The Gurkha Rifles
The "Gurkha Brigade" is a collective term for British army units that are composed of Nepalese soldiers. They are also famous for their ever-present kukri blade.
The first Gurkhas volunteered as mercenaries in the service of the British East India Company after the war in Nepal in 1814-1816. During the war, the British were impressed by the tenacity of the Gurkha soldiers and encouraged them to volunteer for join their armed forces.
Gurkhas served with British troops in the Pindaree War of 1817, in Bhurtbore in 1826 and the Sikh Wars in 1846 and 1848. During the Sepoy Mutiny in 1875, Gurkhas fought on the British side. The 2nd Gurkha rifles defended Hindu Rao's house for over three months, losing 327 out of 490 men. 12 Nepalese regiments also took part in the relief of Lucknow. 2nd Gurkha Rifles served in Malta during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78.
By the beginning of the 20th century the Gurkhas formed 10 Gurkha Rifle regiments. 100.000 of them fought in the First World War. They served on the battlefields of France in the Battles of Loos, Givenchy, Neuve Chapelle and Ypres; in Mesopotamia, Persia, the Suez Canal and Palestine against the Turkish advance, the Gallipoli landings, and Salonika. One detachment served with Lawrence of Arabia. The 2nd battalion of 3rd Gurkha Rifles was involved in the conquest of Baghdad.
During the inter-war years, the Gurkhas fought in the Third Afghan War.
During World War Two, the Nepalese crown granted the British military permission to recruit 20 extra battalions - 40 in total. In addition to policing duties in India, Gurkhas fought in Syria, North Africa, Italy, Greece and against the Japanese in Singapore and in the jungles of Burma. 10 Gurkha rifles became a nucleus for the Chindits. They also fought at the Battle of Imphal.
Two Gurkha columns fought in 111 Brigade during the second Chindit expedition, the 3/4 Gurkha Rifles & the 4/9 Gurkha Rifles.
