List of Brigade of Gurkhas recipients of the Victoria Cross

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

A medal in the shape of a cross hanging from a crimson red ribbon.
The Victoria Cross

The

British honours system and those of many Commonwealth nations it is the highest award a soldier can receive for actions in combat. It was established in 1856 and since then has been awarded 1,356 times, including to three recipients who were awarded the VC twice.[1]

The British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas, units composed of Nepalese soldiers—although originally led by British officers—has been a part of the army since 1815. When raised, it originally focused on conflicts in the Far East, but the transfer of Hong Kong from British to Chinese hands necessitated that the brigade move its base to the UK. A battalion is still maintained in Brunei and as at 2016, units serve in Afghanistan.[2]

Three men in 1800s-style military uniforms stand holding rifles.
Gurkha Soldiers (1896)

Since the VC was introduced it has been awarded to

First World War. When the Victoria Cross was initially established, Gurkhas, along with all other native troops of the British East India Company Army or the British Indian Army, were not eligible for the decoration and as such, until 1911, all of the Gurkha recipients of the award were British officers who were attached to Gurkha regiments.[4] Until that time the highest award that Gurkhas were eligible for was the Indian Order of Merit. Since 1911 however, of the 16 VCs awarded to men serving with Gurkha regiments, 13 have been bestowed on native Gurkhas.[3] The most recent award was made in 1965 to Rambahadur Limbu, during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.[3] Along with the Royal Green Jackets, the Gurkha regiments are among the most heavily decorated Commonwealth units.[5]

In 1950, when

Indian honours system. Under this system the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), which is India's highest military decoration for valour, is considered to be equivalent to the Victoria Cross.[6] As such only those serving in the Gurkha units of the British Army remain eligible for the Victoria Cross.[1]

Two George Cross (GC) medals have been awarded to Gurkha soldiers for acts of bravery displayed not in combat.[7] 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.[8]

Recipients

  This along with the *, indicates that the Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously.

Gurkha Brigade Victoria Cross Recipients[9]
Name Unit[note 1] Date of action Conflict Place of action
John Tytler
 001
1st King George V's Own Gurkha Rifles
 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 IndiaChoorpoorah, India[11]
Donald Macintyre
 002
2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles
 1872
Looshai Expedition
 IndiaLalgnoora, India[12]
George Channer
 001
1st King George V's Own Gurkha Rifles
 1875 Perak War MalayaPerak, Malaya[13]
John Cook 005
5th Royal Gurkha Rifles
 1878 Second Anglo-Afghan War Afghanistan
Peiwar Kotal, Afghanistan[14]
Richard Ridgeway
 008
8th Gurkha Rifles
 1879 Naga Hills expeditions IndiaKonoma, India[15]
Charles Grant 008
8th Gurkha Rifles
 1891
Manipur Expedition
 Burma
Burma[16]
Guy Boisragon
 005
5th Royal Gurkha Rifles
 1891
Hunza–Naga campaign
 India
Nilt Fort, India[17]
John Manners Smith 005
5th Royal Gurkha Rifles
 1891
Hunza–Naga campaign
 India
Nilt Fort, India[17]
William Walker 004
4th Prince of Wales' Own Gurkha Rifles
 1903
Third Somaliland Expedition
 SomalilandDaratoleh, Somaliland[18][19]
John Grant 008
8th Gurkha Rifles
 1904 British expedition to Tibet TibetGyantse Jong, Tibet[20]
Kulbir Thapa 003
3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles
 1915
First World War
 France
Fauquissart, France[21]
George Wheeler 009
9th Gurkha Rifles
 1917
First World War
 MesopotamiaShumran, Mesopotamia[22]
Karanbahadur Rana 003
3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles
 1918
First World War
 EgyptEl Kefr, Egypt[23]
Lalbahadur Thapa 002
2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles
 1943
Second World War
 TunisiaRass-es-Zouai, Tunisia[24]
Gaje Ghale 005
5th Royal Gurkha Rifles
 1943
Second World War
 Burma
Burma[25]
Michael Allmand 006
6th Gurkha Rifles
 1944*
Second World War
 Burma
Burma[26]
Tulbahadur Pun
 006
6th Gurkha Rifles
 1944
Second World War
 Burma
Burma[27]
Netrabahadur Thapa 005
5th Royal Gurkha Rifles
 1944*
Second World War
 Burma
Burma[28]
Sher Bahadur Thapa 009
9th Gurkha Rifles
 1944*
Second World War
 ItalySan Marino, Italy[29]
Agansing Rai 005
5th Royal Gurkha Rifles
 1944
Second World War
 Burma
Burma[30]
Thaman Gurung 005
5th Royal Gurkha Rifles
 1944*
Second World War
 ItalyMonte San Bartolo, Italy[31]
Frank Blaker
 009
9th Gurkha Rifles
 1944*
Second World War
 Burma
Burma[32]
Ganju Lama/Gyamtso Shangderpa 0077th Gurkha Rifles 1944
Second World War
 Burma
Burma[33]
Lachhiman Gurung 008
8th Gurkha Rifles
 1945
Second World War
 Burma
Burma[34]
Bhanbhagta Gurung 002
2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles
 1945
Second World War
 Burma
Burma[35]
Rambahadur Limbu 01010th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles 1965 Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation BorneoSarawak, Borneo[36]

Notes

  1. ^ Staff corps were created in 1861 to provide British officers for native regiments, including the Gurkhas, who were designated as "attached to" the various native groups.[10] The units are ordered by Gurkha regiment.

References

  1. ^ a b "Victoria Cross". Ministry of Defence (UK). Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Brigade of Gurkhas". British Army. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Parker 2005, pp. 391–393.
  4. ^ Parker 2005, p. 62.
  5. ^ "The world's most exclusive club". Ministry of Defence. 30 April 2007. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2007.
  6. ^ "Param Vir Chakra". Pride of India.net. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  7. ^ Parker 2005, p. xvii.
  8. ^ "Decorations, Gallantry and Distinguished Conduct medals: George Cross". UK Government. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Brigade of Gurkhas; Honours and Awards: Victoria Cross". British Army. Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Glossary: S". British Library. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
  11. ^ "No. 22176". The London Gazette. 24 August 1858. p. 3903.
  12. ^ "No. 23902". The London Gazette. 27 September 1872. p. 4489.
  13. ^ "No. 24314". The London Gazette. 14 April 1876. p. 2476.
  14. ^ "No. 24697". The London Gazette. 18 March 1879. p. 2241.
  15. ^ "No. 24843". The London Gazette. 11 May 1880. p. 2968.
  16. ^ "No. 26165". The London Gazette. 26 May 1891. p. 2805.
  17. ^ a b "No. 26306". The London Gazette. 12 July 1892. p. 4006.
  18. ^ "No. 27584". The London Gazette. 7 August 1903. p. 4976.
  19. ^ "No. 27636". The London Gazette. 15 January 1904. p. 331.
  20. ^ "No. 27758". The London Gazette. 24 January 1905. p. 574.
  21. ^ "No. 29371". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 November 1915. p. 11450.
  22. ^ "No. 30122". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 1917. p. 5702.
  23. ^ "No. 30757". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 June 1918. p. 7307.
  24. ^ "No. 36053". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 1943. p. 2719.
  25. ^ "No. 36190". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 September 1943. p. 4347.
  26. ^ "No. 36764". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 October 1944. p. 4900.
  27. ^ "No. 36785". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 November 1944. p. 5129.
  28. ^ "No. 36742". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 1944. p. 4673.
  29. ^ "No. 36860". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 December 1944. p. 5933.
  30. ^ "No. 36730". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 October 1944. p. 4569.
  31. ^ "No. 36950". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 February 1945. p. 1039.
  32. ^ "No. 36715". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 September 1944. p. 4423.
  33. ^ "No. 36690". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 September 1944. p. 4157.
  34. ^ "No. 37195". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 July 1945. p. 3861.
  35. ^ "No. 37107". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 June 1945. p. 2831.
  36. ^ "No. 43959". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 April 1966. p. 4947.

Sources

  • Parker, John (2005). The Gurkhas: The Inside Story of the World's Most Feared Soldiers. Headline Book Publishing.
    ISBN 978-0-7553-1415-7
    .

External links

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