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2nd KING EDWARD VII'S OWN GOORKHAS (THE SIRMOOR RIFLES)
A Short History
The Regiment was raised in 1815 at the end of the Nepalese War, by Lieutenant (afterwards General) Frederick Young. It was formed at Nahan in Sirmoor State in India, from which it took its original name of "The Sirmoor Battalion" and recruited from the disbanded soldiers of the Nepalese Army. Lieutenant Young, a remarkable soldier, commanded the Sirmoor Battalion for twenty-eight years, during which time he rose in rank from Lieutenant to Colonel. He obtained for the Regiment a cantonment in Dehra Dun in the United Provinces of India and this remained the Regiment's home until it was transferred to the British Army on the 1st January, 1948.
Since 1815 the Regiment fought in many parts of the world as the Battle Honours testify, however, the Regiment particularly distinguished itself during the Indian Mutiny of 1857 when, with the King's Royal Rifle Corps and the Queen's Own Corps of Guides, it held the key position on Delhi Ridge throughout three months of bitter fighting. At this time the 2nd Goorkhas were supported by Tombs's Troop which last served alongside 2GR in Hong Kong in the early 1970’s as a Battery of 49th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. For the Regiment's services at Delhi it was granted a third honorary colour and its title was changed to the Sirmoor Rifle Regiment and was permitted to wear a uniform similar to that of the King's Royal Rifle Corps.
In 1863, it having been decided that it was not appropriate for a Rifle Regiment, the colours were laid up and Queen Victoria granted the 2nd Goorkhas a Truncheon, a unique colour much revered by the Regiment, known as the ‘Nishani Mai’. To this day the Queen’s Truncheon is carried by our successors, the Royal Gurkha Rifles, and is accorded the honours due to a Queen's Colour.
In 1876 the Regiment was given the title of "The Prince of Wales' Own" and this was commemorated by the Cap Badge depicting the three feathers of the badge of The Prince of Wales that was worn as a cap badge by all soldiers in the 2nd Goorkhas until 1994.
The 2nd Battalion was raised at Dehra Dun in 1886. In 1902, when the Prince of Wales, the then Colonel in Chief, ascended the throne the Regimental title was changed to "King Edward VII's Own Gurkha rifles (The Sirmoor rifles).
During the Great War the 3rd Battalion was raised and between the three battalions they saw active service in France, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia and on the North West Frontier of India. The 3rd Battalion was disbanded after the Great War.
Between the wars both Battalions were engaged in many campaigns and operations in Northern India.
During the Second World War the 3rd Battalion was re-raised and the 4th and 5th Battalions were formed. The 1st Battalion fought in North Africa, Italy and Greece with the famous 4th Indian Division. The 2nd Battalion fought throughout the short but hard Malayan Campaign and was made prisoner at the fall of Singapore. The 3rd Battalion served as Chindits in General Wingate's Campaign in Burma and afterwards in the Arakan. The 4th Battalion fought on the North West Frontier and in Burma and French Indo-China. The 5th Battalion remained throughout on the North West Frontier. During these war years, the 2nd Goorkhas won two Victoria Crosses besides many other bravery decorations in recognition of their services. In World War II the Regiment lost 783 of all ranks, killed or died of wounds.
After the war the 4th Bn transferred to the Indian Army becoming the 5/8th Gurkha Rifles and the Regiment was again reduced to its two regular battalions. These were both actively engaged in operations in aid of the civil power in India. When India achieved Independence at end of 1947 the 2nd Goorkhas was transferred from the Indian Army to the British Army. Shortly after transferring to the British Army in 1948, the Regiment found a home to replace Dehra, at Slim Barracks, Singapore. The Regiment quickly became involved in the Malaya Emergency and it was here that further expertise in jungle fighting was gained. B Company of the 1st Battalion had the highest kill of the Emergency in one contact. The Regiment killed about 450 communist terrorists during the twelve years of the Emergency. This campaign was the longest in the history of the British Army up to that time, finally ending in 1960.
The Regiment was to have only two years of peacetime soldiering when in 1962, the 1st Battalion, at eight hours notice, flew to Brunei where rebellion had broken out. The situation was restored in a few days, during which period the Battalion lost one British Officer and two soldiers. Confrontation with Indonesia followed the Brunei revolt that was to last for four years between 1962 – 1966. Both Battalions served a number of tours, going back to Slim Barracks and Hong Kong in between. There were many successful actions with 12 MCs, 1 DCM, 11 MMs and 31 MiDs awarded.
After the end of Confrontation, both battalions of the Regiment served in Hong Kong, (including the riots of April 1966), Brunei, and Singapore. The two Battalions were scheduled to amalgamate in September 1970 and again in September 1978, but on both occasions the amalgamation was cancelled. Both Battalions continue to serve in the United Kingdom and performed Public Duties in London. The First Battalion also served in Belize and the Second Battalion in the Falkland Islands.
As part of the draw down of the Brigade of Gurkhas it was with great sadness that, on the 15th September 1992, the 2nd Goorkhas began life as a single battalion Regiment. It was to be a busy period with the battalion or elements of it, deployed in Brunei, Malaysia, Australasia, North & Central America, with individuals serving in Cambodia and Northern Ireland. Finally, on the 1st July 1994, following four years of planning and turbulence, the 2nd KEO Gurkha rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles) amalgamated with the 6th QEO Gurkha Rifles to form the 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles.
Between 1815 – 1994, during its 179 years of loyal service to the British Crown, the Regiment had been on operations for all but 52 years.
Colours (The Queen’s Truncheon)
Because of its close association with the 60th Rifles at Delhi, in 1858 the Regiment became a Rifle Regiment. It was the custom, because of their swift and concealed method of warfare, for rifle regiments not to carry Colours, therefore in 1863 the 2ndGoorkhas ceased to exercise the privilege of carrying them. However, in recognition of their glorious achievements at Delhi, Her Majesty Queen Victoria caused a Truncheon to be presented to the Regiment in place of the Honorary Colour. This Truncheon was quite unique in the Armies of the British Empire and Commonwealth, and remains so in the British Army today.
The Truncheon was devised by Colonel Charles Reid, one of Queen Victoria's Aides-de-Camp and commander of the Regiment at Delhi. It was presented in 1863 on behalf of the Queen by Lord Strathnairn, the Commander-in-Chief in India, at a special parade of all troops in the large garrison of Lahore, where it was honoured with a Royal Salute on presentation.
The Truncheon is a typical piece of workmanship of the Victorian age. It stands just under six feet high, is chiefly made of bronze, and is surmounted by the Royal Crown in silver supported by three Gurkha riflemen in bronze. On the ring of silver below the the figures are inscribed the words “Main Picquet, Hindoo Rao's House, Delhi 1857”. Below this ring is a representation in bronze of one of the minarets on the Delhi Gate of the Palace of the Moghuls, and in the minaret hang two silver crossed kukris, the national weapon of the Gurkha. Below this again is another silver ring on which is inscribed on three sides “Sirmoor Rifles”. This was the title of the Regiment at the time, indicating the place of the raising of the Regiment in 1815, and the title it bore up to 1994 when it was amalgamated with the 6th, 7th, and 10th Gurkhas to form The Royal Gurkha Rifles. On a third ring, just above the upper end of the staff, the words “Main Picquet, Hindoo Rao's House, Delhi 1857” are again inscribed, this time in Nagri script. The Truncheon was made in five pieces, so that it could be taken apart and carried in battle in the knapsacks of five different Gurkha soldiers.
When, in 1858, the Third Colour was presented, an extra Jemadar (a junior native officer in the old Indian Army) was authorised to carry it, and when the Truncheon replaced the Colour this extra officer was allowed to remain on the establishment.
During the visit to India of His Majesty King Edward VII, then Prince of Wales, in 1876, at a Review held in Delhi the Truncheon was given precedence over all other Colours. It was impossible to convey the importance this Truncheon played in the Regiment, and in what reverence it was held by all members. On the two Regimental Days – the anniversaries of the assault on Delhi, 14thSeptember 1857, and the crossing of the Tigris at Shumran on 23rd February 1917 – the Truncheon was placed in position outside the Regimental Quarter Guard and every individual, from Commanding Officer to the last joined Rifleman, saluted it during the course of the day without fail. Amongst the men of the Regiment it was referred to as the “Nishani Mai” (losely translated as 'the Symbol of the Great Mother') an allusion to the great Queen who presented it. The recruits of the Regiment were sworn in on the Queen's Truncheon when they joined the Regiment and became Riflemen.
The Truncheon was treated with the same honour and reverence as the Queen's Colour of a regiment privileged to carry Colours. In Army Order No. 135 of 1950, some two years after the transfer of the Regiment from the old Indian Army to the British Army, it was stated that:
“His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to approve that the dignities and compliments appropriate to the King's Colour of Infantry, which was accorded to the Truncheon carried by the 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles), when that regiment was part of the Indian Army, shall continue to be accorded now the Regiment is part of the British Army.”
In 1953 the Truncheon was carried at the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and two days later was, at Her Majesty's special request, taken to Buckingham Palace, were she inspected and raised it in her hands. Her Majesty said that she would be pleased if another inscribed silver band could be affixed recording the carrying of the Truncheon at her Coronation. This was done and the band, which is placed at the head of the staff, reads:
“ The Queen's Truncheon was carried in procession at Her Majesty's Coronation, 2nd June 1953. Inscribed by order of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
Since then each time the Queen's Truncheon has been presented to the Monarch the occasion has been marked with a new inscribed silver band affixed to the staff.
On 24th June 1994, prior to the Regiment being amalgamated with the 6th, 7th, and 10th Gurkha Rifles to form The Royal Gurkha Rifles on 1 July 1994, after a Thanksgiving Service in the RMA Sandhurst Chapel for the 179 years of service of the Regiment, and in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales, the Queen's Truncheon was placed into a glass case in the Indian Army Room in Old College at the RMA Sandhurst for safe keeping, pending a decision for it to be adopted by the new regiment.
On Monday 28th April 1997 the Queen's Truncheon was taken back into service by The Royal Gurkha Rifles at a ceremony at RMA Sandhurst in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales. Although the rank of Jemadar is no longer in use in the British Army, the establishment of an extra officer to carry the Queen's Truncheon is still on the strength of the new regiment and the title 'Truncheon Jemadar' has been retained.
Although the Queen's Truncheon is now the property of the Royal Gurkha Rifles it is on condition that it is not disposed of without the approval of the 2nd Gurkha Rifles Trust.
Regimental Lineage
Battle Honours
Victoria Crosses
HONORARY CAPTAIN LALBAHADUR THAPA VC OBI
1st Battalion 2nd K E O Goorkhas (Sirmoor Rifles)
Wadi Akarit, North Africa
(London Gazette dated 11th June 1943)
On the night of 5th/6th April during the silent attack on the Ross-Ez-Zouai feature, Subedar Lalbahadur Thapa was the Second-in-Command of 'D' Company. The Commander of No. 16 Platoon was detached with one Section to secure an isolated feature on the left of the Company's objective. Subedar Lalbahadur Thapa took command of the remaining two sections and lead them forward towards the main feature on the outer ridge, in order to break through and secure the one and only passage by which the vital commanding feature could be seized to cover the penetration of the Division into the hills. On the capture of these hills the whole success of the Corps plan depended.
First contact with the enemy was made at the foot of a pathway winding up a narrow cleft. This steep cleft was thickly studded with a series of enemy posts, the inner of which contained an anti-tank gun and the remainder medium machine-guns. After passing through the narrow cleft, one emerges into a small arena with very steep sides, some 200 feet in height, and in places sheer cliff. Into this arena and down both its sides numbers of automatic weapons were trained and mortar fire directed.
The garrison of the outer posts were all killed by Subedar Lalbahadur Thapa and his men by kukri or bayonet in the first rush, and the enemy then opened very heavy fire straight down the narrow enclosed pathway and steep arena sides. Subedar Lalbahadur Thapa led his men on and fought his way up the narrow gully straight through the enemy fire, with little room to manoeuvre, in the face of intense and sustained machine-gun concentrations and the liberal use of grenades by the enemy.
The next machine-gun posts were dealt with; Subedar Lalbahadur Thapa personally killing two men with his kukri and two more with his revolver. The Gurkha officer continued to fight his way up the narrow bullet-swept approaches to the crest. He and two Riflemen managed to reach the crest, where Subedar Lalbahadur Thapa killed another two men with his kukri, the Riflemen killed two more and the rest fled. Subedar Lalbahadur Thapa then secured the whole feature and covered his Company's advance up the defile.
This pathway was found to be the only practicable route up the precipitous ridge, and by securing it the Company was able to deploy and mop up all enemy opposition on their objective. This objective was an essential feature covering the further advance of the Brigade and the Division, as well as the bridgehead over the anti-tank ditch.
There is no doubt that the capture of this objective was entirely due to this act of unsurpassed bravery by Subedar Lalbahadur Thapa and his small party in forcing their way up the steep gully, and up the cliffs of the arena under withering fire. The outstanding leadership, gallantry and complete disregard for his own safety shown by Subedar Lalbahadur Thapa were an example to the whole Company, and the ruthless determination of this Gurkha officer to reach his objective and kill the enemy had a decisive effect on the success of the whole operation.
HAVILDAR BHANBHAGTA GURUNG VC
3rd Battalion 2nd K E O Goorkhas (Sirmoor Rifles)
Snowdon East, Burma
(London Gazette dated 1st June 1945)
In Burma, on 5th March 1945, A Company of the 3rd Battalion, 2ndGurkha Rifles, attacked an enemy position known as Snowdon East. On approaching the objective one of the sections was forced to ground by heavy light machine-gun fire, grenade and mortar fire, and owing to the severity of this fire was unable to move in any direction. While thus pinned, the section came under accurate fire from a tree sniper some 75 yards to the south. As this sniper was inflicting casualties on the section, Rifleman Bhanbhagta Gurung, being unable to fire from the lying position, stood up fully exposed to the heavy fire and calmly killed the enemy sniper with his rifle, thus saving his section from suffering further casualties.
The section then advanced again, but when within 20 yards of the objective was again attacked by very heavy fire. Rifleman Bhanbhagta Gurung, without waiting for any orders, dashed forward alone and attacked the first enemy fox-hole. Throwing two grenades, he he killed the two occupants and without any hesitation rushed on to the next enemy fox-hole and killed the Japanese in it with his bayonet.
Two further enemy fox-holes were still bringing fire to bear on the section, and again Rifleman Bhanbhagta Gurung dashed forward alone and cleared these with bayonet and grenade. During his single-handed attacks on these four enemy fox-holes, Rifleman Bhanbhagta Gurung was subjected to almost continuous and point-blank light machine-gun fire from a bunker on the north tip of the objective. Realising that this light machine-gun would hold up not only his own platoon which was now behind him, but also another platoon that was advancing from the west, Rifleman Bhanbhagta Gurung for the fifth time went forward alone in the face of heavy enemy fire to knock out this position. He doubled forward and leapt onto the roof of the bunker from where, his hand grenades being finished, he flung two No 77 smoke grenades into the bunker slit. Two Japanese rushed out of the bunker partially blinded by the smoke. Rifleman Bhanbhagta Gurung promptly killed them both with his kukri. A remaining Japanese inside the bunker was still firing the light machine-gun and holding up the advance of No 4 Platoon, so Rifleman Bhanbhagta Gurung crawled inside the bunker, killed the Japanese gunner and captured the light machine-gun.
Most of the objective had now been cleared by the men behind, but the enemy driven off were collecting for a counter-attack beneath the north end of the objective. Rifleman Bhanbhagta Gurung ordered the nearest Bren gunner and two Riflemen to take up position in the captured bunker. The enemy counter-attack followed soon after, but under Rifleman Bhanbhagta Gurung's command the small party inside the bunker repelled it with heavy loss to the enemy.
Rifleman Bhanbhagta Gurung showed outstanding bravery and a complete disregard for his own safety. His courageous clearing of five enemy positions single-handed was in itself decisive in capturing the objective and his inspired example to the rest of the Company contributed to the speedy consolidation of his success.
Regimental Badges
Sirmoor Rifles
