Indian Army will raise a new Gorkha Battalion by April 2016

[Zarvan]

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SUBATHU: The historic First Gorkha Regiment (GR) of the Indian Army would raise a new battalion in April next year. It's after a gap of almost five decades that the Gorkha Regiment would be raising new battalion. As of now First Gorkha Regiment has five battalions and the new battalion would be known as 6/1GR.

Confirming the development, Lieutenant General Ravi Thodge, Quarter Master General of Indian Army and Colonel of the First Gorkha regiment, said the new battalion would be raised by April 2016, at historic Subathu Cantonment of Himachal Pradesh.

Gen Thodge, who was at Subathu on Thursday to celebrate the bicentenary celebrations and reunion of the of First Gorkha regiments, said the new battalion would not only include the gritty Gorkhas from Nepal but also Gorkha boys from Dehradun, West Bengal, Kangra and Dharmashala areas of Himachal Pradesh.

The First Gorkha regiment was raised 200 years back in April 1815 at Subathu cantonment. Around 1,500 soldiers including retired generals, pensioners from Nepal and various part of country along with their families had gathered at the Subathu cantonment to celebrate much awaited bicentenary celebrations and reunion of regiment, which comes once in four years. The celebrations would continue till Saturday. Till then they would stay there to enjoy the gala of customary celebrations that are part of the legacy of the historic regiment.

Celebrations started with a wreath-laying ceremony on Thursday morning at the Regimental War Memorial, where floral tributes were paid to those killed in the line of duty. A ceremonial guard reversed arms while buglers sounded the last post followed by the rouse.

Thereafter, Colonel of the regiment Lt Gen Ravi Thodge addressed the gathering and praised cordiality of Gorkha soldier and their courage and eagerness to lay down life in the line of duty.

Lt Gen H J S Sachdeva, director general, Assam Rifles and one of the senior officers of the regiment was also present on the occasion.

Defence News, Indian Army will raise a new Gorkha Battalion by April 2016