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Gurkha Reserve Unit
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it remains largely unverified because it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2020) |
Coordinates: 4°56′21″N 114°58′28″E / 4.9390340°N 114.9743814°E
| Gurkha Reserve Unit | |
|---|---|
| Pasokan Simpanan Gurkha | |
| File:Gurkha Reserve Unit.png Logo of Gurkha Reserve Unit | |
| Active | 1974 present |
| Country |  Brunei |
| Allegiance |  Sultan of Brunei  Royal Brunei Armed Forces |
| Role | Law enforcement |
| Size | Regiment |
| Headquarters | Sungai Akar Camp, Sungai Akar, Bandar Seri Begawan |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | LC Muhammad Suradzin bin Haji Muhammad Yusof |
| Deputy Commander | M Krishna Bahadur |
The Gurkha Reserve Unit (GRU) (Malay: Unit Simpanan Gurkha / Pasukan Simpanan Gurkha (PSG) ) is a Nepalese special elite guard force in the Sultanate of Brunei. It was formed in 1974 and maintains approximately 2,000 Gurkhas.[1]
Unit members are all British Army veterans who function primarily as a praetorian guard to protect the sultan, the Royal Family, and major oil installations. They also work as a special forces unit directly under the command of the Sultan, as well as alongside the Special Forces Regiment and Special Combat Squadron of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.
It is subordinate to the Security and Defence Section of the Brunei Ministry of Home Affairs.
History[edit]
In 1947, the Britain–India–Nepal Tripartite Agreement was signed between India, United Kingdom and Nepal,[2] except that this agreement does not apply to Gurkhas employed in the Nepalese Army. Under the agreement, four Gurkha regiments of British Army were transferred to British Army and six joined the Indian army.[3] As of 2020, India has 39 Gorkha battalions serving in seven Gorkha regiments.[3] Those transferred to the British Army were posted to other remaining British colonies. In Malaya and Singapore, their presence was required in the Malayan Emergency, and they were to replace the Sikh unit in Singapore which reverted to the Indian Army on Indian independence.
In 1973, prisoners of the 1962 uprising escaped.[4] the Sultanate of Brunei decided to hire ex-Gurkhas from Hong Kong and Singapore as security after Singapore was consulted.[4] On February 25, 1974, Mohansing Gurung became the first Gurkha to serve in Brunei.[4]
The unit was known as the Gurkha Security Guard.[5] The GRU was fully established in 1980.[4]
Units[edit]
- Guard Unit (GD UNIT)
- Support Unit (SP UNIT)
- K-9 Unit (K-9 UNIT)
See also[edit]
- Military of Brunei
- Gurkha Rifles of the British Indian Army (1858–1947)
- Gorkha regiments (India), seven regiments in India which is the original parent force for the units in Singapore and Brunei
- Gurkha Contingent (Singapore)
- Gurkha Regiment (United Kingdom)
- Brigade of Gurkhas (British Army)
- Royal Gurkha Rifles (British Army)
References[edit]
- ↑ Brunei Darussalam, Encyclopedia of the Nations
- ↑ "Untitled Document". www.singapore21.org.sg. Archived from the original on 2 November 2005. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Gurkha recruitment legacy of past, says Nepal; calls 1947 tripartite agreement 'redundant', Times of India, 31 July 2020.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Remembering the Gurkhas' role in ensuring Brunei's autonomy". 3 February 2018.
- ↑ "A forgotten Gurkha rebellion".
External links[edit]
- Serving abroad — at Photius.com
- RBAF Order of Battle
- Brigade of Gurkhas — British Army website
