Gurkhas in The British Army

After Indian independence – and partition – in 1947 and under the Tripartite Agreement, six Gurkha regiments joined the post-independence Indian Army. Four Gurkha regiments, the 2nd, 6th, 7th, and 10th Gurkha Rifles, joined the British Army on 1 January 1948.

During the Malayan Emergency in the late 1940s, Gurkhas fought as jungle soldiers as they had done in Burma.The 1/2nd Gurkha Rifles was deployed to Brunei at the outbreak of the Brunei Revolt in 1962.After that conflict ended, the Gurkhas were transferred to Hong Kong, where they carried out security duties.The need for such centralized training establishments became apparent following India's national independence and the Training Depot Brigade of Gurkhas was established on 15 August 1951 at Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaya.In 1974 Turkey invaded Cyprus and the 10th Gurkha Rifles was sent to defend the British sovereign base area of Dhekelia.On 1 July 1994 the four rifle regiments were merged into one, the Royal Gurkha Rifles, and the three corps regiments (the Gurkha Military Police having been disbanded in 1965) were reduced to squadron strength. On 1 July 1997, the British government handed Hong Kong over to the People's Republic of China, which led to the elimination of the local British garrison. Gurkha HQ and recruit training were moved to the UK.Gurkhas undergoing an urban warfare exercise in the United States. Note the kukri on the webbing of the nearest soldier.The Royal Gurkha Rifles took part in operations in Kosovo in 1999, in UN peacekeeping operations in East Timor in 2000 and in Sierra Leone later that year.

In 2007 the Brigade of Gurkhas announced that women were allowed to join.Like their British counterparts, Gurkha women are eligible to join the Engineers, Logistics Corps, Signals and brigade band, although not infantry units.In September 2008 the High Court in London ruled that the British Government must issue clear guidance on the criteria against which Gurkhas may be considered for settlement rights in the UK. On 21 May 2009, and following a lengthy campaign by Gurkha veterans, the British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced that all Gurkha veterans who had served four years or more in the British Army before 1997 would be allowed to settle in Britain.

In 2015 Gurkhas will have served in the British Army for 200 years. This is a significant achievement, characterised by excellence and sacrifice, and one that is worthy of celebration.

A series of celebrations are being planned to mark this remarkable milestone, including Guard mounting at Buckingham Palace, the presentation of the Queen’s Truncheon to HM The Queen, Trooping of the Queen’s Truncheon to the Gurkha Statue and Guard of Honour and Memorial Service at the Gurkha Statue in June 2015

As the leading Gurkha charity, The Gurkha Welfare Trust is the main beneficiary of Gurkha 200. It will be organising a number of special events. These will include a Beating Retreat, Cocktail Party and special Dinner, at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, in association with the Brigade of Gurkhas in June 2015 to mark the occasion. Local Branches will also be organising events throughout the country