victoria Crosses were awarded to Gurkha soldiers for such gallantry during the war, including to Rifleman Kulbir Thapa of the 14th Gurkha Rifles at Loos in September 1915 for rescuing a wounded comrade across no-man's-land under fire. The scale of Gurkha involvement underscored their voluntary recruitment from Nepal, where the entire Nepalese Army was offered to Britain in 1914, leading to high enlistment without conscription. Casualties totalled over 20,000, including around 6,000 deaths, yet their demonstrated loyalty and effectiveness prompted sustained post-war retention in the reduced interwar force, with many veterans re-enlisting amid economic incentives and regimental traditions.

Second World War Roles and Training

During the Second World War, Gurkha forces in the British Indian Army expanded rapidly to a peak strength of over 110,000 personnel organized into 40 battalions, supplemented by training units that enabled quick mobilization for diverse fronts. These units operated alongside British and Indian formations, contributing to campaigns in North Africa, Italy, and Southeast Asia against Axis powers. In North Africa, Gurkha battalions of the 4th Indian Division participated in the Tunisia Campaign from early 1943, advancing through rugged terrain and engaging German and Italian forces in battles such as Wadi Akarit on 5-6 April 1943, where they helped breach defensive lines to support the Allied push toward Tunis. Their operations included assaults under smokescreens and coordination with anti-tank units, as seen with 6-pounder guns in action near steep slopes on 16 March 1943. Gurkhas played a pivotal role in the Italian Campaign, particularly during the Battles of Monte Cassino from January to May 1944. Units like the 1/9th Gurkha Rifles and 2/7th Gurkha Rifles assaulted fortified positions, including the grueling fight for Hangman's Hill (Point 435) in March 1944, where they held ground for nine days against repeated German counterattacks despite shortages of ammunition and supplies. Eyewitness accounts from the period highlight their tenacity in close-quarters combat, often employing the khukuri knife to repel infiltrators after rifles jammed or in hand-to-hand fighting amid the monastery's ruins. In the Burma Campaign, Gurkha troops excelled in jungle warfare against Japanese forces, leveraging their high-altitude Himalayan endurance for prolonged marches and ambushes in dense terrain where European and other Indian units struggled with heat, disease, and fatigue. They formed integral parts of the Chindit long-range penetration groups in Operations Longcloth (1943) and Thursday (1944), operating behind enemy lines to disrupt supply lines and communications, with battalions like the 3/2nd Gurkha Rifles enduring extreme conditions to capture objectives such as Mogaung. Specialized training for these missions emphasized stealth, mule-borne logistics, and aerial resupply, building on Gurkha traditions of discipline and marksmanship to counter Japanese infiltration tactics. Throughout these theaters, Gurkha training battalions in India facilitated the rapid conversion of recruits into combat-ready soldiers, focusing on physical resilience, weapons proficiency—including the khukuri for bayonet-like charges—and unit cohesion under British officers familiar with Nepali recruits' martial ethos. Their effectiveness in close combat was corroborated by Allied reports and enemy surrenders, with Japanese troops reportedly fearing Gurkha night attacks where the khukuri inflicted severe wounds in eyewitness-described melee encounters.

Post-1947 Service in Independent Armies

British Brigade of Gurkhas

Following the partition of India in 1947, the Tripartite Agreement signed on 9 November between the United Kingdom, India, and Nepal allocated six of the ten existing Gurkha regiments to British service, with the remaining four transferred to the Indian Army. This agreement preserved the unique recruitment and service terms for Gurkhas, allowing continued enlistment from Nepal under British sovereignty. The Brigade of Gurkhas was formally established as an administrative formation on 28 September 1951 to oversee these units, initially comprising infantry battalions stationed primarily in Malaya and Hong Kong. Post-World War II, the Brigade played a central role in counter-insurgency operations during the Malayan Emergency from 1948 to 1960, where Gurkha battalions conducted jungle patrols and ambushes against communist guerrillas, contributing to the eventual suppression of the uprising. Units were later involved in the Brunei Revolt and Indonesian Confrontation in Borneo during the 1960s. By the 1970s, as British commitments in Southeast Asia diminished, Gurkha battalions relocated to the United Kingdom, with bases established at sites such as Church Crookham and Aldershot, marking a shift toward integration into NATO-oriented structures. The Brigade's strength was reduced from around 14,000 in the 1960s to approximately 3,500 by the 1990s, reflecting broader defense cuts, though it maintained elite infantry capabilities. In modern operations, the Brigade has deployed to the Falklands War in 1982, where the 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles reinforced British forces against Argentine occupation; to the Balkans in the 1990s for peacekeeping; and extensively to Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014, particularly in Helmand Province, where Gurkhas conducted high-intensity infantry operations against Taliban forces. Additional roles include support units such as engineers and signals, with the Queen's Gurkha Engineers specializing in construction and explosive ordnance disposal. Recruitment remains centered in Nepal through British Gurkhas Nepal, based in Pokhara, where an annual selection process attracts over 20,000 applicants aged 16-21; only about 200-230 are selected after rigorous physical tests, including hill races and heaves, interviews in Nepali and English, and medical evaluations, ensuring the maintenance of elite standards without reliance on agents or payments. As of 2025, the Brigade numbers around 4,000 personnel, primarily in the Royal Gurkha Rifles infantry regiment, alongside specialized corps. On 28 April 2025, the UK government announced the formation of the King's Gurkha Artillery, a new 400-strong unit integrated into the Royal Regiment of Artillery, to be built over four years by reassigning existing Gurkhas and new recruits, enhancing close-support firepower capabilities amid ongoing army modernization. This expansion reverses prior reductions and underscores the Brigade's enduring role in British defense, with units routinely contributing to NATO exercises and rapid reaction forces.

Indian Gorkha Rifles

Upon India's independence in 1947, the Indian Army retained six Gorkha regiments from the British Indian Army—comprising the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, and 9th Gorkha Rifles—with a total of approximately 20 battalions, while the remaining four transferred to British service. These units integrated into the Indian Army's structure, maintaining their ethnic Nepalese composition and regimental traditions, including the ceremonial carrying of the khukuri knife, for which soldiers receive a nominal allowance to preserve cultural identity. Over time, the force expanded; the 11th Gorkha Rifles was raised in 1960, bringing the total to seven regiments with 39 battalions specializing in mountain and high-altitude warfare due to recruits' acclimatization to Himalayan terrains. Gorkha units have participated in major conflicts, including the Indo-Pakistani Wars of 1965 and 1971, where battalions such as those from the 11th Gorkha Rifles contributed to operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the liberation of East Pakistan, earning battle honors like Bogra. In the 1999 Kargil conflict, the 1st Battalion of the 11th Gorkha Rifles recaptured Khalubar Top on July 2, overcoming Pakistani intruders in intense close-quarters combat at elevations over 16,000 feet, demonstrating their proficiency in rugged, high-altitude assaults. They have also served in United Nations peacekeeping missions, such as Operation Khukri in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2000, where 5/8 Gorkha Rifles rescued over 200 hostages from Sierra Leonean rebels, highlighting their versatility in expeditionary roles. Recent recruitment challenges stem from the 2022 Agnipath scheme, which introduced short-term contracts of four years for most enlistees, conflicting with Nepal's preference for long-service traditions in foreign armies and leading to a suspension of Nepalese recruitment rallies since 2020, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has reduced Gorkha battalion strengths, prompting Indian Army appeals to Nepal for resumption, though officials claim no immediate operational impact. Economic pressures in Nepal, including high youth unemployment and remittances dependency, have driven some aspiring Gurkhas—unable to join Indian or British forces—toward Russian military contracts since 2022, with promises of $2,000 monthly pay luring thousands despite risks, resulting in hundreds of deaths in Ukraine and diplomatic strains.

Deployments in Other Nations

The Gurkha Contingent (GC) within Singapore's Police Force, formed on 9 April 1949 from ex-British Army Gurkhas, specializes in public order maintenance, riot suppression, and VIP protection duties. Recruited directly from Nepal for their perceived ethnic neutrality amid Singapore's multi-racial society, the GC intervened decisively in communal disturbances during the 1950s and 1960s, such as the 1964 Maria Hertogh riots and Malay-Chinese clashes, where their lack of local affiliations enabled impartial enforcement without escalating ethnic divides. This role persists in high-threat scenarios, including counter-terrorism support post-2001, underscoring their effectiveness in de-escalating volatile situations through disciplined, non-partisan presence. In Brunei, the Gurkha Reserve Unit (GRU), established in 1980 by recruiting retired British Gurkhas, functions as a paramilitary guard force emphasizing jungle warfare, infrastructure security, and royal protection. Numbering up to 2,300 at its peak, the GRU has fortified Brunei's defenses in its expansive rainforests, conducting patrols and rapid-response operations tailored to counter insurgency and border threats, capitalizing on Gurkha expertise in dense terrain honed from prior service. Their apolitical loyalty—stemming from contractual obligations to the Sultan rather than local allegiances—has sustained internal stability, with minimal incidents attributed to their deterrence value in low-profile missions. These deployments highlight Gurkha utility in smaller nations seeking external, reliable forces for specialized security without domestic recruitment biases; their track record in Singapore's urban riots and Brunei's jungle operations demonstrates high operational impact through loyalty and combat readiness, often in roles eschewing publicity for sustained deterrence.

Military Characteristics

Recruitment and Selection Process

The recruitment and selection process for Gurkha regiments in both the British and Indian armies is conducted annually in Nepal, targeting male Nepali citizens from ethnic Gorkha communities residing in the country, with a strong emphasis on physical endurance, mental resilience, and basic aptitude rather than educational qualifications. Candidates must meet minimum physical standards, including a height of at least 157-160 cm, chest expansion of 79-81 cm, and weight of around 50 kg, alongside age eligibility typically between 17.5 and 21 years for British intake. The process is explicitly designed to be free of charge, with official policies warning against "dalals" (agents) who charge fees, as payments confer no advantage and undermine the merit-based system. For the British Brigade of Gurkhas, selection begins with regional registration at Army Careers Information Offices in Dharan or Pokhara, followed by initial fitness and aptitude tests, narrowing thousands of applicants to hundreds for central selection at British Gurkhas Pokhara. Phase 3 includes written English assessments, interviews, medical examinations, and the grueling Doko race—a 5.8 km uphill course in the Annapurna foothills where candidates carry a 25 kg sandbag in a traditional doko basket, required to complete within 45-50 minutes to demonstrate hill-running stamina akin to daily Nepali labor. Overall acceptance rates remain below 5%, with empirical data showing 16,000 applicants vying for 274 slots in the 2025 intake, reflecting the process's selectivity for raw physicality and determination over scholastic background. Indian Gorkha Rifles recruitment mirrors this model historically, managed through the Gorkha Recruiting Depot in Darjeeling with rallies in Nepal testing similar endurance via runs, obstacle courses, and interviews, previously yielding 1,200-1,500 annual recruits from open competitions. However, since 2022, Nepal's government has suspended open recruitment rallies due to disputes over transparency and sovereignty, shifting reliance to limited in-country sourcing or existing stocks, though efforts persist to resume traditional merit-based selection emphasizing Gorkha heritage and fitness. Across both armies, the process privileges candidates' innate adaptations to high-altitude terrains—evident in the Doko test's replication of porter workloads—ensuring recruits embody the empirical toughness observed in Gorkha populations, without formal barriers like advanced degrees.

Training and Discipline

Gurkha recruits undergo an initial selection process in Nepal, involving phases of registration, physical tests such as the doko race—carrying approximately 25 kilograms (55 pounds) in a basket up a steep hill—and assessments of endurance, followed by medical and interview evaluations, with only about 230 selected annually from thousands of applicants. Successful candidates then proceed to the United Kingdom for Phase 1 training at the Gurkha Training Wing, emphasizing basic military skills, physical resilience, and adaptation to British Army standards, building on the recruits' cultural background of hill-dwelling endurance from Nepalese ethnic groups like Gurung and Magar. This phase incorporates live-fire exercises and survival drills in varied terrains to simulate extreme conditions, fostering self-reliance honed from Nepal's rugged highlands. Officer candidates, primarily British nationals, complete 44 weeks of commissioning training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, including tactical leadership and field exercises, before undertaking intensive Nepali language instruction at Pokhara Camp to command effectively. Upon joining units, Gurkhas are organized into ethnically homogeneous companies or subgroups, drawing from shared clan and tribal affiliations, which enhances unit cohesion, loyalty to leaders, and mutual trust, as evidenced by their steadfast performance during the 1857 Indian Mutiny when Gurkha units remained loyal amid widespread sepoy rebellions. This structure minimizes internal frictions seen in multicultural formations and correlates with historically low rates of disciplinary infractions or mutinies, attributed to ingrained cultural values of obedience and collective honor. Contemporary training integrates modern technologies, such as urban operations simulations, while preserving core proficiencies in close-quarters resilience; for instance, in September 2025, the 67 Gurkha Field Squadron of The Queen's Gurkha Engineers executed Exercise Bazaar Khukuri 25 at Lydd Ranges, honing section-level tactics for built-up environments through scenario-based drills emphasizing rapid decision-making and adaptability. Such evolutions maintain the emphasis on discipline through rigorous, high-stakes exercises that test endurance under simulated combat stress, reinforcing the brigade's reputation for unyielding reliability without compromising traditional unit bonds.

Iconic Weapons and Tactics

The khukuri, a forward-curved knife with a blade typically measuring 14 to 16 inches, serves as both a utility tool and combat weapon for Gurkha soldiers, originating from Nepalese traditions dating back centuries. In World War I, British-issued models like the MK II khukuri were provided to Gurkha troops for close-quarters engagements, reflecting its role in supplementing rifles during trench and hill warfare. During World War II, Gurkhas employed the khukuri in assaults, such as in Burma where units conducted ambushes transitioning to hand-to-hand fighting against Japanese forces. Gurkha tactics emphasize guerrilla-style operations adapted from Nepalese mountain warfare, prioritizing ambushes, rapid maneuvers, and dominance in close-quarters combat over sustained firepower exchanges. These methods exploit terrain advantages, with soldiers advancing at high speed to close distances quickly, often in environments where heavy weaponry is disadvantaged, as seen in frontier patrols and jungle operations. Effectiveness in such scenarios derives from selective recruitment favoring physical endurance and intensive training that builds unit discipline and individual resilience, enabling high performance in direct confrontations. In modern service, the khukuri remains integrated with standard infantry arms; British Gurkhas pair it with the L85A2 rifle (SA80 variant), while Indian Gorkha Rifles use it alongside the INSAS rifle, maintaining its ceremonial and backup role in bayonet drills and utility tasks. Training continues to include khukuri proficiency for close combat, ensuring soldiers can seamlessly shift from ranged fire to melee in ambushes or breakthroughs. This combination underscores a tactical philosophy rooted in mobility and psychological momentum, where speed and close engagement disrupt enemy formations before they can fully respond.

Reputation, Achievements, and Awards

Combat Effectiveness and Historical Feats

Gurkha units have demonstrated exceptional combat effectiveness through superior discipline, ferocity in close-quarters fighting, and a capacity to inflict disproportionate casualties on numerically superior foes, as evidenced in key historical engagements. Their performance often relied on rigorous training and cultural attributes emphasizing endurance and loyalty, enabling breakthroughs where other forces faltered. Military analyses highlight Gurkha forces achieving favorable casualty exchanges, such as in defensive stands and offensive penetrations, underscoring their tactical prowess over reliance on numbers alone. During the Anglo-Nepalese War, approximately 600 Gurkha defenders at the Kalunga (Nalapani) fort in October-November 1814 withstood assaults from 1,600 British and Indian troops, enduring artillery bombardment and multiple infantry attacks over a month. The Gurkhas inflicted 750 casualties on the attackers while suffering around 530 losses, before executing a tactical escape under cover of night. This defense, marked by unyielding resistance despite starvation and ammunition shortages, impressed British commanders, who erected memorials to both their fallen general and the Gurkha leader Balbhadra Kunwar, contributing to the subsequent recruitment of Gurkhas into British service. In the Burma Campaign of 1944-1945, Gurkha battalions played pivotal roles in halting Japanese offensives at Imphal and Kohima, then driving the counteroffensive through dense jungle terrain. As part of long-range penetration groups like the Chindits, they disrupted enemy supply lines and held positions against fanatical Japanese assaults, leveraging discipline to maintain cohesion where attrition decimated other units. Their contributions facilitated Allied breakthroughs, with over 23 Gurkha battalions sustaining heavy fighting that emphasized tenacity over technological superiority. The 1982 Falklands War further illustrated Gurkha psychological and operational dominance, as the 1st Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles advanced on Mount William amid artillery fire, prompting rapid Argentine surrenders due to the troops' fearsome reputation for ruthless close combat. With only 2 killed and 12 wounded, the battalion captured positions and prisoners—sometimes using the khukuri dagger for intimidation—exploiting enemy morale collapse to achieve objectives with minimal engagements. This low-casualty efficacy reflected honed skills in patrolling and assault, amplifying their deterrent effect beyond direct firefights.

Victoria Cross and Other Honors

Gurkha regiments have been awarded 26 Victoria Crosses, the British Army's highest honor for valor, since the first in 1858 during the Indian Rebellion. Of these, 13 were bestowed upon Nepalese Gurkha soldiers, primarily during the World Wars and subsequent conflicts up to 1965. These awards recognize specific acts of extraordinary courage under fire, as detailed in official citations, such as Rifleman Kulbir Thapa's 1915 rescue of three wounded comrades across no man's land during the Battle of Loos, marking the first Victoria Cross to a Nepalese Gurkha. In addition to Victoria Crosses, Gurkhas have received two George Crosses for non-combat gallantry, equivalent in precedence to the Victoria Cross. Across major campaigns, including the two World Wars, Gurkha units earned thousands of other gallantry decorations, such as Military Crosses and Indian Orders of Merit, with over 2,700 awards documented in the Second World War alone. These honors, verified through regimental records and gazette notifications, underscore repeated instances of individual initiative and resilience in combat, independent of unit affiliation or national origin.

Controversies and Challenges

Pension, Welfare, and Post-Service Hardships

Gurkha veterans retiring before 1 July 1997 receive pensions under the 1948 Gurkha Pension Scheme (GPS), which offered rates tied to Indian Army scales and substantially lower than those for British soldiers of comparable rank and service length. For example, prior to reforms, a Gurkha with 16 years of service might receive around $2,300 annually, whereas British equivalents commanded significantly higher amounts, sometimes estimated at six times greater. These disparities stemmed from tripartite agreements post-1947 partitioning British Indian forces, under which Nepal received responsibility for non-pensioned veterans while the UK funded the GPS at reduced levels reflective of Nepalese living costs rather than UK standards. The 2007 Armed Forces (Gurkha Pensions) Order enabled Gurkhas enlisting after that year—or retiring post-1997 under certain conditions—to transfer to the Gurkha Overseas Terms and Conditions scheme, equalizing pensions with British rates for qualifying service. However, pre-1997 retirees, numbering around 25,000, remained excluded, perpetuating welfare gaps that have left many in Nepal facing poverty, medical debt, and inadequate housing despite decades of service. Organizations like the Gurkha Welfare Trust supplement these shortfalls with charity-funded welfare pensions for thousands of impoverished veterans and widows, calculated to provide basic sustenance amid Nepal's economic challenges. In 2019, the UK allocated an additional £15 million to boost pre-2007 pensions by 10-34%, acknowledging ongoing hardships without full retroactive equalization. Remittances from Gurkha service, including pensions, have nonetheless supported family welfare by funding education, home construction, and healthcare, reducing reliance on state aid in rural Nepal and bolstering the national economy through foreign currency inflows. Empirical evidence shows Gurkha communities exhibit higher school enrollment and completion rates, attributable to remittance-driven investments rather than formal welfare systems. Campaigns by groups such as the British Gurkha Welfare Society have highlighted exploitation critiques, securing incremental gains like the 2007 reforms, yet the UK government asserts the GPS delivers contextually adequate support, with voluntary enlistment contracts reflecting mutual loyalty benefits over entitlement to full parity. The European Court of Human Rights upheld this in 2016, finding no prohibited discrimination given historical scheme differences and Nepal-based retirement expectations.

Political Opposition and Recruitment Ethics

In the early 2000s, during Nepal's civil war, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) expressed strong opposition to Gurkha recruitment into foreign armies, labeling it as "neo-colonial slavery" and a form of mercenary service that perpetuated exploitation. Maoist insurgents disrupted recruitment efforts, including the 2003 abduction of a British Army Gurkha recruiting officer in Baglung, reflecting their ideological stance against what they viewed as the subordination of Nepali youth to imperial powers. By 2008, following their rise to political influence after the war's end, Maoist leaders proposed halting all Gurkha enlistments in British and Indian forces, prompting widespread protests from ex-Gurkhas and their families who highlighted the economic dependence on such service. Ultimately, the Maoists retreated from immediate implementation, acknowledging the remittances' role in sustaining rural economies, though debates persisted on sovereignty and national pride. These objections were countered by the tangible economic benefits of Gurkha service, with remittances from serving and retired soldiers forming a substantial portion of Nepal's foreign exchange inflows, historically contributing around 3.7% to GDP in certain periods and bolstering household incomes in recruitment districts. Overall remittances, including those from Gurkhas, have reached over 25% of GDP in recent years, underscoring the voluntary migration's role in alleviating poverty amid limited domestic opportunities. Ethical concerns portraying recruitment as coercive are undermined by its demonstrably voluntary and competitive nature, with annual applications exceeding 20,000 for British Army slots alone, where only 200-300 candidates succeed after rigorous physical and aptitude tests emphasizing personal agency and merit. No evidence supports forced enlistment; instead, the process's selectivity—drawing from eager applicants across Nepal—affords successful recruits career advancement, pensions, and skills transferable post-service, countering narratives of exploitation with data on high demand and individual choice. Recent developments further illustrate recruits' autonomy: Nepal's 2021 opposition to India's Agnipath scheme, which introduced short-term contracts, led to a recruitment freeze since 2022, prompting aspirants to explore alternatives like Russian military contracts offering citizenship promises and higher initial pay. Up to 15,000 Nepalis, including those trained for Gurkha-style service, joined Russian forces by early 2024 before Kathmandu's diplomatic interventions and Moscow's partial halt, revealing not coercion but opportunistic responses to policy shifts and economic incentives. This agency persists despite risks, as recruits weigh foreign service against Nepal's 10-12% youth unemployment, prioritizing verifiable prospects over ideological critiques.

Settlement and Rights Disputes in Host Nations

In September 2008, the UK High Court ruled that the Home Office's immigration policy unlawfully discriminated against Gurkha veterans discharged before 1997 by denying them settlement rights, despite their service in conflicts such as the Falklands War. This judgment stemmed from a judicial review brought by the Gurkha Justice Campaign, which argued that the policy favored post-1997 retirees—after the Brigade of Gurkhas relocated from Hong Kong to the UK—while excluding earlier veterans who had served loyally under British command. The ruling catalyzed a high-profile advocacy effort led by actress Joanna Lumley, culminating in May 2009 when the Home Office revised its rules to grant indefinite leave to remain to all Gurkha veterans with at least four years of service who wished to settle in the UK. Thousands applied promptly, though implementation faced delays and bureaucratic hurdles, prompting further legal challenges and government concessions. By 2025, the Nepalese community in the UK, largely comprising Gurkha veterans and their families, numbered over 100,000, with many integrating through established networks in areas like Aldershot and Cheriton, where their military discipline contributed to reduced local crime rates—such as in Cheriton, where incidents reportedly dropped to near zero following their arrival. The policy shift drew criticism from some quarters as a form of "backdoor immigration," bypassing standard visa criteria and straining public resources amid broader debates on migration controls, though proponents emphasized the unique reciprocity owed for decades of service. In parallel, Gurkha residency issues arose during the 1997 Hong Kong handover, where units were reduced from several battalions to two before disbandment, leaving pre-July 1, 1997, discharges initially without automatic UK settlement paths. These were later addressed through UK immigration appendices prioritizing length of service for veteran applications, enabling many to relocate based on their contributions rather than post-handover ties.

Recent Developments and Modern Role

Structural Changes and New Formations

In April 2025, the UK Ministry of Defence announced the formation of the King's Gurkha Artillery (KGA), a 400-strong unit within the Brigade of Gurkhas integrated into the Royal Regiment of Artillery, marking the first Gurkha artillery unit in over two centuries. The unit's development, involving transfers of existing Gurkha personnel, is scheduled for completion over four years, with initial training on systems like light guns already underway by August 2025. This structural shift aims to enhance firepower capabilities while leveraging Gurkha expertise in maneuverable artillery operations. Complementing this, Recruit Intake 25 saw 274 Gurkha trainees awarded berets and insignia in July 2025 during a cap-badging parade at the Brigade of Gurkhas Training Centre, sustaining unit strengths despite intensified global recruitment pressures from nations like Australia and the United States. Allocations included 123 to the Royal Gurkha Rifles, 40 to Queen's Gurkha Signals, and 20 to the nascent KGA, reflecting diversified specializations. Concurrently, the Royal Gurkha Rifles commissioned three new second lieutenants—Jack Bell, Charlie Griffith, and James Wright—in August 2025, bolstering officer leadership for evolving formations. Adaptations in mobility and technology include the summer 2025 relocation of 70 personnel from the Gurkha Parachute Squadron—part of the Queen's Gurkha Engineers—from Maidstone, Kent, to Rock Barracks in Woodbridge, Suffolk, to align with 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment and improve airborne engineering integration. In parallel, units like 2nd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles, have incorporated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for reconnaissance and overwatch, as demonstrated in the 2025 Falkland Islands roulement deployment, enhancing situational awareness without diluting the Gurkha emphasis on disciplined close-quarters proficiency and resilience. These evolutions preserve the Brigade's core operational ethos amid modernization demands.

Ongoing Deployments and Global Recruitment Issues

In 2025, the British Army's 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, maintained a roulement infantry company deployment to the Falkland Islands, conducting large-scale blank-firing exercises such as Cape Kukri to hone combat skills in challenging terrain. These operations, including maneuvers around key historical sites like Mount Tumbledown, emphasize readiness for defensive contingencies amid ongoing sovereignty disputes. Domestically, Gurkha units have prioritized urban warfare proficiency through targeted drills, exemplified by 67 Gurkha Field Squadron's Exercise Bazaar Khukuri 25 in October 2025 at Lydd Ranges, which refined section-level tactics for complex built environments. This training aligns with broader adaptation to hybrid threats, where Gurkha resilience—rooted in physical endurance and disciplined close-quarters maneuvers—bolsters host nations' capabilities in asymmetric scenarios. In India, Gurkha elements within the Special Frontier Force continue vigilance along the Line of Actual Control amid sporadic India-China border frictions projected into 2025, following partial disengagements in late 2024. Composed partly of Gurkhas alongside Tibetan recruits, the force's high-altitude expertise sustains deterrence, though operational details remain classified. Recruitment faces headwinds from Nepal's economic pressures and policy divergences. Indian Army intake of Nepali Gurkhas remains suspended since 2022 due to objections over the Agnipath scheme's short-term contracts lacking traditional pensions and job security, diverting aspirants and straining bilateral ties. Concurrently, up to 15,000 Nepali youths have been lured or deceived into Russian forces for the Ukraine conflict, enticed by false promises of non-combat roles and citizenship, exacerbating youth outflows amid Nepal's political instability and limiting the Gurkha recruitment pool. British Gurkha selection persists unabated despite Nepal's unrest, relying on centralized, merit-based processes at the Gurkha Training Centre to mitigate agent-driven corruption historically plaguing informal channels. This rigor ensures quality, with annual intakes sustaining brigade strength around 3,500, though global competition for Nepali talent underscores the need for enhanced incentives to preserve operational edge.

References

  1. https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/gurkhas
  2. https://www.army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/about-the-army/corps-regiments-and-units/brigade-of-gurkhas/gurkha-history/
  3. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Gurkha-Rifles/
  4. https://factsanddetails.com/south-asia/Nepal/History_Nepal/entry-7807.html
  5. https://countrystudies.us/nepal/9.htm
  6. https://mountain-hike.com/shah-dynasty-rule-in-nepal-a-detailed-overview/
  7. https://www.telegraphnepal.com/nepal-unification-campaign-in-chronological-order/
  8. https://chinarinepal.com/prithivi-narayan-shah-and-unification-campaign-of-nepal/
  9. https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/37514
  10. https://www.gwt.org.uk/about-the-gurkhas/gurkhas/
  11. https://factsanddetails.com/south-asia/Nepal/Government_Justice_Military_Nepal/entry-7862.html
  12. https://asiatimes.com/2018/04/brief-history-gurkhas-knife-kukri/
  13. https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=981140fa-f5f7-428a-8787-93be0cd55d94
  14. https://photius.com/countries/nepal/national_security/nepal_national_security_origins_of_the_legen~10146.html
  15. https://iainabernethy.com/content/gurkhas-masters-kukri
  16. https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2768&context=isp_collection
  17. https://www.studyiq.com/articles/anglo-nepalese-war/
  18. https://www.spotlightnepal.com/2020/08/19/anglo-nepal-war-1814-16-and-causes/
  19. https://www.onlinenotesnepal.com/causes-of-anglo-nepal-war-and-contribution-of-nepalese-warriors
  20. https://www.facebook.com/TheGurkhaMuseum/posts/the-battle-of-kalunga-anglo-nepal-war-october-november-1814sometimes-called-nala/4525024864231202/
  21. https://nepalitimes.com/banner/from-nalapani-to-kalapani
  22. https://kukrihouse.com/kukri-in-combat/
  23. https://everestforge.com/kukri-khukuri-info
  24. https://www.gurkhabde.com/history/gurkhas-nepal-and-the-east-india-company/
  25. https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/2nd-king-edward-viis-own-gurkha-rifles-sirmoor-rifles
  26. http://2ndgoorkhas.com/the-regiment/history-of-the-regiment/
  27. https://www.forcesnews.com/long-reads/gurkhas-origin-story
  28. https://www.craiglawrence.co/east-india-company.html
  29. https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/gurkha/
  30. https://gurkhasecurityservices.co.uk/history-of-gurkhas/
  31. https://www.facebook.com/TheGurkhaMuseum/posts/bravest-of-the-brave-most-generous-of-the-generous-never-had-a-country-more-fait/5089702167763466/
  32. https://www.gwt.org.uk/news/history-famous-gurkhas-timeline/
  33. https://thegurkhamuseum.co.uk/blog/gurkha-loyalty/
  34. https://thegurkhamuseum.co.uk/blog/the-siege-of-delhi/
  35. https://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=79938&page=1
  36. https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/second-afghan-war
  37. https://thegurkhamuseum.co.uk/blog/gurkhas-and-the-north-west-frontier/
  38. https://roadstothegreatwar-ww1.blogspot.com/2024/07/its-1914-and-indian-army-is-fighting-in.html
  39. https://thegurkhamuseum.co.uk/blog/gurkhas-and-the-first-world-war/
  40. https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1972-08-67-1-22
  41. https://www.mea.gov.in/Images/pdf1/France_Flanders_eng.pdf
  42. https://www.quora.com/What-were-the-major-contributions-of-the-Gurkhas-in-WW2
  43. https://thegurkhamuseum.co.uk/blog/gurkhas-and-ww2/
  44. https://www.ww2today.com/p/indian-and-gurkha-troops-in-tunisian
  45. https://thegurkhamuseum.co.uk/blog/assault-on-hangmans-hill/
  46. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02627280221120334
  47. https://thegurkhamuseum.co.uk/the-jungle-war/
  48. https://www.chindits.info/
  49. https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN04671/SN04671.pdf
  50. https://www.army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/about-the-army/corps-regiments-and-units/brigade-of-gurkhas/
  51. https://www.eliteukforces.info/gurkhas/
  52. https://www.army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/about-the-army/corps-regiments-and-units/brigade-of-gurkhas/british-gurkhas-nepal/gurkha-recruitment/
  53. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-kings-gurkha-artillery-unit-to-boost-armed-forces-capabilities
  54. https://www.gwt.org.uk/news/gurkha-regiments/
  55. https://www.dehradundefencecollege.com/the-gorkha-regiment-a-legacy-of-valor/
  56. https://www.ssbpsych.com/indian-armed-forces/indianarmy/the-gurkha-rifles-of-the-indian-army-a-tradition-of-valour/
  57. https://www.vifindia.org/sites/default/files/Gorkha-Dimension-in-India-Nepal-Relations.pdf
  58. https://salute.co.in/the-battle-to-recapture-khalubar-top-a-story-of-grit-and-determination/
  59. https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2021/Jul/07/a-deep-dive-into-operation-khukri-2326510.html
  60. https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/neighbours/nepal/story/20240603-indian-army-faces-the-gorkha-question-2543269-2024-05-24
  61. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66603133
  62. https://www.eurasiantimes.com/army-chief-upendra-dwivedi-appeals-to-nepal/
  63. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/12/30/why-nepals-gurkha-fighters-want-to-join-indias-army-again
  64. https://thediplomat.com/2024/02/nepali-nationals-are-fighting-and-dying-in-russias-war-on-ukraine/
  65. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3253863/thousands-nepalis-were-paid-join-russias-war-against-ukraine-now-theyre-haunted-trauma-and-debt
  66. https://mothership.sg/2018/06/spore-gurkhas-nepal-history/
  67. https://asiatimes.com/2018/02/how-gurkha-rifles-contributed-to-brunei-half-a-century-ago/
  68. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325166483_The_Retention_of_the_British_Gurkha_Army_in_Brunei_1962_-_1984
  69. https://militiasdb.sowi.uni-mannheim.de/militias-public/pgag/6/
  70. https://www.army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/about-the-army/corps-regiments-and-units/brigade-of-gurkhas/british-gurkhas-nepal/
  71. https://pre-gurkha.com.np/Indian-Gorkha-Rifles-Training-Classes
  72. https://bootcampmilitaryfitnessinstitute.com/military-training/armed-forces-of-the-united-kingdom/uk-military-recruitment-selection-overview/gurkha-recruitment-selection-overview/
  73. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/dec/06/military.audreygillan
  74. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jan/22/hopefuls-pay-out-thousands-rupees-chase-gurkha-glory-nepal
  75. https://www.army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/about-the-army/corps-regiments-and-units/brigade-of-gurkhas/british-gurkhas-nepal/gurkha-recruitment/phase-3-final-selection-gurkhas/
  76. https://www.facebook.com/TheGurkhaBrigadeAssociation/posts/selection-to-become-a-gurkha-in-the-british-army-is-tough-this-year-16000-applic/952641103678372/
  77. https://www.gurkhabde.com/news/gurkha-selection-in-full-swing-in-pokhara/
  78. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q-SVowT56U
  79. https://www.gurkhabde.com/news/royals-attend-the-attestation-of-the-british-armys-gurkha-recruit-intake-25/
  80. https://joinindianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/Portal/BRAVO_NotificationPDF/13_Feb_2024_Rally_Notification_2024-25_GRD_GHOOM.pdf
  81. https://www.gwt.org.uk/news/doko-2024/
  82. https://www.thekhukurihouse.com/recruiting-for-the-brigade-of-gurkhas
  83. https://gurkhainquiry.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/brigade-of-gurkhas-standing-instructions.pdf
  84. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqDol9o65fY
  85. https://www.army.mod.uk/media/24576/the-royal-gurkha-rifles-rgr-potential-officers-guide-version-4-dated-14-nov-23.pdf
  86. https://www.gurkhabde.com/news/new-officers-join-the-royal-gurkha-rifles-april-2025/
  87. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-10782099
  88. https://www.gurkhabde.com/news/67-gurkha-field-squadron-urban-ops/
  89. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4744
  90. https://www.ww2today.com/p/gurkha-ambush-in-burma
  91. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1956/01/with-the-gurkhas-adventure-on-indias-frontier/640472/
  92. https://www.forcesnews.com/services/gurkhas/kukri-your-guide-iconic-gurkha-weapon
  93. https://thegurkhamuseum.co.uk/blog/presentation-kukris-and-afghan-tribal-knives/
  94. https://www.facebook.com/britisharmy/videos/gurkhas-have-long-held-a-formidable-reputation-in-battle-alongside-their-primary/1753679631401796/
  95. https://www.forcesnews.com/services/gurkhas/how-gurkha-took-eight-enemy-soldiers-alone-and-won
  96. https://thegurkhamuseum.co.uk/blog/battle-of-kalunga/
  97. https://thegurkhamuseum.co.uk/blog/gurkhas-and-the-falklands-war/
  98. https://www.thekhukurihouse.com/gurkha-vcs
  99. https://thegurkhamuseum.co.uk/blog/kulbir-thapas-v-c/
  100. https://thegurkhamuseum.co.uk/blog/the-empire-gallantry-medal-and-george-cross/
  101. https://www.gwt.org.uk/about-the-gurkhas/remember-gurkhas/
  102. https://www.craiglawrence.co/gurkhas-in-ww2.html
  103. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-10776313
  104. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/08/world/asia/08iht-brits.4846994.html
  105. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmhaff/1140i/1140i.pdf
  106. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn04375/
  107. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/2608/made
  108. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jan/11/gurkha-veterans-lose-pension-battle
  109. https://www.gwt.org.uk/about-us/services/financial/
  110. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/enhanced-package-of-support-for-gurkha-veterans
  111. https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/jdr/article/download/51134/38219/151210
  112. https://extranet.parisschoolofeconomics.eu/docs/vanden-eynde-oliver/from_muscle_drain_to_brain_gain.pdf
  113. https://gurkhainquiry.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/exhibit-2-cnsuk-report-on-pension-satyagraha-evidence.pdf
  114. https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-166691
  115. https://www.dawn.com/news/311732/nepal-maoists-back-off-giving-gurkhas-the-chop
  116. http://www.raon.ch/pages/news1/mnews/mnews03_04.html
  117. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-12-25/nepalese-ex-gurkhas-protest-over-maoists-plan-to/250008
  118. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346135102_The_Gurkha_Recruitment_Remittances_and_Development
  119. https://english.biznessnews.com/posts/nepal%25E2%2580%2599s-remittance-hits-record-high-contributes-over-28pc-of-gdp
  120. https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-gurkhas-join-the-british-army/
  121. https://theprint.in/defence/indian-army-gorkha-regiment-nepal-agniveer/2753625/
  122. https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/10/asia/nepal-fighters-russia-ukraine-families-intl-cmd
  123. https://english.nepalnews.com/s/long-reads/russia-halts-recruitment-of-nepalese-into-its-army/
  124. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/sep/30/military.immigration
  125. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/21/gurkha-uk-settle-rights-lumley
  126. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/21/gurkhas-granted-right-to-settle-in-uk
  127. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8014265.stm
  128. https://www.armedforcesnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AFN-Gurkha-and-Nepalese-Community-Factsheet-May-2023.pdf
  129. https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/64616/Gurkhas-declare-war-on-criminals
  130. https://library.law.yale.edu/news/turmoil-uk-over-gurkha-immigration
  131. https://asiatimes.com/2017/05/gurkhas-history-service-hong-kong-forgotten/
  132. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hm-forces-persons-seeking-settlement-on-discharge/gurkhas-discharged-before-1-july-1997-and-their-family-members-accessible
  133. https://thegurkhamuseum.co.uk/blog/gurkhagunnershistory/
  134. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-04-28/hlws604
  135. https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-gurkha-artillery-regiment-to-boost-british-firepower/
  136. https://www.facebook.com/brigadeofgurkhatrainingcentre/videos/recruit-intake-25-which-is-274-gurkha-trainees-received-the-badges-berets-and-in/1843531202862041/
  137. https://www.gurkhabde.com/news/gurkha-recruit-intake-24-find-out-which-part-of-the-brigade-they-will-be-joining/
  138. https://www.facebook.com/TheGurkhaBrigadeAssociation/posts/today-the-royal-gurkha-rifles-proudly-welcomed-three-newly-commissioned-officers/1093504529592028/
  139. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpq5p53jr3po
  140. https://www.gurkhabde.com/news/eyes-in-the-sky-with-the-royal-gurkha-rifles/
  141. https://www.gurkhabde.com/news/falkland-islands-roulement-infantry-company-2025/
  142. https://www.forcesnews.com/services/army/training-put-practice-new-gurkha-artillery-unit-fires-light-gun-first-time
  143. https://www.forcesnews.com/services/army/bayonet-turns-kukri-gurkha-infanteers-train-bleak-terrain-falklands
  144. https://en.mercopress.com/2025/03/03/falklands-gurkhas-will-be-involved-in-blank-fire-exercise-cape-kukri-ii
  145. https://www.facebook.com/TheGurkhaBrigadeAssociation/posts/67-gurkha-field-squadron-the-queens-gurkha-engineers-successfully-conducted-exer/1155972076678606/
  146. https://dragonflyintelligence.com/news/china-india-sporadic-border-clashes-likely-into-2025/
  147. https://globaleyeintelligence.com/indo-china-new-border-military-disengagement-pact-ending-himalayan-face-off/
  148. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/general-knowledge/special-frontier-force-vikas-battalion/
  149. https://english.nepalnews.com/s/explainers/whats-the-fate-of-the-gurkhas-in-agnipath-heres-everything-you-need-to-know/
  150. https://uscgpi.com/2025/04/22/future-of-the-gurkhas-and-the-india-nepal-relationship/
  151. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/gurkha-recruitment-ongoing-despite-nepal-095058806.html
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.