5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)
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5th Royal Gurkha Rifles Insignia |
The
5th Royal Gurkha Rifles was an
infantry regiment of the
British Indian Army. Following
India's independence in
1947, the regiment transferred to the
Indian Army.
19th Century
The regiment was originally raised in
1858 as the
25th Punjab Infantry. The regiment's first major action was during the
Second Afghan War, with the regiment's first battle honour coming at
Peiwar Kotal, at which Captain
John Cook was awarded the
Victoria Cross. By this time, the regiment had been ranked as the 5th
Gurkhas. During the period up to the end of the 19th century, the regiment was based primarily in the
Punjab as part of the
Frontier Force. This was reflected when in
1903, the regiment was renamed the
5th Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force).
World War I
During the
First World War, the regiment primarily saw service in the
Middle East - the 1st Battalion saw extensive service at
Gallipoli in
1915 (where 7 officers and 129 men were killed in the first few hours after the battalion landed). Despite the terrible conditions, the Gurkhas remained stoic; indeed, the last troops to leave following the evacuation was a
company of the 5th Gurkhas. The 2nd Battalion saw service in
Mesopotamia, while a 3rd Battalion was raised for service on the
North-West Frontier, before being disbanded in
1921.
Inter-War
In 1921, the regiment was given the title
5th Royal Gurkha Rifles, in recognition of its service during the war. During the inter-war period, the regiment received three further battle honours, for the
Third Afghan War in
1919, and two for service on the North-West Frontier. Of all of the regiments that saw service in this region during the period, only the 5th Gurkhas and the
13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers were awarded such honours.
World War II
During the
Second World War, the 5th Gurkhas served in most theatres, with the 1st Battalion in the Middle East and
Italy, and the 2nd Battalion in the
Far East. The 2nd Battalion was involved in the retreat of the British Indian Army from
Burma in the face of the Japanese invasion, and was one of four battalions chosen to fight as the rearguard at the
Sittang River, which formed the border with India. In blowing the bridge across the river (and preventing the Japanese forces from entering India), many men were left on the wrong side. The re-entry into Burma in 1943 saw the regiment at the forefront, with three Victoria Crosses won during the campaign. Rifleman
Thaman Gurung of the 1st Battalion also won the VC serving in Italy.
Post Independence
On Indian independence, the 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles was one of six Gurkha regiments that remained part of the new Indian Army, being renamed in
1950 as the
5th Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force). Since then, the regiment has participated in virtually every major action the Indian Army has undertaken in its four wars with
Pakistan, including the first airborne operations undertaken by the army during the
1971 war. Today, the regiment has a total of six battalions.
*Peiwar Kotal, Charasiah, Kabul 1879,
Kandahar 1880, Afghanistan 1878-80, Punjab Frontier
*The Great War: Suez Canal, Egypt 1915-16, Khan Baghdadi, Mesopotamia 1916-18, Helles, Krithia, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915, N.W. Frontier India 1917
*Aghanistan 1919, North-West Frontier 1930, North-West Frontier 1936-39
*The Second World War: The Sangro, Caldari, Cassino II, San Angelo in Teodice, Rocca d'Arce, Ripa Ridge, Femmina Morta, Monte San Bartolo, The Senio, Italy 1943-45, Sittang 1942, Yenangyaung 1942, Buthidaung, Stockades, North Arakan, Chindits 1944, Mogaung, Imphal, Sakawng, Shenam Pass, Bishenpur, The Irrawaddy, Sittang 1945, Burma 1942-45
*Zoji La, Kargil, Jammu and Kashmir 1947-48, Charwa, Punjab 1965, Sylhet, East Pakistan 1971, Jammu and Kashmir 1971, Shehjra, Punjab 1971
*
John Cook*
Guy Boisragon*
John Manners-Smith*
Agansing Rai*
Gaje Ghale *
Netrabahadur Thapa *
Thaman Gurung
