9th Gorkha Rifles
(Redirected from
9 Gorkha Rifles
)| 9th Gorkha Rifles | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1817 – Present |
| Country |  India |
| Branch |  Indian Army |
| Type | Rifles |
| Size | 5 Battalions |
| Regimental Centre | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh |
| Motto(s) | Kafar Hunu Bhanda Marnu Niko काफर हुनु भन्दा मर्नु निको (Better to die than live like a coward) |
| Colors | Red faced yellow 1894 Dark Green; faced black |
| March | War Cry: Jai Maha Kali, Ayo Gorkhali (Hail Goddess Kali, The Gorkhas are here) |
| Decorations | 3 Victoria Cross 5 Maha Vir Chakras 17 Vir Chakras 7 Shaurya Chakras 13 Sena Medals 1 Ashoka Chakra |
| Battle honours | Post Independence
Khukris with the numeral 9 below |
The 9th Gorkha Rifles is a
11 GR
.
History
Pre-independence
The history of the 9th Gorkha Rifles dates back to 1817, when it was raised as the "Fatehgarh Levy"; this designation was changed the following year to the "Mynpoory Levy". In 1823, the unit became the 1st Battalion, 32nd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry, although this only last until 1824 when it was renamed the "63rd Regiment", and was formed as a regular unit as part of the
First Anglo-Sikh War.[citation needed
]
By 1893, the regiment became a wholly Gorkha unit of
Khas origin, accepting only those who were more closely linked to Hindu ways as compared to the Buddhist ways. In 1903, the regiment was designated as the 9th Gurkha Rifles.[2]
9 GR fought in World War I in Europe,[3] and in the inter war years took part in the operations on the North-West Frontier.[4]
Soldiers of the 9 Gorkhas formed part of the command of Brigadier General Reginald Dyer which fired into the crowd at the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.[5]
In
Burma,[8] and earned a reputation in the long range penetration operations.[citation needed
]
Post-independence
India gained its independence in 1947 and 9th Gorkha Rifles was one of six Gurkha regiments (out of 10) allocated to the
Tripartite Agreement between Britain, India and Nepal.[9][10] Since 1947 the regiment has fought in the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the 1/9 GR fought under the most demanding conditions on the Namka Chu in (Arunachal Pradesh).[citation needed
]
The battalions of the regiment were involved in the
1971 wars with Pakistan.[citation needed
]
Designations
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The regiment has existed since 1817 under the following designations:[citation needed]
- 1817–1819: Fatagarh Levy
- 1819–1824: Mianpuri Levy
- 1824–1861: 63rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry
- 1861–1885: 9th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry
- 1885–1894: 9th Regiment of Bengal Infantry
- 1894–1901: 9th (Gurkha Rifle) Bengal Infantry
- 1903–1947: 9th Gurkha Rifles
- 1950–present: 9 Gorkha Rifles
Battle honours
The battle honours of the 9th Gorkha rifles are:[11]
- Pre-Independence: Bharatpur, Sobraon, Afghanistan (1879–80), Punjab Frontier,
- World War I: La Bassee, Festubert, Armentieres, Givenchy, Neuve Chapelle, Aubers, Loos, France and Flanders, Tigris, Kut-al-Amara, Mesopotamia,
- World War II: Malaya (1941–42), Djebel El Meida, Djebel Garci, Ragoubet Souissi, North Africa (1940–43), Cassino I, Hangman's Hill, Tavoleto, San Marino, Italy (1943–45), Chindits 1944, Burma (1942–45).
- Indo-Pak Conflict 1965: Phillora, Punjab 1965
- Indo-Pak Conflict 1971: Kumarkhali, East Pakistan 1971, Jammu and Kashmir 1971, Dera Baba Nanak, Punjab 1971
Uniforms
As the 9th Regiment of Bengal Infantry red coats with yellow facings were worn. In 1894 the newly renamed 9th (Gurkha Rifles) Bengal Infantry were issued with what was to become the standard Gurkha parade and cold weather uniform of rifle green, with puttees, silver insignia, black metal buttons and black
kukris over the numeral 9. Pipers for the 1st Battalion wore a green plaid while the 2nd Battalion were granted the Duff clan tartan by a colonel of that name.[12] The broad brimmed "Kashmir" slouch hat[13] was adopted by the 9th Gurkha Rifles in July 1902.[14] It continued in use with khaki drill service dress as general wear by all ranks in winter and summer, between the two world wars.[15]
Victoria Cross recipients
- Major (later Lieutenant Colonel) George Campbell Wheeler, 2nd Battalion, 23 February 1917, River Tigris, Mesopotamia.[16]
- Temporary Major Frank Gerald Blaker, Highland Light Infantry, attached to 3rd Battalion, 9 July 1944, Taunggyi, Burma (now Myanmar).[17]
- Rifleman Sher Bahadur Thapa, 1st Battalion, 18 September 1944, San Marino, Italy.[18]
Notable members
- John Bradburne, (1921–1979), afterwards the "Vagabond of God".
- Stafford Beer, operation research theorist who served as an officer with the regiment from 1945-7.[19]
- Colonel M. N. Rai, a colonel who received the Yudh Seva Medal for bravery and Shaurya Chakra posthumously.
- Bernard Dineen, (1923-2013), afterwards an award winning journalist for The Yorkshire Post.
- Lieutenant General B. K. N. Chhibber, later governor of Punjab and administrator of Chandigarh.
- Lieutenant General Anil Kumar Bhatt, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM was Director General Military Operations (DGMO) at Army Headquarters, Commander of Chinar Corps at Srinagar (J&K) and Military Secretary at Army Headquarters.
References
- Citations
- ^ "9th Gurkha Rifles". Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and the Commonwealth. Archived from the original on 13 January 2006. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ Carman 1969, p. 210.
- ^ Parker 2005, pp. 102–103.
- ^ Punjab disturbances, April 1919; compiled from the Civil and military gazette. Lahore Civil and Military Gazette Press. 9 April 2018 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Punjab disturbances, April 1919; compiled from the Civil and military gazette. Lahore Civil and Military Gazette Press. 9 April 2018 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Cross & Gurung 2007, p. 37.
- ^ Parker 2005, pp. 164 &210.
- ^ Allen 2000, pp. 351 & 353.
- ^ Cross & Gurung 2007, pp. 169–171.
- ^ Parker 2005, p. 224.
- ^ Singh 1993.
- ^ Carman 1969, pp. 210–211.
- ISBN 0-7137-1074-8.
- ^ Carman 1969, p. 211.
- ISBN 0-85045-196-5.
- ^ Parker 2005, p. 392.
- ^ Parker 2005, p. 393.
- ^ Parker 2005, p. 210.
- ^ "Obituaries: Stafford Beer". The Telegraph. 28 August 2002. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- Bibliography
- Allen, Louis (2000) [1984]. Burma: The Longest War 1941–45. London: Phoenix Press. ISBN 1-84212-260-6.
- Carman, W. Y. (1969). Indian Army Uniforms Under the British From the 18th Century to 1947: Artillery, Engineers and Infantry. London: Morgan-Grampian. ISBN 978-0-24943-956-4.
- Cross, J.P.; Gurung, Buddhiman (2007). Gurkhas at War: Eyewitness Accounts from World War II to Iraq. London: Greenhill Books. ISBN 978-1-85367-727-4.
- Parker, John (2005). The Gurkhas: The Inside Story of the World's Most Feared Soldiers. London: Headline. ISBN 978-07553-1415-7.
- Singh, Sarbans (1993). Battle Honours of the Indian Army 1757–1971. New Delhi: Vision Books. ISBN 8170941156.
Further reading
- Chaudhuri, P. (1985). 9th Gurkha Rifles: A Regimental History, 1817–1947. Lancer International, Lancer Press. ISBN 978-1-85127-002-6.
External links
