9 Gorkha Rifles
Encyclopedia
The 9 Gorkha Rifles is a Gorkha
regiment of the Indian Army
. The regiment was one of the Gurkha regiments transferred to the Indian Army
after independence as part of the tripartite agreement. This Gorkha regiment dominantly recruits soldiers from Chhetri (Kshatriya) and Thakuri clans. Domiciled Indian Gorkhas are also taken, who form about 20 percent of the total strength of the regiment.
in the First Anglo-Sikh War
.
By 1893, the regiment became a wholly Gorkha unit of Khas origin,ie; those who were more closely linked to Hindu ways as compared to the Buddhist ways. In 1903, the Regiment was designated 9th Gurkha Rifles.
The first battalion, 1/9 GR, was one of the two units along with a Baluch unit involved in opening fire on 13 April, 1919, at the Jalianwala Bagh, Amritsar, on orders of the now-infamous Brig Gen REH Dyer.
9 GR fought in World War I
in Europe and in the inter war years took part in the operations in the North West Frontier. In World War II
, it fought in Italy
and North Africa
. The 3/9 GR and 4/9 GR formed part of the Chindit operations in Burma, and earned a reputation in the long range penetration operations.
as part of the Tripartite Agreement
between Britain, India and Nepal
. Since 1947 the regiment has fought in the 1962 Indo-China War
, the 1/9 GR fought under the most demanding conditions on the Namka Chu in (Arunachal Pradesh
).
The Regiment was also involved in the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan
.
(1819–1824) Mianpuri Levy
(1824–1861) 63rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry
(1861–1885) 9th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry
(1885–1894) 9th Regiment of Bengal Infantry
(1894–1901) 9th (Gurkha Rifle) Bengal Infantry
(1903–1947) 9th Gurkha Rifles
(1950–present) 9 Gorkha Rifles
Bharatpur, Sabraon, Afghanistan ( 1879–80), Punjab Frontier, La Bassee, Festubert, Armentiers, Givenchy, Neuve Chapelle, Aubers, Laos, France and Flanders, Tigris, Kut-al-Amara, Mesopotamia, Djebel-el-Maida, Djebel Garci, Ragoubet Scuissi, Chindit, Tavoleto, Hangman's Hill, San Marino, Baghdad and Cassino.
Gorkha regiments (India)
The Gorkha regiments have been serving in the Indian Army ever since independence in 1947, when the Tripartite Agreement was signed. The regiments primarily consist of soldiers from India's Gorkha community and from the Gorkha tribes of Nepal...
regiment of the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
. The regiment was one of the Gurkha regiments transferred to the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
after independence as part of the tripartite agreement. This Gorkha regiment dominantly recruits soldiers from Chhetri (Kshatriya) and Thakuri clans. Domiciled Indian Gorkhas are also taken, who form about 20 percent of the total strength of the regiment.
History
The history of the 9 Gorkha Rifles dates back to 1817, when it was raised at Infantry Levy at Fatehgarh as Fatehgarh Levy. In 1823, it became 63rd Regiment a regular unit as part of the Bengal Native Infantry. After the reorganisations post-1857, the designation was changed to 9th Bengal Native Infantry with one of its companies formed by Gorkhas and other hillmen. By then the Regiment had fought at Bhartpur and in the difficult Battle of SobraonBattle of Sobraon
The Battle of Sobraon was fought on 10 February 1846, between the forces of the British East India Company and the Sikh Khalsa Army, the army of the Sikh Empire of the Punjab...
in the First Anglo-Sikh War
First Anglo-Sikh War
The First Anglo-Sikh War was fought between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company between 1845 and 1846. It resulted in partial subjugation of the Sikh kingdom.-Background and causes of the war:...
.
By 1893, the regiment became a wholly Gorkha unit of Khas origin,ie; those who were more closely linked to Hindu ways as compared to the Buddhist ways. In 1903, the Regiment was designated 9th Gurkha Rifles.
The first battalion, 1/9 GR, was one of the two units along with a Baluch unit involved in opening fire on 13 April, 1919, at the Jalianwala Bagh, Amritsar, on orders of the now-infamous Brig Gen REH Dyer.
9 GR fought in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in Europe and in the inter war years took part in the operations in the North West Frontier. In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it fought in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. The 3/9 GR and 4/9 GR formed part of the Chindit operations in Burma, and earned a reputation in the long range penetration operations.
Post Independence
India gained its independence in 1947 and 9 Gorkha Rifles was one of six Gurkha regiments (out of 10) to be allocated to the Indian ArmyIndian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
as part of the Tripartite Agreement
Britain-India-Nepal Tripartite Agreement
The Tripartite Agreement between the United Kingdom, India and Nepal was a treaty signed in 1947 concerning the rights of Gurkhas in military service.-Background:...
between Britain, India and Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. Since 1947 the regiment has fought in the 1962 Indo-China War
Sino-Indian War
The Sino-Indian War , also known as the Sino-Indian Border Conflict , was a war between China and India that occurred in 1962. A disputed Himalayan border was the main pretext for war, but other issues played a role. There had been a series of violent border incidents after the 1959 Tibetan...
, the 1/9 GR fought under the most demanding conditions on the Namka Chu in (Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
).
The Regiment was also involved in the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
Titles of the Regiment and its Predecessor
(1817–1819) Fatagarh Levy(1819–1824) Mianpuri Levy
(1824–1861) 63rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry
(1861–1885) 9th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry
(1885–1894) 9th Regiment of Bengal Infantry
(1894–1901) 9th (Gurkha Rifle) Bengal Infantry
(1903–1947) 9th Gurkha Rifles
(1950–present) 9 Gorkha Rifles
Battle honours
- Pre Independence
Bharatpur, Sabraon, Afghanistan ( 1879–80), Punjab Frontier, La Bassee, Festubert, Armentiers, Givenchy, Neuve Chapelle, Aubers, Laos, France and Flanders, Tigris, Kut-al-Amara, Mesopotamia, Djebel-el-Maida, Djebel Garci, Ragoubet Scuissi, Chindit, Tavoleto, Hangman's Hill, San Marino, Baghdad and Cassino.
Victoria Cross recipients
- Major later Lt. Colonel George Campbell WheelerGeorge Campbell WheelerGeorge Campbell Wheeler VC was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
, 2nd Battalion, 23 February 1917, River Tigris, MesopotamiaMesopotamiaMesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
. - Temp Major Frank Gerald BlakerFrank Gerald BlakerFrank Gerald Blaker VC MC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
, Highland Light InfantryHighland Light InfantryThe Highland Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. In 1923 the regimental title was expanded to the Highland Light Infantry ...
, attached to 3rd Battalion, 9 July 1944, TaunggyiTaunggyi-Transportation:The main access to Taunggyi is by road. A railway line that passes through Taunggyi was recently built in 1995, but at the moment it offers no passenger service. Regular railway passenger service to the rest of the country is through the town of Shwenyaung, twelve miles to the...
, Burma (now Myanmar)MyanmarBurma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. - Rifleman Sher Bahadur ThapaSher Bahadur ThapaSher Bahadur Thapa VC was a Nepalese recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
, 1st Battalion, 18 September 1944, San Marino, Italy.