4th Gorkha Rifles
4th Gorkha Rifles | |
---|---|
Star of Nepal
1947–present 3Punjab Frontier, Boxer Rebellion, China 1900[1]
World War I:[1] Givenchy 1914 ,
Neuve Chapelle,
Ypres 1915,
St. Julien ,
Aubers,
Festubert (1915),
France and Flanders 1914–15 ,
Gallipoli 1915,[2]
Egypt 1916 ,
Tigris 1916,
Battle of Kut 1917,
Baghdad
Mesopotamia 1916–18 ,
N.W. Frontier India 1917 ,
Baluchistan 1918 .
1919–39: Afghanistan 1919 .
World War II[1]
Iraq 1941 ,
Syria 1941 ,
The Cauldron,
North Africa 1940–43 ,
Trestina ,
Monte Cedrone,
Italy 1943–45
Pegu 1942 ,
Chindits 1944 ,
Bishenpur ,
Shwebo,
Mandalay.
1947–present: Punch, Gurais and Bilafond La Theatre Honours:Khukris with the Roman numeral IV below, and Ashoka on top. | |
Tartan | Government (1st Bn pipers plaids and pipe bags) Mackenzie HLI (2nd Bn pipers plaids and pipe bags) |
The 4th Gorkha Rifles or the Fourth Gorkha Rifles, abbreviated as 4 GR, is an infantry regiment of the
The regiment has seen action in wars in Africa, Europe and Asia, including the
History
In 1857, in the wake of the 1857 rebellion, an Extra Goorkha Regiment,
In 1866, Bakloh was acquired as Goorkha Cantonment for the 4th Goorkha Regiment and Balun, Dalhousie Cantonment, as cantonment for British troops, along with a sliver of territory to connect the two cantonments, from the Raja of Chamba for a sum of Rupees 5000. Bakloh, a hill station, remained the home, and the Regimental Center and Depot, of the 4th Gurkha Rifles, for 82 years, from 1866 to 1948.[5][6]
1857–1914
Between 1857 and 1914, the regiment saw action in small wars, in India's North East, in the
In 1903, in
World War I
Soon after the start of
The 2nd Battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles (2/4) saw service in Mesopotamia, present day Iraq.[citation needed]
3rd Battalion, 4th Gurkha Rifles (3/4 GR), was ordered to be raised during the war; but due to a clerical error the 4th Battalion,
World War I war diaries
Transcripts of
World War II
During
Burma Campaign
During the
Soon after it was raised in October 1940, the third battalion (3/4 GR) was assigned to the
The fourth Battalion (4/4 GR) distinguished itself in the storming of Mandalay Hill in Burma, in 1945.[citation needed]
Iraq, Syria, and Italy
2/4 GR was the only Battalion of the 4 Gorkha Rifles that served in the Middle East and Europe. In the wake of the growing threats to Iraq following the
In June 1941, after a successful campaign in Iraq, including securing of
After the successful campaigns Iraq, Syria, along the Persian border, the battalion left Iraq by road for
Regiment in books
A prominent figure who joined the 4th Gurkha Rifles as a regular officer during the thirties, was the author
Customs, traditions, and regimental arcana
The regiment drills and standards are similar to British 'Greenjackets'. It marches 'quickstep' at 180 paces a minute on parade, the same former pace as the other Indian Army rifle regiments, in its own ceremonies, while doing the same 120 paces if marching with other units. Commanders in 4th Gorkha Rifles, unlike other regiments in the Indian Army, but like the many former rifle regiments of the British Army (and now the sole regiment The Rifles), wear (a plain Black) Lanyard attached to a whistle over the Jersey. The intention of this arrangement is to facilitate use of the whistle with the left hand, while leaving the right hand free to use the sword. The uniform and insignia are Spartan; the regiment prides itself on its simplicity and disregard for pomp and ceremony. '4 GR', in black metal, is worn as regimental signage on the shoulder straps by all ranks.[citation needed]
The official, and correct, spelling of 'gorkha', since February 1949, is Gorkha, and not Gurkha, as the British still choose to spell it.[20]
Uniform
The first uniforms obtained for the regiment, during the chaotic period of 1857–58, were makeshift whites dyed
Regimental Centre
The Regimental Center was formed on 15 November 1940 in Balkoh. The first commandant was Colonel TDC Owens, MC, who commanded the centre for five years during World War II.[23]: 369
Transition 1947–48
In 1947, just before independence, all Gorkha Regiments, including the 4th Gorkha Rifles (GR), received orders from the Commander in Chief of the Indian army, that Gorkha regiments which opt to remain with the Indian army, were to be transferred 'intact', including mess property and regimental funds. British officers of many Gorkha Regiments, including 5 RGR (FF) and 9 GR, did not comply with these instructions and transferred funds and properties to England before 15 August 1947.[24] 4 GR too managed to transfer part of the regiment funds before independence to England. These regimental funds were used to fund a corpus for a war memorial, for publishing volume 3 of the regimental history, and Rupees 8000, was used to transfer and install the memorial tablet in the St Oswald Church in Bakloh to England.[24]
The last British commandant of the centre was Colonel RAN Davidson, formerly 2/4 GR, a bachelor who had spent much of World War II as a Japanese POW. He took over the centre for three months on 1 January 1948. He handed over the centre on 18 January 1948 to Lt Colonel Rajbir Chopra, formerly of the Rajput Regiment, who became the first Indian commandant of the 4GRRC. Colonel Ran Davidson, however, continued as adviser till 27 March 1948. Colonel RAN Davidson in his short tenure managed to gain the affection and respect of the young officers. The Subedar Major of the 4GRRC in 1948 was SM Sher Jung, the previous SM Agam Gurung having been promoted as officer.[25] The regiment was allowed to promote thirteen Gorkha Officers as commissioned officers.[citation needed]
In 1948 out of total of 50 officers posted to Gorkha Regiments from Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, to make up for the departing British officers, 9 young officers were posted to 4GRRC, Bakloh. Of these 9 young officers (YOs), 6 remained with the regiment, the rest were posted to other regiments after a short stay at Bakloh. The YOs traveled to Bakloh on 4 January 1948, on the same day, as Colonel RAN Davidson, the new commandant of 4GRRC.[25]
Move from Bakloh
In the wake of the
Battalions of the regiment
1/4 GR
The 1st Battalion, 4th Gorkha Rifles (1/4 GR), JETHI Paltan, was raised in
2/4 GR
The 2nd Battalion, 4th Gorkha Rifles (2/4 GR), Maili Paltan, was raised in Bakloh, in 22 Apr1886. 1st Bn Cdr Major JM Herman, Bn Sub Maj Kulpati Gurung In
3/4 GR
The 3rd Battalion, 4th Gorkha Rifles (3/4 GR), Chindits, Sainli Paltan, was raised in the Leslie Lines,
The 3rd Battalion has an enviable war record. Over the period 20–24 September 1987, during
4/4 GR
The 4th Battalion, 4th Gorkha Rifles (4/4 GR), the Kainli Paltan, also called Phor Phor, was first raised on 15 March 1941 in
5/4 GR
The
Regimental reunions
In addition to the Jubilee celebration and reunions, the 4th Gorkha Rifles organizes a Regimental Reunion every four years, usually at Sabathu, the Regimental Centre of the First and 4th Gorkha Rifles.[citation needed]
Regimental Day
The Regimental day of the 4th Gorkha Rifles is 11 March. It commemorates the 1st Battalion's action in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in France and the 2nd Battalion's entry into Baghdad (albeit in different years), during World War I. On the occasion of the regimental day officers and men of the regiment exchange greeting, and meet over lunch or dinner. The main regimental day lunch for serving and retired officers is usually held at an officers mess, or the Infantry Mess and Hostel in
Fourth Gorkha Rifles Officers' Association
The Fourth Gorkha Rifles Officers' Association, is an association of serving and retired officers of the 4th Gorkha Rifles (4 GR), an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. The 4 GR has two Officers Associations: one in the India, and another in the United Kingdom (UK). The two officers associations have had, and continue to have, close relations.[35][36]
4 GR Officers Association, UK
The officers association in the UK, known as the 4th
4 GR Officers Association, India
The Officers Association of 4 GR, in India, of which all serving and retired 4 GR officers are members, is called the Fourth Gorkha Rifles Officers' Association. It was formed at the initiative of late Major General GS Gill, former Colonel of 4 GR. The head of the Indian and the UK associations, known as the president of the Fourth Gorkha Rifles Association, is usually a senior retired officer of the regiment, and often a former
Relations between the Indian and British officers' associations
The relations between the Indian and the UK 4 GR Officers associations have been, and remain, close and active. They exchange visits, letters, mementos, and memories. Indian officers on visit to the UK often visit Stoke Poges, meet old officers, and attend 'Remembrance day'. British officers, in turn, are often guest of the 4 Gorkha Rifles Officers Association, in India, and are invariably invited to attend Reunion and Jubilee celebrations.
Fourth Gorkha Rifles Officers' Association Newsletters
The Officers Association of Fourth Gorkha Rifles publishes an annual Newsletter (NL). The NL has been in print since 1977. The first NL was brought out by Lt Colonel Vijay Madan, VSM, during the Regimental reunion in February 1977, the second reunion held after 1957 reunion.[41] In 1997 it was decided that the NL, starting with NL 22, will also have a Nepali section. Each battalion was expected to submit at least two articles in Nepalese for the NL. The NL operates on shoe string budget. The charges for bringing out NL 21, in 1997, was a mere Rupees 14,539. It is published with the assistance of 14 Gorkha Rifles Training Centre, Sabathu Cantonment.[41]: p10, 14
Editor and publisher
The editor of the NL is chosen by consensus from among volunteer retired officers of the regiment and is appointed by the President of the 4 GR Association. Past NL editors have included Lt Colonel Vijay Madan (1977–1980), Brigadier Hem Tiwari (1981–84), Brigadier NK Gurung (1985–86),
Contents
The NL which started as an English-language journal, since 1999, has had two sections: an English section, which is approximately 150–180 pages, and a Hindi- and the Nepali-language sections, which is about 30–40 pages.
See also
- Bakloh
- Gorkha Regiments of the Indian Army
- The Fifth Battalion the Fourth Gorkha Rifles
Notes
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4722-0260-4. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ^ Gallipoli Diaries: Gurkhas at Gallipoli 1915. Great War Diaries Ltd. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ a b Kesava Menon, Kesava (December 20, 2000). "Gorkhas stand tall even here". Hindu.
- ^ a b c d "4th Gurkha Rifles". Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and the Commonwealth. Archived from the original on 3 January 2006. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ISBN 978-81-7387-041-5. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ "Cantonment Board Bakloh – Ministry of Defence, Govt of India".
- ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36905. London. 22 October 1902. p. 9.
- ^ Parker 2005, p. 392.
- ^ Edmonds, 1914, Vol II, Appendix 1.
- ^ F.W. Perry & A.F. Becke, Orders of Battle.
- ^ "Home".
- ^ A History of the 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles, 1857–1948. W. Blackwood. 1952. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ^ "Operation War Diary: First World War Unit Diaries go online to mark centenary | First World War Centenary". Archived from the original on 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
- ^ "Diaries". Operation War Diary. Zooniverse. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ Thapal, Lt Col BK (2013). "Unforgettable Memories – Regimental home Bakloh Part 1". Fourth Gorkha Rifles Officers' Association. 36: 87–90.
- ^ Col Mackay, JN (1952). "II". In Borrowman, CG (ed.). History of the 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles, 1938–1948, vol III (29–43 ed.). London: William Blackwood. pp. 22–31.
350 copies issued
- ^ Col Mackay, JN (1952). "III". In Borrowman, CG (ed.). History of the 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles, 1938–1948, vol III (29–43 ed.). London: William Blackwood. pp. 32–45.
350 copies issued
- ^ Col Mackay, JN (1952). "II". In Borrowman, CG (ed.). History of the 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles, 1938–1948, vol IV (29–43 ed.). London: William Blackwood. pp. 46–70.
350 copies issued
- ISBN 978-0-304-36156-4. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
- ISBN 978-81-7062-014-3. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ W. Y. Carman, pages 204–205 "Indian Army Uniforms Under the British From the 18th Century to 1947: Artillery, Engineers and Infantry", Morgan-Grampian: London 1969
- ^ John Masters, page 79 "Bugles and a Tiger", The New English Library Limited 1962
- ^ a b c d e Mackay, JN (1963). A history of the 4th Prince of Wales's own Gurkha Rifles, Volume III, 1938–1948. Army Press, Dehra Dun, India. pp. 264–65.
- ^ a b Farwell, Byron (1990). The Gurkhas. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. pp. 257–58.
- ^ a b Sodhi, Harinder (2008). Negi, Brigadier, RPS (ed.). "The old order Changeth: From British to Indian Officer". Fourth Gorkha Rifles Officers' Association, Newsletter. 31. Sabathu: 14 GTC: 55–59.
- ^ Sodhi, Harinder (2011). Negi, RPS (ed.). "Bakloh-New Look – Comments and Views". Fourth Gorkha Rifles Officers' Association, Newsletter. 34. Sabathu: 14 GTC: 105–06.
- ^ Sodhi, Harinder (2012). Negi, RPS (ed.). "At Bakloh on Commissioning". Fourth Gorkha Rifles Officers' Association, Newsletter. 35. Sabathu: 14 GTC: 128–34.
- ^ Singh, Rohit (Autumn 2012). "Operations in Jammu and Kashmir 1947–48" (PDF). CLAWS: 130–158. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-01-23. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
- ^ Banerjee, Major, Sayan (2012). The unit is presently located at Dipatoli Cantt, Ranchi. "Quasquicentennial celebrations: Second Battalion|". In Negi, Brig (Retd), RPS. Fourth Gorkha Rifles Officer's Association, Newsletter, India (in English, Hindi, and Nepali) 35: 13–29.
- ^ "The Highest Battle field in the World". 4 GR Reunion Special 1998. 1998.
- Golden Jubilee". In Negi, Brig (Retd), RPS. Fourth Gorkha Rifles Officer's Association, Newsletter, India (in English, Hindi, and Nepali) 35: 29–35.
- ^ Mehta, Gp Capt. "Raising Day Golden Gorkhas". Sainik Samachar (New Delhi-110 011: Directorate of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence)
- ^ a b Negi, Brig (Retd), RPS, ed. (2011). "Pot Pourri". Fourth Gorkha Rifles Officer's Association, Newsletter, India (in English, Hindi, and Nepali) 34: 165.
- ^ Negi, Brig (Retd), RPS, ed. (2011). "Pot Pourri". Fourth Gorkha Rifles Officer's Association, Newsletter, India (in English, Hindi, and Nepali) 36: 164.
- ^ a b Bowyer, Tony (2011). Negi, RPS (ed.). "Return to Bakloh". Fourth Gorkha Rifle Officers Association. 34: 50–58.
Reminiscence of former British officer of 4/4 GR of pre-independence Bakloh, and of the Reunion hosted by 5/4 GR, in Bakloh, in February 1977
- ^ a b Lloyd, Geoffery (2012). Negi, RPS (ed.). "Second to None". Fourth Gorkha Rifle Officers Association. 35: 51–52.
Former British officer of 1/4 GR
- ^ a b Tee, Bill (1997). "Golden Jubilee Remembrance Day 1997". Fourth Gorkha Rifles Officers' Association. 21: 31–40.
- ^ a b Negi, RPS (2011). Negi, RPS (ed.). "The memorial Plaque and the Tej Sapru Khukri at Stoke Park Club". Fourth Gorkha Rifle Officers Association. 34: 64–66.
- ^ a b c Kale, BD (2012). Negi, RPS (ed.). "President's Message". Fourth Gorkha Rifles Officer's Association, Newsletter, India (in Hindi and Nepali). 35: 1–2.
- ^ Negi, RPS (2012). Negi, RPS (ed.). Fourth Gorkha Rifle Officers Association. 35: 8–9.
Notes on the regimental reunion in 4/4 GR
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link) - ^ a b c Sarpotdar, SP (1998). "Coming of Age Indian NL". Fourth Gorkha Rifles Officers' Association. 21: 134–140.
- ^ a b c Negi, RPS, ed. (2011). Fourth Gorkha Rifles Officer's Association, Newsletter, India (in Hindi and Nepali). 34: 10.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)
References
Books
- Sodhi, H S, Brig (Retd). Gupta, Prem K, Brig (Retd). History of the 4th Gorkha Rifles (Vol IV), 1947–1971 (Delhi, 1985). The authors of 'History of the 4th Gorkha Rifles,(Vol IV)' are senior retired officers of the Regiment. It is a reliable, and much vetted, source on the contemporary history of the Regiment and its five battalions.
- Macdonell, Ronald & Marcus Macauley, compilers. History of the 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles, 1857–1937, 1&2 vol. Illustrations by Lieutenant Colonel CG Borrowman. 1857–1948 Edinburgh and London: William. Blackwood, 1940. [250 copies issued].
- Mackay, Col, JN, compilers. History of the 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles, 1938–1948, vol III. Edited and Illustrated by Lieutenant Colonel CG Borrowman. London: William Blackwood, 1952. [350 copies issued]. These are sentimental Raj regimental histories. Despite the motivated historicity of the three volume History of the 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles, these remain an excellent source on the history of Bakloh, the battalions of the Regiment, and on regimental life in the 4 Gorkha Rifles, from 1857 till 1948.
- Parker, John. (2005). The Gurkhas: The Inside Story of the World's Most Feared Soldiers. Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7553-1415-7.
Journals and newsletters
- Negi, Brig (Retd), RPS. ed. Fourth Gorkha Rifles Officer's Association, Newsletter, India. Number 1-35, (in English, Hindi, and Nepali).
The Fourth Gorkha Officers Association, Newsletters, is published annually. It includes articles, reports, and news on the activities and achievements of the Regimental Centre, units of the Regiment, 4 GR pensioners, and the Gorkha Sabha, the representative body of 4GR and other army pensioners, in Bakloh, and Dharamshala.