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The '''King's Truncheon''' is a ceremonial staff carried by the [[The Royal Gurkha Rifles|Royal Gurkha Rifles]] that serves as the equivalent of and is carried as the [[colours and guidons|Colour]]. It is made of bronze and silver. The top represents the [[minaret]] of Delhi Palace with three [[Gurkhas]] standing on it supporting the King's crown above their heads. The minaret contains a pair of crossed [[kukri]]s and carries the [[inscription]] "Main Picqet Hindoo Rao's House, Delhi 1857". The Truncheon is a unique emblem upon which recruits swear allegiance to the Regiment and the Crown.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thegurkhamuseum.co.uk/the-queens-truncheon/ |title=The Queen's Truncheon Replica |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=Gurkha Museum |publisher= |access-date=3 June 2020 |quote=}}</ref> | The '''King's Truncheon''' is a ceremonial staff carried by the [[The Royal Gurkha Rifles|Royal Gurkha Rifles]] that serves as the equivalent of and is carried as the [[colours and guidons|Colour]]. It is made of bronze and silver. The top represents the [[minaret]] of Delhi Palace with three [[Gurkhas]] standing on it supporting the King's crown above their heads. The minaret contains a pair of crossed [[kukri]]s and carries the [[inscription]] "Main Picqet Hindoo Rao's House, Delhi 1857". The Truncheon is a unique emblem upon which recruits swear allegiance to the Regiment and the Crown.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thegurkhamuseum.co.uk/the-queens-truncheon/ |title=The Queen's Truncheon Replica |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=Gurkha Museum |publisher= |access-date=3 June 2020 |quote=}}</ref> | ||
During the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]], the [[2nd Gurkha Rifles|8th (Sirmoor) Local Battalion]] made a particularly notable contribution. During the four-month [[Siege of Delhi]], they defended [[Raja Hindu Rao|Hindu Rao]]'s house, losing 327 out of 490 men. During this action they fought side-by-side with the [[60th Rifles]] and a strong bond developed.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.army.mod.uk/gurkhas/history.aspx | title = History of the Brigade of Gurkhas | publisher = website of the Brigade of Gurkhas |archiveurl=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120403165108/http://www.army.mod.uk/gurkhas/history.aspx |archivedate= 3 April | During the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]], the [[2nd Gurkha Rifles|8th (Sirmoor) Local Battalion]] made a particularly notable contribution. During the four-month [[Siege of Delhi]], they defended [[Raja Hindu Rao|Hindu Rao]]'s house, losing 327 out of 490 men. During this action they fought side-by-side with the [[60th Rifles]] and a strong bond developed.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.army.mod.uk/gurkhas/history.aspx | title = History of the Brigade of Gurkhas | publisher = website of the Brigade of Gurkhas |archiveurl=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120403165108/http://www.army.mod.uk/gurkhas/history.aspx |archivedate= 3 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Heather |last=Streets |year=2004 |title=Martial races: the military, race and masculinity in British imperial culture, 1857–1914 |publisher=Manchester University Press |isbn=0-7190-6962-9 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=BscnZT_1po8C&lpg=PP1&pg=PA79#v=onepage&q&f=false 79] }}</ref> | ||
After the rebellion the [[King's Royal Rifle Corps|60th Rifles]] pressed for the Sirmoor Battalion to become a rifle regiment. This honour was granted then next year (1858) when the battalion was renamed the [[2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)|Sirmoor Rifle Regiment]] and awarded a third colour.<ref>{{cite book |last=Chappell |first=Mike |year=1993 |title=The Gurkhas |volume=49 of Elite series |edition=illustrated |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford |isbn=978-1-85532-357-5 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=rZ9HeuRZvTMC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA13#v=onepage&q&f=false 13]}}</ref> In 1863 [[Queen Victoria]] presented the regiment with the Queen's Truncheon, devised by [[Charles Reid (Indian Army officer)|Charles Reid]],<ref name="truncheon">{{cite web |title=Colours and The Queen's Truncheon |url=http://2ndgoorkhas.com/the-regiment/colours-the-queens-truncheon/ |website=Sirmoor Rifles Association |access-date=17 June 2021}}</ref> as a replacement for the colours that rifle regiments do not usually have.<ref>{{cite book |last=Baker |first=Margaret |year=2008 |title=Discovering London Statues and Monuments |volume=42 of Shire Discovering |edition=5, illustrated |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=978-0-7478-0495-6 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=pVJLa5jgzQ4C&lpg=PP1&pg=PA18#v=onepage&q&f=false 18] }}</ref> | After the rebellion the [[King's Royal Rifle Corps|60th Rifles]] pressed for the Sirmoor Battalion to become a rifle regiment. This honour was granted then next year (1858) when the battalion was renamed the [[2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)|Sirmoor Rifle Regiment]] and awarded a third colour.<ref>{{cite book |last=Chappell |first=Mike |year=1993 |title=The Gurkhas |volume=49 of Elite series |edition=illustrated |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford |isbn=978-1-85532-357-5 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=rZ9HeuRZvTMC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA13#v=onepage&q&f=false 13]}}</ref> In 1863 [[Queen Victoria]] presented the regiment with the Queen's Truncheon, devised by [[Charles Reid (Indian Army officer)|Charles Reid]],<ref name="truncheon">{{cite web |title=Colours and The Queen's Truncheon |url=http://2ndgoorkhas.com/the-regiment/colours-the-queens-truncheon/ |website=Sirmoor Rifles Association |access-date=17 June 2021}}</ref> as a replacement for the colours that rifle regiments do not usually have.<ref>{{cite book |last=Baker |first=Margaret |year=2008 |title=Discovering London Statues and Monuments |volume=42 of Shire Discovering |edition=5, illustrated |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=978-0-7478-0495-6 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=pVJLa5jgzQ4C&lpg=PP1&pg=PA18#v=onepage&q&f=false 18] }}</ref> | ||
The Sirmoor Rifle Regiment eventually became the '''[[2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)]]''', retaining possession of the Truncheon until 1994, when it was amalgamated with the other three British Gurkha regiments as the Royal Gurkha Rifles. The new regiment took possession of the Truncheon on permanent loan from the 2nd Gurkhas, and maintains the tradition of using it in place of colours.<ref>{{cite web |title=Royal Gurkha Rifles |url=https://www2.army.mod.uk/brigade_of_gurkhas/rgr/index.htm |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204102123/http://www2.army.mod.uk/brigade_of_gurkhas/rgr/index.htm |archive-date=4 December | The Sirmoor Rifle Regiment eventually became the '''[[2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)]]''', retaining possession of the Truncheon until 1994, when it was amalgamated with the other three British Gurkha regiments as the Royal Gurkha Rifles. The new regiment took possession of the Truncheon on permanent loan from the 2nd Gurkhas, and maintains the tradition of using it in place of colours.<ref>{{cite web |title=Royal Gurkha Rifles |url=https://www2.army.mod.uk/brigade_of_gurkhas/rgr/index.htm |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204102123/http://www2.army.mod.uk/brigade_of_gurkhas/rgr/index.htm |archive-date=4 December 2008}}</ref> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Latest revision as of 15:01, 21 September 2022
The King's Truncheon is a ceremonial staff carried by the Royal Gurkha Rifles that serves as the equivalent of and is carried as the Colour. It is made of bronze and silver. The top represents the minaret of Delhi Palace with three Gurkhas standing on it supporting the King's crown above their heads. The minaret contains a pair of crossed kukris and carries the inscription "Main Picqet Hindoo Rao's House, Delhi 1857". The Truncheon is a unique emblem upon which recruits swear allegiance to the Regiment and the Crown.[1]
During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the 8th (Sirmoor) Local Battalion made a particularly notable contribution. During the four-month Siege of Delhi, they defended Hindu Rao's house, losing 327 out of 490 men. During this action they fought side-by-side with the 60th Rifles and a strong bond developed.[2][3]
After the rebellion the 60th Rifles pressed for the Sirmoor Battalion to become a rifle regiment. This honour was granted then next year (1858) when the battalion was renamed the Sirmoor Rifle Regiment and awarded a third colour.[4] In 1863 Queen Victoria presented the regiment with the Queen's Truncheon, devised by Charles Reid,[5] as a replacement for the colours that rifle regiments do not usually have.[6]
The Sirmoor Rifle Regiment eventually became the 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles), retaining possession of the Truncheon until 1994, when it was amalgamated with the other three British Gurkha regiments as the Royal Gurkha Rifles. The new regiment took possession of the Truncheon on permanent loan from the 2nd Gurkhas, and maintains the tradition of using it in place of colours.[7]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "The Queen's Truncheon Replica". Gurkha Museum. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ↑ "History of the Brigade of Gurkhas". website of the Brigade of Gurkhas. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012.
- ↑ Streets, Heather (2004). Martial races: the military, race and masculinity in British imperial culture, 1857–1914. Manchester University Press. p. 79. ISBN 0-7190-6962-9.
- ↑ Chappell, Mike (1993). The Gurkhas. Vol. 49 of Elite series (illustrated ed.). Oxford: Osprey Publishing. p. 13. ISBN 978-1-85532-357-5.
- ↑ "Colours and The Queen's Truncheon". Sirmoor Rifles Association. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ↑ Baker, Margaret (2008). Discovering London Statues and Monuments. Vol. 42 of Shire Discovering (5, illustrated ed.). Osprey Publishing. pp. 18. ISBN 978-0-7478-0495-6.
- ↑ "Royal Gurkha Rifles". Ministry of Defence website. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008.