Royal Gurkha Rifles - Revision history

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{{Short description|Infantry regiment of the British Army}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = The Royal Gurkha Rifles
| image = Royal Gurkha Rifles cap badge.png
| image_size =
| caption = Cap badge
| dates = 1 July 1994 – present
| allegiance = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| branch = {{army|United Kingdom}}
| type = Rifles
| size = Two battalions Five companies
| role = *1st Battalion—[[Light Infantry]] 
*2nd Battalion—[[Air Assault]] Infantry 
*Coriano Company— [[Army Special Operations Brigade|Specialist Infantry]] 
*Falklands Company —[[Army Special Operations Brigade|Specialist Infantry]] 
*Sittang Company, Mandalay Company, Tavoleto Company—[[Opposing force|OPFOR]]
| command_structure = [[Brigade of Gurkhas]]
| current_commander =
| garrison = RHQ – [[Staff College, Camberley|Camberley]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/vo050201/text/50201w06.htm|title=House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 1 Feb 2005|accessdate=24 February 2021}}</ref> 1st Battalion – [[Shorncliffe Army Camp|Shorncliffe]] 2nd Battalion – [[Seria]], [[Brunei]] Coriano Company – Aldershot Garrison Falklands Company – Aldershot Garrison Sittang Company – Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Mandalay Company – Infantry Battle School Tavoleto Company – Land Warfare Centre
| ceremonial_chief = [[King Charles III|The King]]
| ceremonial_chief_label = Colonel-in-Chief
| colonel_of_the_regiment = [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] [[Gerald Strickland (British Army officer)|Gerald M. Strickland]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|DSO|MBE}}
| nickname = ''The Gurkhas''
| motto =
| colors =
| identification_symbol_2 = [http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb309/hammersfan_01/Tartans/Douglas.gif Douglas (pipers trews and plaids)] From 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles
| identification_symbol_2_label = Tartan
| identification_symbol_3 = RGR
| identification_symbol_3_label = Abbreviation
| march = Quick – ''Bravest of the Brave'' Double Past – ''[[The Keel Row|Keel Row]]'' Slow (band) – ''[[God Bless the Prince of Wales]]'' Slow (pipes and drums) – ''The Garb of Auld Gaul''
| mascot =
| battles =
| identification_symbol = [[Image:Gurkhas TRF.svg|100px]]
| identification_symbol_label = Tactical Recognition Flash
| notable_commanders =
| anniversaries = [[Battle of Meiktila|Meiktila]] (1 March) Medicina (16 April) Regimental Birthday (1 July) [[Battle of Gallipoli|Gallipoli]] (7 August) [[Indian Mutiny|Delhi Day]] (14 September)
}}

'''The Royal Gurkha Rifles''' ('''RGR''') is a [[rifle regiment]] of the [[British Army]], forming part of the [[Brigade of Gurkhas]]. Unlike other regiments in the [[British Army]], RGR soldiers are recruited from [[Nepal]], which is neither a dependent territory of the [[United Kingdom]] nor a member of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]].

==History==
{{anchor | History }}
{{See also | British Indian Army | Gorkha regiments_(India) | l2 = Gorkha regiments history | Brigade_of_Gurkhas#History | l3= Brigade of Gurkhas history | Gurkhas }}

The regiment was formed as the sole [[Gurkha]] [[infantry|infantry regiment]] of the British Army following the consolidation of the four separate Gurkha regiments in 1994:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gurkhabde.com/brigade-of-gurkhas/|title=Serving Brigade of Gurkhas|date=13 February 2013 |access-date=26 April 2022}}</ref>

* [[2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)]]
* [[6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles]]
* [[7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles]]
* [[10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles]]

The amalgamations took place as follows:
* 1st Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles; formed by the consolidation of the 1st Bn, '''2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles''' and 1st Bn, '''6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles'''.
* 2nd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles; formed by renaming the 1st Bn, '''7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles'''.
* 3rd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles; formed by renaming the 1st Bn, '''10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles'''.

The 3rd Battalion was consolidated with the 2nd Battalion in 1996 as part of run down of British forces in [[Hong Kong]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rgrra.com/digitalPubs/nepal/files/assets/basic-html/page4.html|title=Regimental History|access-date=26 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510125416/http://www.rgrra.com/digitalPubs/nepal/files/assets/basic-html/page4.html|archive-date=2016-05-10|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Gurkhas in general and the direct predecessors of the Royal Gurkha Rifles in particular are considered to be among the finest infantrymen in the world, as is evidenced by the high regard they are held in for both their fighting skill, and their smartness of turnout on parade.<ref>''The Gurkhas'', Byron Farwell, W.W. Norton, 1984</ref>

In December 1995, Lieutenant-Colonel Bijaykumar Rawat became the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, the first Nepalese to become a battalion commander in the RGR. He oversaw the departure of the battalion from [[Hong Kong]] just before that city's transfer to [[People's Republic of China|Chinese]] control, and the battalion's relocation to [[Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Church Crookham]] in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ayo-gorkhali.org/index.php/timeline/last-days-of-the-raj/1950s-new-ideas|title=New Ideas: Gurkha Signals, Engineers & 'British' Officers|access-date=26 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426234656/http://www.ayo-gorkhali.org/index.php/timeline/last-days-of-the-raj/1950s-new-ideas|archive-date=26 April 2022}}</ref>

Twice during its most recent Brunei posting the 2nd Battalion was deployed as the '''Afghanistan Roulement Infantry Battalion''', while the 1st Battalion deployed as part of 52 Infantry Brigade in late 2007. During this tour, [[Cornet (rank)|Cornet]] Harry Wales ([[Prince Harry]]) was attached for a period to the 1st Battalion as a [[Forward Air Controller]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gwt.org.uk/news/royal-family-gurkhas/#:~:text=Prince%20Harry%20famously%20served%20alongside,no%20safer%20place%20to%20be.%E2%80%9D|title=9 times The Royal Family showed their appreciation for The Gurkhas|publisher=The Gurkha Welfare Trust|access-date=28 July 2022}}</ref>

Under Army 2020, the regiment was intended to provide two light role battalions, rotating between Brunei and the UK, with their higher unit as 11th Infantry Brigade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/Army2020_Report.pdf|title=Army 2020 Report|access-date=26 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610215557/http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/Army2020_Report.pdf|archive-date=10 June 2022}}</ref> However, in June 2015, the 2nd Battalion, then based in the UK, was reassigned to form part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, in the air assault infantry role.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/new-role-for-gurkhas-in-38135/|title=Gurkhas from 2 Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles based at Sir John Moore Barracks in Folkestone join army's 16 Air Assault Brigade based in Colchester|work=Kent Online|date=5 June 2015 |access-date=19 November 2022}}</ref>

In 2018, the UK Government announced that it intended to recruit more than 800 new posts to the Brigade of Gurkhas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gurkhabde.com/did-you-transfer-out-of-the-brigade-of-gurkhas/|title=Did you transfer out of the Brigade of Gurkhas? |date=2 August 2016 |publisher=Gurkha Brigade|access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref> Approximately 300 of these are planned for the Royal Gurkha Rifles, which was to see the formation of a new battalion planned for the [[Infantry of the British Army#Operations|specialist infantry role]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.janes.com/article/81826/uk-to-recruit-more-gurkha-soldiers |title=UK to recruit more Gurkha soldiers |last=Ripley |first=Tim |date=18 July 2018 |website=Jane's 360 |access-date=20 July 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718134218/http://www.janes.com/article/81826/uk-to-recruit-more-gurkha-soldiers |archive-date=18 July 2018 }}</ref> On 11 March 2019, the Minister for the Armed Forces confirmed that the 3rd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles would be reestablished, with recruitment starting in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-gurkha-battalion-to-be-established-as-brigade-grows|title=New Gurkha battalion to be established as brigade grows |publisher=British Ministry of Defence|access-date=11 March 2022}}</ref> The battalion was reformed on 31 January 2020, to initially be based at Shorncliffe before moving to Aldershot.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gurkhabde.com/the-third-battalion-the-royal-gurkha-rifles-reformation-parade/ |title=The Third Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles reformation parade |author= |date=3 February 2020 |website=Gurkha Brigade Association |access-date=9 April 2020 }}</ref> However, following the revised ''[[Future Soldier (British Army)]]'' reorganisation, the formation of the 3rd Battalion was cancelled, with instead a number of independent companies established to reinforce units across the British Army. The first formed unit, Coriano Company, was subsequently followed by a second, Falklands Company, which was attached to 2nd Battalion, [[Ranger Regiment (United Kingdom)|The Rangers]].<ref name=falklands>{{cite web |url=https://www.gurkhabde.com/f-falklands-company-formation-parade-18th-november-2021/ |title=F (Falklands) Company, Formation Parade 18th November 2021 |author= |date=30 November 2021 |website=Gurkha Brigade Association |publisher=Brigade of Gurkhas |access-date=3 December 2021 |quote=}}</ref>

==Organisation==
The first battalion (1 RGR) is based at Sir John Moore Barracks, [[Shorncliffe Army Camp|Shorncliffe]], near [[Folkestone]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cooper|first=Tim|title=Trainee Gurkhas start 'new journey' after Catterick training|url=https://www.forces.net/news/trainee-gurkhas-start-new-journey-after-catterick-training|access-date=2021-11-21|website=Forces Network|language=en}}</ref> in [[Kent]] as part of [[16 Air Assault Brigade]], and is available for deployment to most areas in [[Europe]] and [[Africa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/new-role-for-gurkhas-in-38135/|title=Gurkhas from 2 Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles based at Sir John Moore Barracks in Folkestone join army's 16 Air Assault Brigade based in Colchester|publisher=Kent on line|date=5 June 2015|access-date=9 September 2022}}</ref>

The second battalion (2 RGR) is based at the [[British Military Garrison Brunei|British garrison]] in [[Brunei]] as part of Britain's commitment to maintaining a military presence in [[Southeast Asia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oD5fZGwiX8|title=Royal Gurkha Rifles return home|website=[[YouTube]] |date=17 November 2011|access-date=26 April 2022}}</ref>

1 RGR and 2 RGR rotate between Brunei and Folkestone.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gurkhabde.com/the-royal-gurkha-rifles/ |title=The Royal Gurkha Rifles |author= |date=22 February 2020 |website=gurkhabde.com |publisher=Gurkha Brigade Association |access-date=22 February 2020 }}</ref>

Coriano Company and Falklands Company operate as part of the [[Army Special Operations Brigade]] providing training, mentoring and operational support for indigenous forces in partner nations, and is based in Aldershot Garrison.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2019/03/new-specialist-gurkha-battalion-established/|title=New specialist Gurkha battalion established|date=14 March 2019|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=31 March 2022}}</ref>

===Training companies===
In addition to the operational battalions, three further units are cap badged as Royal Gurkha Rifles:

*Gurkha Company (Sittang)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gurkhabde.com/category/sittang/|title=Sittang|publisher=Gurkha Brigade Association|access-date=29 August 2022}}</ref>
*Gurkha Wing (Mandalay)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gurkhabde.com/category/mandalay/|title=Mandalay|publisher=Gurkha Brigade Association|access-date=29 August 2022}}</ref>
*Gurkha Company (Tavoleto)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gurkhabde.com/gurkha-company-tavoleto-warminster-parade/|title=Gurkha Company (Tavoleto) Warminster Parade|date=31 August 2018 |publisher=Gurkha Brigade Association|access-date=8 January 2022}}</ref>

These three are formed as operational training units at the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]], the [[Infantry Battle School]] and the [[Waterloo Lines|Land Warfare Centre]], to provide [[opposing force]]s for realistic battle simulation.

===Gurkha clerks===
Prior to 2011, administrative support for the entire Brigade of Gurkhas was provided by specially trained personnel called '''Gurkha clerks''', who wore the cap badge of the Royal Gurkha Rifles. In June 2011, the Gurkha clerks were amalgamated into a single [[Company (military unit)|company]] sized unit called the '''Gurkha Staff and Personnel Support Company''' (GSPS), which was incorporated as part of the [[Adjutant General's Corps]]. As with the other Gurkha support units ([[Queen's Gurkha Engineers]], [[Queen's Gurkha Signals]], [[Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment]]), the GSPS received its own cap badge based on the badge of its parent corps.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gurkhabde.com/gurkha-staff-and-personnel-support/ |title=Gurkha Staff and Personnel Support |author= |website=Brigade of Gurkhas Association |date=4 December 2014 |access-date=25 July 2018 }}</ref>

==Ranks==

Upon joining the British Army the RGR's predecessor regiments adopted British rank titles (e.g. sergeant and corporal) instead of the Indian Army names used before (e.g. havildar and naik). Similarly, the regiments' Viceroy Commissioned Officers, who were neither commissioned officers nor non-commissioned officers but filled most of the junior officer positions in a battalion, had their titles changed to (King's) Queen's Gurkha Officer (QGO), e.g. lieutenant (QGO), captain (QGO), major (QGO) instead of the Indian Army ranks of jemadar, subedar, and subedar-major.<ref>Mike Chappell, "The Gurkhas," Osprey Publishing, 1994, pp 32, 42, 44, 56, and 61.</ref> At the same time, some RGR Gurkha officers had a Queen's Commission; they often had a (GCO) suffix after their rank.<ref>Major General (Ret'd) JC Lawrence, "Gurkha - 25 years of The Royal Gurkha Rifles," Unicorn Publishing Group, 2019, pp 206 and 214.</ref>

Subsequently, on 17 June 2008, the London Gazette published a Supplement that effectively abolished the QGO system by listing every serving QGO officer with their new commissioned rank (e.g. captain (QGO) became captain); the (QGO) and (GCO) suffixes disappeared.<ref>Lawrence, pp 208, 209, and 279</ref> Thus, serving Gurkhas, who previously would have become QGO, are now given a British commission and described as "Late Entry." Direct entry officers can be either British or Nepali (occasionally); they follow the normal British Army training for all direct entry infantry officers. A significant addition to the normal direct entry training for British RGR officers is that they will carry out Nepali language training in Nepal, which culminates in a month-long hike through the Nepalese countryside both to practise their language skills and learn about the country from which their soldiers are recruited.<ref>Lawrence, pp 13, 103, and 105.</ref>

==Notable soldiers==
[[Corporal]] [[Dip Prasad Pun]] of the 1st battalion (1 RGR) was awarded the [[Conspicuous Gallantry Cross]] for an act of bravery during the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]] in 2010. He alone defended his outpost against a force of up to 12 [[Taliban|Taliban fighters]]. He fired more than 400 rounds, 17 grenades, and one mine. He resorted to fighting with his machine gun tripod after his ammunition had run out.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131105200712/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-252398009.html "The Outstanding Examples Of A Generation - The OP Honours Recipients"]. London. States News Service. March 25, 2011. Retrieved March 5, 2013.{{Subscription required|via=[[HighBeam Research]]}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131105200724/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2307813881.html "The land of the brave"]. Kathmandu. ''The Kathmandu Post''. April 1, 2011. Retrieved March 5, 2013.{{Subscription required|via=[[HighBeam Research]]}}</ref>

==Battle honours==
The battle honours of the Royal Gurkha Rifles are as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rgrra.com/index.php/battle-honours|title=Battle Honours|access-date=26 April 2022}}</ref>

* Amboor, [[Carnatic Wars|Carnatic]], [[Anglo-Mysore Wars|Mysore 1792]], [[Battle of Assaye|Assaye 1803]], [[Second Anglo-Burmese War|Ava 1852]], [[Third Anglo-Burmese War|Burma 1885–87]], [[Battle of Bharatpur|Bhurtpore]], [[Battle of Aliwal|Aliwal]], [[Battle of Sobraon|Sobraon]], [[Delhi 1857]], [[Kabul 1879]], [[Second Anglo-Afghan War|Afghanistan 1878–80]], [[Battle of Kandahar (1880)|Kandahar 1880]], [[Tirah Campaign|Tirah]], [[Battle of Gujrat|Punjab Frontier]], [[Third Afghan War|Afghanistan 1919]]
* '''First World War''': [[Battle of La Bassée|La Bassée 1914]], Festubert 1914–15, Givenchy 1914, Neuve Chapelle, Aubers, Loos, France and Flanders 1914–15, Egypt 1915, Tigris 1916, Kut al Amara 1917, Baghdad, Mesopotamia 1916–18, Persia 1918, Baluchistan 1918, [[Landing at Helles|Helles]], [[Battle of Krithia|Krithia]], [[Landing at Suvla|Suvla]], [[Battle of Sari Bair|Sari Bair]], [[Gallipoli campaign|Gallipoli 1915]], Suez Canal, Egypt 1915–16, Khan Baghdadi, [[Mesopotamian campaign|Mesopotamia 1916–18]], Persia 1916–1918, North West Frontier India 1915–17, [[Egypt|Egypt 1915]], Megiddo, Sharon, Palestine 1918, Shaiba, Kut al Amara 1915–17, Ctesiphon, Defence of Kut al Amara, Baghdad, Sharqat, Mesopotamia 1915–18
* '''The Second World War''': Tobruk 1942, El Alamein, Akarit, Tunis, Cassino 1, Poggio Del Grillo, Gothic Line, Tavoleto, Coriano, Santacangelo, Monte Chicco, Bologna, Medicina, Italy 1944-45, Jitra, Slim River, Sittang 1942, 1945, Kyaukse 1942, 1945, North Arakan, Imphal, Tuitum, Bishenpur, Tengnoupal, Shwebo, Kyaukmyaung Bridgehead, Mandalay, Myinmu Bridgehead, Fort Dufferin, Meiktila, Irrawaddy, Rangoon Road, Chindits 1943,44 & 45, Tamandu, Maymyo
* [[Falklands War]]

==Lineage==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|+Lineage
|-
| width="33%" rowspan="4" align="center" | [[The Royal Gurkha Rifles]]
| width="33%" align="center"| The [[2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)]]
| width="33%" align="center"| The Sirmoor Battalion
|-
| width="33%" align="center"| The [[6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles]]
| width="33%" align="center"| The Cuttack Legion
|-
| width="33%" align="center"| The [[7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles]]
| width="33%" align="center"| Assam Sebundy Corps
|-
| width="33%" align="center"| The [[10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles]]
| width="33%" align="center"| 14th Battalion of Coast Sepoys<ref>{{cite web |url=http://10gr.com/html/History.htm |title=A short history of the 10th Princess Mary's own Gurkha Rifles |publisher=10gr.com |access-date=1 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007175146/http://www.10gr.com/html/History.htm |archive-date=7 October 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|}

==Alliances==
*{{IND}}: [[Para (Indian Special Forces)]]/ [[Special Frontier Force]]
*{{CAN}}: [[The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada]]
*{{NZL}}: [[Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment]]
*{{MAS}}: [[Royal Malay Regiment]] (Elite Parachute Division)
*{{BRU}}: [[Gurkha Reserve Unit]]
*{{SIN}}: [[Gurkha Contingent]]

==See also==
* [[Gorkha regiments (India)#History|History and origin of Gurkha regiments]]
* [[Gorkha regiments (India)]], 39 Gorkha battalions serving in 7 Gorkha regiments
* [[Gurkha Contingent|Gurkha Contingent (Singapore)]], a line department of Singapore police
* [[Gurkha Reserve Unit|Gurkha Reserve Unit (Brunei)]], special guard force
* [[Kukri]]
* [[Military Forces Based in Brunei]]
* [[Queen's Truncheon]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/royal-gurkha-rifles/ The Royal Gurkha Rifles]
* [https://www.gurkhabde.com/the-royal-gurkha-rifles/ The Royal Gurkha Rifles Gurkha Brigade Association]

{{s-start}}
{{order of precedence |
before= [[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|The Parachute Regiment]] |
title= [[British Army Order of Precedence|Infantry Order of Precedence]]|
after= [[The Rifles]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{British Army Infantry Regiments}}
{{British Infantry}}
{{Gurkha|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Border guards]]
[[Category:Brigade of Gurkhas]]
[[Category:Gurkhas]]
[[Category:Infantry regiments of the British Army|Gurkha]]
[[Category:Rifle regiments]]
[[Category:Rifle regiments of the British Army]]
[[Category:Royal Gurkha Rifles]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1994]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the United Kingdom in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:18, 2 December 2022
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	{{See also \| British Indian Army \| Gorkha regiments_(India) \| l2 = Gorkha regiments history \| Brigade_of_Gurkhas#History \| l3= Brigade of Gurkhas history \| Gurkhas }}		{{See also \| British Indian Army \| Gorkha regiments_(India) \| l2 = Gorkha regiments history \| Brigade_of_Gurkhas#History \| l3= Brigade of Gurkhas history \| Gurkhas }}

	The regiment was formed as the sole [[Gurkha]] [[infantry\|infantry regiment]] of the British Army following the consolidation of the four separate Gurkha regiments in 1994:<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gurkhabde.com/brigade-of-gurkhas/\|title=Serving Brigade of Gurkhas\|date=13 February 2013 \|access-date=26 April ~~2022~~}}</ref>		The regiment was formed as the sole [[Gurkha]] [[infantry\|infantry regiment]] of the British Army following the consolidation of the four separate Gurkha regiments in 1994:<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gurkhabde.com/brigade-of-gurkhas/\|title=Serving Brigade of Gurkhas\|date=13 February 2013 \|access-date=26 April 2014}}</ref>

	* [[2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)]]		* [[2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)]]
Line 59:		Line 59:
	The Gurkhas in general and the direct predecessors of the Royal Gurkha Rifles in particular are considered to be among the finest infantrymen in the world, as is evidenced by the high regard they are held in for both their fighting skill, and their smartness of turnout on parade.<ref>''The Gurkhas'', Byron Farwell, W.W. Norton, 1984</ref>		The Gurkhas in general and the direct predecessors of the Royal Gurkha Rifles in particular are considered to be among the finest infantrymen in the world, as is evidenced by the high regard they are held in for both their fighting skill, and their smartness of turnout on parade.<ref>''The Gurkhas'', Byron Farwell, W.W. Norton, 1984</ref>

	In December 1995, Lieutenant-Colonel Bijaykumar Rawat became the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, the first Nepalese to become a battalion commander in the RGR. He oversaw the departure of the battalion from [[Hong Kong]] just before that city's transfer to [[People's Republic of China\|Chinese]] control, and the battalion's relocation to [[Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Church Crookham]] in 1996.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.ayo-gorkhali.org/index.php/timeline/last-days-of-the-raj/1950s-new-ideas\|title=New Ideas: Gurkha Signals, Engineers & 'British' Officers\|access-date=26 April 2014\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426234656/http://www.ayo-gorkhali.org/index.php/timeline/last-days-of-the-raj/1950s-new-ideas\|archive-date=26 April ~~2022~~}}</ref>		In December 1995, Lieutenant-Colonel Bijaykumar Rawat became the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, the first Nepalese to become a battalion commander in the RGR. He oversaw the departure of the battalion from [[Hong Kong]] just before that city's transfer to [[People's Republic of China\|Chinese]] control, and the battalion's relocation to [[Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Church Crookham]] in 1996.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.ayo-gorkhali.org/index.php/timeline/last-days-of-the-raj/1950s-new-ideas\|title=New Ideas: Gurkha Signals, Engineers & 'British' Officers\|access-date=26 April 2014\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426234656/http://www.ayo-gorkhali.org/index.php/timeline/last-days-of-the-raj/1950s-new-ideas\|archive-date=26 April 2014}}</ref>

	Twice during its most recent Brunei posting the 2nd Battalion was deployed as the '''Afghanistan Roulement Infantry Battalion''', while the 1st Battalion deployed as part of 52 Infantry Brigade in late 2007. During this tour, [[Cornet (rank)\|Cornet]] Harry Wales ([[Prince Harry]]) was attached for a period to the 1st Battalion as a [[Forward Air Controller]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.gwt.org.uk/news/royal-family-gurkhas/#:~:text=Prince%20Harry%20famously%20served%20alongside,no%20safer%20place%20to%20be.%E2%80%9D\|title=9 times The Royal Family showed their appreciation for The Gurkhas\|publisher=The Gurkha Welfare Trust\|access-date=28 July ~~2022~~}}</ref>		Twice during its most recent Brunei posting the 2nd Battalion was deployed as the '''Afghanistan Roulement Infantry Battalion''', while the 1st Battalion deployed as part of 52 Infantry Brigade in late 2007. During this tour, [[Cornet (rank)\|Cornet]] Harry Wales ([[Prince Harry]]) was attached for a period to the 1st Battalion as a [[Forward Air Controller]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.gwt.org.uk/news/royal-family-gurkhas/#:~:text=Prince%20Harry%20famously%20served%20alongside,no%20safer%20place%20to%20be.%E2%80%9D\|title=9 times The Royal Family showed their appreciation for The Gurkhas\|publisher=The Gurkha Welfare Trust\|access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref>

	Under Army 2020, the regiment was intended to provide two light role battalions, rotating between Brunei and the UK, with their higher unit as 11th Infantry Brigade.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/Army2020_Report.pdf\|title=Army 2020 Report\|access-date=26 April 2014\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610215557/http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/Army2020_Report.pdf\|archive-date=10 June ~~2022~~}}</ref> However, in June 2015, the 2nd Battalion, then based in the UK, was reassigned to form part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, in the air assault infantry role.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/new-role-for-gurkhas-in-38135/\|title=Gurkhas from 2 Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles based at Sir John Moore Barracks in Folkestone join army's 16 Air Assault Brigade based in Colchester\|work=Kent Online\|date=5 June 2015 \|access-date=19 November ~~2022~~}}</ref>		Under Army 2020, the regiment was intended to provide two light role battalions, rotating between Brunei and the UK, with their higher unit as 11th Infantry Brigade.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/Army2020_Report.pdf\|title=Army 2020 Report\|access-date=26 April 2014\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610215557/http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/Army2020_Report.pdf\|archive-date=10 June 2014}}</ref> However, in June 2015, the 2nd Battalion, then based in the UK, was reassigned to form part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, in the air assault infantry role.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/new-role-for-gurkhas-in-38135/\|title=Gurkhas from 2 Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles based at Sir John Moore Barracks in Folkestone join army's 16 Air Assault Brigade based in Colchester\|work=Kent Online\|date=5 June 2015 \|access-date=19 November 2015}}</ref>

	In 2018, the UK Government announced that it intended to recruit more than 800 new posts to the Brigade of Gurkhas.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gurkhabde.com/did-you-transfer-out-of-the-brigade-of-gurkhas/\|title=Did you transfer out of the Brigade of Gurkhas? \|date=2 August 2016 \|publisher=Gurkha Brigade\|access-date=22 December ~~2022~~}}</ref> Approximately 300 of these are planned for the Royal Gurkha Rifles, which was to see the formation of a new battalion planned for the [[Infantry of the British Army#Operations\|specialist infantry role]].<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.janes.com/article/81826/uk-to-recruit-more-gurkha-soldiers \|title=UK to recruit more Gurkha soldiers \|last=Ripley \|first=Tim \|date=18 July 2018 \|website=Jane's 360 \|access-date=20 July 2018 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718134218/http://www.janes.com/article/81826/uk-to-recruit-more-gurkha-soldiers \|archive-date=18 July 2018 }}</ref> On 11 March 2019, the Minister for the Armed Forces confirmed that the 3rd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles would be reestablished, with recruitment starting in 2019.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-gurkha-battalion-to-be-established-as-brigade-grows\|title=New Gurkha battalion to be established as brigade grows \|publisher=British Ministry of Defence\|access-date=11 March ~~2022~~}}</ref> The battalion was reformed on 31 January 2020, to initially be based at Shorncliffe before moving to Aldershot.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.gurkhabde.com/the-third-battalion-the-royal-gurkha-rifles-reformation-parade/ \|title=The Third Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles reformation parade \|author=<!--Not stated--> \|date=3 February 2020 \|website=Gurkha Brigade Association \|access-date=9 April 2020 }}</ref> However, following the revised ''[[Future Soldier (British Army)]]'' reorganisation, the formation of the 3rd Battalion was cancelled, with instead a number of independent companies established to reinforce units across the British Army. The first formed unit, Coriano Company, was subsequently followed by a second, Falklands Company, which was attached to 2nd Battalion, [[Ranger Regiment (United Kingdom)\|The Rangers]].<ref name=falklands>{{cite web \|url=https://www.gurkhabde.com/f-falklands-company-formation-parade-18th-november-2021/ \|title=F (Falklands) Company, Formation Parade 18th November 2021 \|author=<!--Not stated--> \|date=30 November 2021 \|website=Gurkha Brigade Association \|publisher=Brigade of Gurkhas \|access-date=3 December 2021 \|quote=}}</ref>		In 2018, the UK Government announced that it intended to recruit more than 800 new posts to the Brigade of Gurkhas.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gurkhabde.com/did-you-transfer-out-of-the-brigade-of-gurkhas/\|title=Did you transfer out of the Brigade of Gurkhas? \|date=2 August 2016 \|publisher=Gurkha Brigade\|access-date=22 December 2016}}</ref> Approximately 300 of these are planned for the Royal Gurkha Rifles, which was to see the formation of a new battalion planned for the [[Infantry of the British Army#Operations\|specialist infantry role]].<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.janes.com/article/81826/uk-to-recruit-more-gurkha-soldiers \|title=UK to recruit more Gurkha soldiers \|last=Ripley \|first=Tim \|date=18 July 2018 \|website=Jane's 360 \|access-date=20 July 2018 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718134218/http://www.janes.com/article/81826/uk-to-recruit-more-gurkha-soldiers \|archive-date=18 July 2018 }}</ref> On 11 March 2019, the Minister for the Armed Forces confirmed that the 3rd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles would be reestablished, with recruitment starting in 2019.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-gurkha-battalion-to-be-established-as-brigade-grows\|title=New Gurkha battalion to be established as brigade grows \|publisher=British Ministry of Defence\|access-date=11 March 2019}}</ref> The battalion was reformed on 31 January 2020, to initially be based at Shorncliffe before moving to Aldershot.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.gurkhabde.com/the-third-battalion-the-royal-gurkha-rifles-reformation-parade/ \|title=The Third Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles reformation parade \|author=<!--Not stated--> \|date=3 February 2020 \|website=Gurkha Brigade Association \|access-date=9 April 2020 }}</ref> However, following the revised ''[[Future Soldier (British Army)]]'' reorganisation, the formation of the 3rd Battalion was cancelled, with instead a number of independent companies established to reinforce units across the British Army. The first formed unit, Coriano Company, was subsequently followed by a second, Falklands Company, which was attached to 2nd Battalion, [[Ranger Regiment (United Kingdom)\|The Rangers]].<ref name=falklands>{{cite web \|url=https://www.gurkhabde.com/f-falklands-company-formation-parade-18th-november-2021/ \|title=F (Falklands) Company, Formation Parade 18th November 2021 \|author=<!--Not stated--> \|date=30 November 2021 \|website=Gurkha Brigade Association \|publisher=Brigade of Gurkhas \|access-date=3 December 2021 \|quote=}}</ref>

	==Organisation==		==Organisation==
	The first battalion (1 RGR) is based at Sir John Moore Barracks, [[Shorncliffe Army Camp\|Shorncliffe]], near [[Folkestone]]<ref>{{Cite web\|last=Cooper\|first=Tim\|title=Trainee Gurkhas start 'new journey' after Catterick training\|url=https://www.forces.net/news/trainee-gurkhas-start-new-journey-after-catterick-training\|access-date=2021-11-21\|website=Forces Network\|language=en}}</ref> in [[Kent]] as part of [[16 Air Assault Brigade]], and is available for deployment to most areas in [[Europe]] and [[Africa]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/new-role-for-gurkhas-in-38135/\|title=Gurkhas from 2 Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles based at Sir John Moore Barracks in Folkestone join army's 16 Air Assault Brigade based in Colchester\|publisher=Kent on line\|date=5 June 2015\|access-date=9 September ~~2022~~}}</ref>		The first battalion (1 RGR) is based at Sir John Moore Barracks, [[Shorncliffe Army Camp\|Shorncliffe]], near [[Folkestone]]<ref>{{Cite web\|last=Cooper\|first=Tim\|title=Trainee Gurkhas start 'new journey' after Catterick training\|url=https://www.forces.net/news/trainee-gurkhas-start-new-journey-after-catterick-training\|access-date=2021-11-21\|website=Forces Network\|language=en}}</ref> in [[Kent]] as part of [[16 Air Assault Brigade]], and is available for deployment to most areas in [[Europe]] and [[Africa]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/new-role-for-gurkhas-in-38135/\|title=Gurkhas from 2 Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles based at Sir John Moore Barracks in Folkestone join army's 16 Air Assault Brigade based in Colchester\|publisher=Kent on line\|date=5 June 2015\|access-date=9 September 2016}}</ref>

	The second battalion (2 RGR) is based at the [[British Military Garrison Brunei\|British garrison]] in [[Brunei]] as part of Britain's commitment to maintaining a military presence in [[Southeast Asia]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oD5fZGwiX8\|title=Royal Gurkha Rifles return home\|website=[[YouTube]] \|date=17 November 2011\|access-date=26 April ~~2022~~}}</ref>		The second battalion (2 RGR) is based at the [[British Military Garrison Brunei\|British garrison]] in [[Brunei]] as part of Britain's commitment to maintaining a military presence in [[Southeast Asia]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oD5fZGwiX8\|title=Royal Gurkha Rifles return home\|website=[[YouTube]] \|date=17 November 2011\|access-date=26 April 2014}}</ref>

	1 RGR and 2 RGR rotate between Brunei and Folkestone.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.gurkhabde.com/the-royal-gurkha-rifles/ \|title=The Royal Gurkha Rifles \|author=<!--Not stated--> \|date=22 February 2020 \|website=gurkhabde.com \|publisher=Gurkha Brigade Association \|access-date=22 February 2020 }}</ref>		1 RGR and 2 RGR rotate between Brunei and Folkestone.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.gurkhabde.com/the-royal-gurkha-rifles/ \|title=The Royal Gurkha Rifles \|author=<!--Not stated--> \|date=22 February 2020 \|website=gurkhabde.com \|publisher=Gurkha Brigade Association \|access-date=22 February 2020 }}</ref>

	Coriano Company and Falklands Company operate as part of the [[Army Special Operations Brigade]] providing training, mentoring and operational support for indigenous forces in partner nations, and is based in Aldershot Garrison.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2019/03/new-specialist-gurkha-battalion-established/\|title=New specialist Gurkha battalion established\|date=14 March 2019\|publisher=Ministry of Defence\|access-date=31 March ~~2022~~}}</ref>		Coriano Company and Falklands Company operate as part of the [[Army Special Operations Brigade]] providing training, mentoring and operational support for indigenous forces in partner nations, and is based in Aldershot Garrison.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2019/03/new-specialist-gurkha-battalion-established/\|title=New specialist Gurkha battalion established\|date=14 March 2019\|publisher=Ministry of Defence\|access-date=31 March 2019}}</ref>

	===Training companies===		===Training companies===
	In addition to the operational battalions, three further units are cap badged as Royal Gurkha Rifles:		In addition to the operational battalions, three further units are cap badged as Royal Gurkha Rifles:

	*Gurkha Company (Sittang)<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gurkhabde.com/category/sittang/\|title=Sittang\|publisher=Gurkha Brigade Association\|access-date=29 August ~~2022~~}}</ref>		*Gurkha Company (Sittang)<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gurkhabde.com/category/sittang/\|title=Sittang\|publisher=Gurkha Brigade Association\|access-date=29 August 2018}}</ref>
	*Gurkha Wing (Mandalay)<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gurkhabde.com/category/mandalay/\|title=Mandalay\|publisher=Gurkha Brigade Association\|access-date=29 August ~~2022~~}}</ref>		*Gurkha Wing (Mandalay)<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gurkhabde.com/category/mandalay/\|title=Mandalay\|publisher=Gurkha Brigade Association\|access-date=29 August 2018}}</ref>
	*Gurkha Company (Tavoleto)<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.gurkhabde.com/gurkha-company-tavoleto-warminster-parade/\|title=Gurkha Company (Tavoleto) Warminster Parade\|date=31 August 2018 \|publisher=Gurkha Brigade Association\|access-date=8 January ~~2022~~}}</ref>		*Gurkha Company (Tavoleto)<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.gurkhabde.com/gurkha-company-tavoleto-warminster-parade/\|title=Gurkha Company (Tavoleto) Warminster Parade\|date=31 August 2018 \|publisher=Gurkha Brigade Association\|access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref>

	These three are formed as operational training units at the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]], the [[Infantry Battle School]] and the [[Waterloo Lines\|Land Warfare Centre]], to provide [[opposing force]]s for realistic battle simulation.		These three are formed as operational training units at the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]], the [[Infantry Battle School]] and the [[Waterloo Lines\|Land Warfare Centre]], to provide [[opposing force]]s for realistic battle simulation.
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	==Battle honours==		==Battle honours==
	The battle honours of the Royal Gurkha Rifles are as follows:<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.rgrra.com/index.php/battle-honours\|title=Battle Honours\|access-date=26 April ~~2022~~}}</ref>		The battle honours of the Royal Gurkha Rifles are as follows:<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.rgrra.com/index.php/battle-honours\|title=Battle Honours\|access-date=26 April 2014}}</ref>

	* Amboor, [[Carnatic Wars\|Carnatic]], [[Anglo-Mysore Wars\|Mysore 1792]], [[Battle of Assaye\|Assaye 1803]], [[Second Anglo-Burmese War\|Ava 1852]], [[Third Anglo-Burmese War\|Burma 1885–87]], [[Battle of Bharatpur\|Bhurtpore]], [[Battle of Aliwal\|Aliwal]], [[Battle of Sobraon\|Sobraon]], [[Delhi 1857]], [[Kabul 1879]], [[Second Anglo-Afghan War\|Afghanistan 1878–80]], [[Battle of Kandahar (1880)\|Kandahar 1880]], [[Tirah Campaign\|Tirah]], [[Battle of Gujrat\|Punjab Frontier]], [[Third Afghan War\|Afghanistan 1919]]		* Amboor, [[Carnatic Wars\|Carnatic]], [[Anglo-Mysore Wars\|Mysore 1792]], [[Battle of Assaye\|Assaye 1803]], [[Second Anglo-Burmese War\|Ava 1852]], [[Third Anglo-Burmese War\|Burma 1885–87]], [[Battle of Bharatpur\|Bhurtpore]], [[Battle of Aliwal\|Aliwal]], [[Battle of Sobraon\|Sobraon]], [[Delhi 1857]], [[Kabul 1879]], [[Second Anglo-Afghan War\|Afghanistan 1878–80]], [[Battle of Kandahar (1880)\|Kandahar 1880]], [[Tirah Campaign\|Tirah]], [[Battle of Gujrat\|Punjab Frontier]], [[Third Afghan War\|Afghanistan 1919]]