The 4 Gorkha Rifles is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army

Indian Army

The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...

. It was originally raised in 1857 as part of the British Indian Army

British Indian Army

The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...

, but after India's independence in 1947 it was one of six Gurkha regiments transferred to the Indian Army. The regiment was formerly known as the 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles, but after it was transferred to the Indian Army its name was changed upon India becoming a republic. Since its establishment over 150 years ago, the regiment has fought in many conflicts and earned many battle honours, including the Second Afghan War, the Boxer Rebellion, the First World War, the Second World War and most of the wars and Counter Insurgency Operations India has fought since independence.

Early history

In 1857, it was decided to augment the existing Gurkha regiments by raising another. Initially, this was known as the Extra Goorkha Regiment, before being numbered as the 19th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry. In 1861 it was finally designated as the 4th Goorkha Regiment.

The regiment's first major action came during the Second Afghan War, although in this time it also served on the North-West Frontier

North-West Frontier (military history)

The North-West Frontier was the most difficult area, from a military point of view, of the former British India in the Indian sub-continent. It remains the frontier of present-day Pakistan, extending from the Pamir Knot in the north to the Koh-i-Malik Siah in the west, and separating the...

 and during the Boxer Rebellion

Boxer Rebellion

The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...

 in 1900.

The regiment's first Victoria Cross

Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....

 came during operations in Somalia

Somaliland

Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of...

 during the Third Somaliland Campaign

Somaliland Campaign

The Somaliland Campaign was a series of military engagements fought early in the 20th century in the Horn of Africa by British and Italian colonial forces against the Dervish State of the Somali religious and nationalist leader Mohammed Abdullah Hassan...

 in 1903, when then Captain William George Walker

William George Walker

Major General William George Walker VC, CB was a British recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....

 risked his life in an attempt to save the life of another officer who had been wounded during earlier fighting. Walker's VC was, however, earning serving in the Somali Camel Corps, not the 4th Gorkhas.

First World War

During the First World War, the 1st Battalion served in France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

, participating in the battles of Givenchy

Givenchy

Givenchy is a French brand of clothing, accessories, perfumes and cosmetics with Parfums Givenchy.The house of Givenchy was founded in 1952 by designer Hubert de Givenchy and is a member of Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture et du Pret-a-Porter...

, Neuve Chapelle and Ypres

Ypres

Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...

, while the 2nd Battalion saw service in Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...

. A 3rd Battalion was authorised to be raised, but due to a clerical error, the 4th Battalion, 3rd Gurkha Rifles was raised instead of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Gurkha Rifles.

In 1924, the regiment became the 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles, with the Prince of Wales

Edward VIII of the United Kingdom

Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...

 becoming Colonel-in-Chief.

Second World War

The regiment saw service in most theatres during the Second World War, including the Middle East, North Africa

North African campaign

During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...

, Italy

Italian Campaign (World War II)

The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...

, and the Far East

South-East Asian theatre of World War II

The South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was the name given to the campaigns of the Pacific War in Burma , Ceylon, India, Thailand, Indochina, Malaya and Singapore. Conflict in the theatre began when the Empire of Japan invaded Thailand and Malaya from bases located in Indochina on December 8,...

.

The 1st Battalion served throughout the Burma Campaign

Burma Campaign

The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, Thailand, and the Indian National Army. British Commonwealth land forces were drawn primarily from...

. During the early part of the campaign the battalion fought in the Battle of Sittang Bridge

Battle of Sittang Bridge

The Battle of Sittang Bridge was part of the Burma campaign in World War II. Fought between 19 February and 23 February 1942, the battle was a decisive victory for Japan, with heavy losses for the British Indian Army, which was forced to retreat in disarray...

. It was commanded at this engagement and during the subsequent retreat into India by Lieutenant Colonel "Joe" Lentaigne, who later succeeded Major General Orde Wingate in charge of the Chindits

Chindits

The Chindits were a British India "Special Force" that served in Burma and India in 1943 and 1944 during the Burma Campaign in World War II. They were formed into long range penetration groups trained to operate deep behind Japanese lines...

. Later, during the Battle of Imphal

Battle of Imphal

The Battle of Imphal took place in the region around the city of Imphal, the capital of the state of Manipur in North-East India from March until July 1944. Japanese armies attempted to destroy the Allied forces at Imphal and invade India, but were driven back into Burma with heavy losses...

, the battalion suffered nearly 100% casualties (and an even higher percentage of losses among officers). The 2nd Battalion saw service in Iraq and Syria. It was overrun by two Bersaglieri

Bersaglieri

The Bersaglieri are a corps of the Italian Army originally created by General Alessandro La Marmora on 18 June 1836 to serve in the Piedmontese Army, later to become the Royal Italian Army...

 battalions of the Italian Trento Division storming the fortress of Mersa Matruh on 29 June 1942, but was rebuilt and subsequently fought in the Italian Campaign

Italian Campaign (World War II)

The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...

.

The 3rd Battalion was finally raised in 1940. It saw service with the Chindits in Burma. The 4th Battalion was raised in 1941. It also fought in Burma, distinguishing itself by storming Mandalay Hill

Mandalay Hill

Mandalay Hill is a 240 metre hill that is located to the northeast of the city centre of Mandalay in Burma. The city took its name from the hill. Mandalay Hill is known for its abundance of pagodas and monasteries, and has been a major pilgrimage site for Burmese Buddhists for nearly two centuries...

 in 1945.

A prominent figure who was part of the 4th Gurkha Rifles during the thirties and the Second World War was the author John Masters

John Masters

Lieutenant Colonel John Masters, DSO was an English officer in the British Indian Army and novelist. His works are noted for their treatment of the British Empire in India.-Life:...

, who participated in operations on the North West Frontier

North-West Frontier (military history)

The North-West Frontier was the most difficult area, from a military point of view, of the former British India in the Indian sub-continent. It remains the frontier of present-day Pakistan, extending from the Pamir Knot in the north to the Koh-i-Malik Siah in the west, and separating the...

, in Iraq

Anglo-Iraqi War

The Anglo-Iraqi War was the name of the British campaign against the rebel government of Rashid Ali in the Kingdom of Iraq during the Second World War. The war lasted from 2 May to 31 May 1941. The campaign resulted in the re-occupation of Iraq by British armed forces and the return to power of the...

, the Second Chindit Operation, the capture of Mandalay and at one point commanded the 3rd Battalion of the regiment. His autobiographical books "Bugles and a Tiger" and "The Road past Mandalay" portray life in the Indian Army and the 4th Gurkha Rifles during this period.

Post 1947

Following India's independence in 1947, the 4th Gurkhas was one of the Gorkha regiments to be allocated to the Indian Army. In 1950, when India became a republic, the regiment's name was changed to the 4th Gorkha Rifles as it was decided to adopt the Indian spelling.

The centre at Bakloh

Bakloh

Bakloh is a cantonment town in Chamba district in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India.The Bakloh Cantonment was established in 1866 for the 4th Gorkhas which was raised at PITHORA GARH . When this 4th Gorkhas came to Bakloh Cantt then Ist Battalion of 4th Gorkha was raised at Bakloh Cantonment...

 was abandoned as the Gorkha regimental training centres were merged. As a result, the 4th's training centre was merged with that of the 1st Gorkha Rifles and located at Subathu.

The 4th Gorkhas have distinguished themselves in the three Indo-Pakistan Wars of 1947, 1965 and 1971 being awarded battle and theatre honours for all three conflicts. The third battalion fought a fine action at Bilafond La, at heights of nearly 20000 feet (6,096 m) in 1987.

The 1st Battalion (JETHI) was awarded the COAS Unit Citation in 2002, for its performance in counter terrorism operations in Kupwara district

Kupwara District

Kupwara District is located in Jammu and Kashmir, India.-Administration:Kupwara district has 3 tehsils: Handwara, Karnah and Kupwara.This district consists of 11 blocks: Sogam, Tangdar, Teetwal, Ramhal, Kupwara, Rajwal, Kralpora, Langate, Wavoora, Trehgam and Kalaroo...

, Kashmir

Kashmir

Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...

. The Battalion was commended for neutralizing 94 Foreign Terrorists, in a number of operations in Tangdhar, Panzgam and Lolab. The Battalion suffered two fatal casualties, Capt Anirban Bandhyopadhyay and Nb Sub Deb Bahadur Thapa. They were posthumously awarded the Sena Medal and the Kirti Chakra respectively.

The Regiment is unique in the Indian Army, as the battalions do not celebrate individual Raising Days. Regimental Day (called Neuve Chapelle–Baghdad Day) is celebrated on 11 March by the entire Regiment, commemorating the 1st Battalion's entry in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in France and the 2nd Battalion's entry into Baghdad on that day (albeit in different years), during the First World War.

The Regiment derives most of its drills and standards from the British 'Greenjackets'

History of British light infantry

The History of British light infantry goes back to the early days of the British Army, when irregular troops and mercenaries added skills in light infantry fighting. From the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Army dedicated some line regiments as specific light infantry troops, were trained...

, and marches 'quickstep' at 180 paces a minute, the only Indian Army regiment to do so. The Pipe Band of the First Battalion is one of the finest in the Indian Army. The uniform and insignia are Spartan, and a healthy disdain for pomp or being 'Red' is central to the Regiment's identity and professional approach. The 4th Gorkhas are also the only Regiment in the Indian Army who wear the Lanyard (a plain Black) over the Jersey. This is again taken from the British Rifle Regiments, where only those exercising command over men wear a lanyard for the whistle. The right hand occupied by the sword, the left is free to draw the whistle - easier done from the right pocket. Many erroneously believe that lanyard is worn on the Right shoulder only by the erstwhile 'Royal' regiments, and the 4th Gurkhas do so because they were the 'Prince of Wales' Own'. This is wrong. A regiment's 'Royal' status is marked by the colour of the lanyard (Red) and the prefix 'Royal' only. Many Indian Army units have dropped their pre-independence prefix of 'Royal', but still wear the Red Lanyard in honor of their long service.

The Regiment celebrated its Sesquicentenary in 2007.

Pre First World War

• Ali Masjid
  Battle of Ali Masjid
  The Battle of Ali Masjid, which took place on 21 November 1878, was the opening battle in the Second Anglo-Afghan War between the British forces, under Lieutenant-General Sir Samuel James Browne, and the Afghan tribesmen, under Ghulam Haider Khan...
  
  
• Kabul 1879
  Battle of Kabul
  Battle of Kabul may refer to:* The Battle of Kabul , during the Muslim conquests* The Battle of Kabul , during the First Anglo-Afghan War...
  
  
• Kandahar 1880
  Battle of Kandahar
  The Battle of Kandahar, 1 September 1880, was the last major conflict of the Second Anglo-Afghan War. The battle in southern Afghanistan was fought between the British forces under command of General Roberts and the Afghan forces led by Ayub Khan, inflicting nearly 3,000 casualties in...
  
  
• Afghanistan 1878–80
• Chitral
• Waziristan 1895
• Tirah
  Tirah Campaign
  The Tirah Campaign, often referred to in contemporary British accounts as the Tirah Expedition, was an Indian frontier war in 1897–98. Tirah is a mountainous tract of country.-Rebellion:...
  
  
• Punjab Frontier
• China 1900
  Boxer Rebellion
  The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
  
  .

First World War

• Givenchy 1914
  Battle of Givenchy
  Battle of Givenchy was a battle fought during World War I as part of the First Battle of Champagne, that saw an initially advancing British force face strong opposition and counter-attack from a solidly entrenched German force around the village of Givenchy.With the French under heavy pressure at...
  
  
• Neuve Chapelle
  Battle of Neuve Chapelle
  The Battles of Neuve Chapelle and Artois was a battle in the First World War. It was a British offensive in the Artois region and broke through at Neuve-Chapelle but they were unable to exploit the advantage.The battle began on 10 March 1915...
  
  
• Ypres 1915
  Second Battle of Ypres
  The Second Battle of Ypres was the first time Germany used poison gas on a large scale on the Western Front in the First World War and the first time a former colonial force pushed back a major European power on European soil, which occurred in the battle of St...
  
  
• St. Julien
• Aubers
• Festubert 1915
• France and Flanders 1914–15
• Egypt 1916
  Sinai and Palestine Campaign
  The Sinai and Palestine Campaigns took place in the Middle Eastern Theatre of World War I. A series of battles were fought between British Empire, German Empire and Ottoman Empire forces from 26 January 1915 to 31 October 1918, when the Armistice of Mudros was signed between the Ottoman Empire and...
  
  
• Tigris 1916
  Tigris
  The Tigris River is the eastern member of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia, the other being the Euphrates. The river flows south from the mountains of southeastern Turkey through Iraq.-Geography:...
  
  
• Kut al Amara 1917
• Baghdad
• Mesopotamia 1916–18
  Mesopotamian Campaign
  The Mesopotamian campaign was a campaign in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I fought between the Allies represented by the British Empire, mostly troops from the Indian Empire, and the Central Powers, mostly of the Ottoman Empire.- Background :...
  
  
• Gallipoli 1915
  Battle of Gallipoli
  The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli, took place at the peninsula of Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during the First World War...
  
  
• N.W. Frontier India 1917
• Baluchistan 1918
  Baluchistan (Chief Commissioners Province)
  The Chief Commissioner's Province of Baluchistan was a province of British India located in the northern parts of the modern Balochistan province.- History :...
  
  .

Second World War

• Iraq 1941
• Syria 1941
  Syria-Lebanon campaign
  The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the Allied invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon, in June–July 1941, during World War II. Time Magazine referred to the fighting as a "mixed show" while it was taking place and the campaign remains little known, even...
  
  
• The Cauldron
  First Battle of El Alamein
  The First Battle of El Alamein was a battle of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War, fought between Axis forces of the Panzer Army Africa commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, and Allied forces The First Battle of El Alamein (1–27 July 1942) was a battle of the Western Desert...
  
  
• North Africa 1940–43
  North African campaign
  During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
  
  
• Trestina
  Treština
  Třeština is a village and municipality in Šumperk District in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic.-Overview:The municipality covers an area of , and has a population of 346 ....
  
  
• Monte Cedrone
• Italy 1943–45
  Italian Campaign (World War II)
  The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
  
  
• Pegu 1942
• Chindits 1944
• Bishenpur
• Shwebo
  Shwebo
  Shwebo is a city in Sagaing Division, Myanmar, located 113 km northwest of Mandalay between the Irrawaddy and the Mu rivers. The city, also called Ratanasingha , was the capital of Myanmar from 1752 to 1760 during the Konbaung period....
  
  
• Mandalay
  Mandalay
  Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
  
  
• Burma 1942–45
  Burma Campaign
  The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, Thailand, and the Indian National Army. British Commonwealth land forces were drawn primarily from...
  
  .

Post Independence

• Punch
• Gurais
  Operation Eraze
  Operation Eraze is the codename of the assault and capture of Gurais in northern Kashmir by the Indian Army during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947....
  
  
• Jammu and Kashmir 1947–48
  Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
  The India-Pakistan War of 1947-48, sometimes known as the First Kashmir War, was fought between India and Pakistan over the princely state of Kashmir and Jammu from 1947 to 1948. It was the first of four wars fought between the two newly independent nations...
  
  
• Punjab 1965
  Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
  The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India. This conflict became known as the Second Kashmir War fought by India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir, the first having been fought in 1947...
  
  
• Jammu and Kashmir 1971
  Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
  The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
  
  . COAS Unit Citation, 2002.

Pre-independence

1 Victoria Cross

Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....

1 Commander of the British Empire
10 Distinguished Service Order

Distinguished Service Order

The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...

 - 
1 Order of the British Empire

Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

 - 
1 Bar to DSO - 
24 Military Cross

Military Cross

The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....

 - 
1 Bar to MC - 
1 Member of the British Empire - 
1 French Legion of Honour - 
96 Mention in Despatches - 
9 Order of British India

Order of British India

The Order of British India was a medal and chivalric order which was bestowed by the East India Company for "long, faithful and honourable service", beginning in 1837. The Company's powers were removed after the Indian Mutiny, and the Order was incorporated into the British honours system in 1859...

 - 
15 Indian Order of Merit - 
6 IDM - 
42 Indian Distinguished Service Medal

Indian Distinguished Service Medal

The Indian Distinguished Service Medal was a military decoration awarded by the British Empire to Indian citizens serving in the Indian armed forces and police...

 - 
1 Croix De Guerre

Croix de guerre

The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...

 - 
11 Medialle Militaire - 
1 Bronze Medal for Military Valour - 
1 Medal of Saint George - 
2 Star of Nepal

Post-independence

3 Param Vishishth Seva Medal - 1 Maha Vir Chakra

Maha Vir Chakra

The Maha Vir Chakra is the second highest military decoration in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. It may be awarded posthumously. Literally Maha Veer means extraordinarily brave.-Appearance:The medal is made...

 - 1 Kirti Chakra

Kirti Chakra

The Kirti Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, including posthumous awards. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra...

 - 3 Ati Vishishtha Seva Medal - 5 Vir Chakra

Vir Chakra

Vir Chakra is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield. Award of the decoration carried with it the right to use Vr.C. as a postnominal abbreviation Vir Chakra is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield. Award of the decoration...

 - 2 Shaurya Chakra

Shaurya Chakra

The Shaurya Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, sometimes posthumously. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Vir Chakra...

 - 1 Yudh Seva Medal

Yudh Seva Medal

Yudh Seva Medal is one of India's military decorations for Wartime Distinguished Service. It is awarded for a high degree of distinguished services in an operational context. "Operation context" includes times of war, conflict, or hostilities. The award is a Wartime equivalent of Vishisht Seva...

 - 24 Sena Medals - 6 Vishishtha Seva Medals - 9 Mention in Dispatches - 40 Commendation cards.

External links

• 4 Gorkha Rifles on Bharat-Rakshak.com
• 4th Gurkha Rifles on 'www.britishempire.co.uk'.

The Gurkha Regiment