The Regimental Secretary gave a talk about the Gurkhas and Nepal to the “Gallipoli Dardanelles International” at their annual Lunch in King’s Lynn, Norfolk. Among those present was the grandson of the Company Commander of E (Sandringham) Company of the 5th Norfolk Regiment (TF) at the time of Gallipoli. The 5th Norfolks became know as the “Vanished Battalion” due the losses they sustained.”
The Annual 6 GR ‘All Ranks’ Bhela took place in Farnborough on Sat 14 Sep 24 organised by Maj Khusiman Gurung and his team. Over 400 veterans and families attended to meet old friends and listen to speeches and songs including the indomitable Capt Biru performing in his customary way. “Company” photos were taken and the assembled throng were treated to a delicious Tip-Tupan as well as a full Bhat.
Disappointingly only a handful of British officers managed to attend – there was a clash with Capt Anne Griffith’s daughter, Hattie’s wedding!
A thoroughly enjoyable event and wonderfully organised.
Be on the watch-out for next year’s ‘Get-together” planned for the 2nd Saturday in September 2025.
In 1994 the Royal Gurkha Rifles was formed from the 2nd, 6th, 7th and 10th Gurkha Rifles, with the new regiment absorbing the battle honours and traditions of its forebearers. Each company of the Royal Gurkha Rifles is the custodian of one of these battle honours, and the Gallipoli campaign is the responsibility of B Company of the 2nd Battalion. This year the commemoration was held in Sir John Moore Lines, Shorncliffe on 11 July. At 0900 B Company fell in opposite the guardroom and a brief description of the campaign was read out. This was followed by wreath laying by the Company Commander, the Gurkha Major and the Company Second in Command, and by Major Gordon Corrigan on behalf of the 6th Gurkha Rifles Regimental Association. After a prayer by the battalion’s Pandit and Lama the sounding of the last post indicated the start of a two minutes silence, followed by reveille. All then moved to the company lines where tipan tapan was served and a comprehensive brief on the campaign delivered to the assembled soldiers and wives.
The Gurkha Brigade “Bhela” took place on 6th July in Aldershot on the playing fields of Queen’s Avenue, amid gale force winds and driving rain, but with one or two bright intervals. 2 GRRA and ourselves were the only antecedent Regimental Associations to have a presence and despite the poor weather there was a good attendance and many came to the 6 GR ‘tent’ to get a welcome beer !
Following the Ladies Basketball and the Khatmandu cup, QGSigs beat 1 RGR in the final of the Nepal Cup by 3 goals to 1 after extra time.
he Nepal Branch AGM/Reunion took place in Kathmandu on Sat 16 Mar where over 66 members were present who enjoyed the whole day event.
The meeting paid tribute to the late Lt Col Mackinlay Saheb as well as the sixty-four 6 GR members who had passed away in 2023.
There were three guests: Lt Col Rajeshkumar Gurung (Dep Comd BGN), Maj Bhimbahadur Gurung (Chairman RAN) and Maj Balkrishna Rana (Gen Sec RAN). Sadly Lt Col Gopalbahadur Gurung and Maj Chandrabahadur Gurung were unable to attend. The Vice Chair, Lt Purnabhadur Gurung presided.
On Sat 24 Feb a Service in memory of the Officers and Men of the Gurkha Regiments who fell in the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915 took place in Kensington. This commemorative service was the ‘brainchild’ of Robert Llewellyn-Smith, one of our Association Members whose two brother forbears served and died at Gallipoli – one who briefly commanded 1/6th GR after the battle for Sari Bair.
The Service on Sat 24 Feb 2024 took place almost to the day, 108 years ago that the original Service organised by Lady Bruce at St Mary Abbots Church in Kensington took place.
Representatives from all the antecedent Gurkha Regiments attended together with the Lady Mayoress of Kensington and a contingent from 2 RGR as well as a Piper provided by QOGLR.
A full article with photos will appear in the next Journal.
Each company of the Royal Gurkha Rifles is responsible for keeping alive the knowledge and traditions of one of the Regiment’s battle honours, and B Company of the 2nd Battalion is the guardian of Gallipoli. This year they commemorated the Gallipoli campaign on 26 July, the actual date not being possible due to operational commitments. Lt Col BM O’Bree and Major JGH Corrigan were invited to represent the 6th Gurkha Rifles Regimental Association.
The commemoration began with a short parade at the war memorial outside the guardroom of Sir John Moore Lines, with wreaths laid by the Commanding Officer, the Company Commander, the Gurkha Major and Major Corrigan. After a blessing by the Pandit all adjourned for tea and tipan tapan, followed by presentations on various aspects of the campaign. In one stand we saw an informative video made by the soldiers themselves with a brief on the background to the battle by a young NCO. Another traced the course of the Sari Bair battle on an excellently constructed sand model with the brief conducted by another junior NCO, while the third stand showed weapons and equipment of the period. The demonstration concluded with a short speech by the commanding officer, where he reminded soldiers of the importance of remembering the actions of those who came before us and of keeping alive their traditions of courage and tenacity.”
A service was held at All Saints’ Church in Kings Lynn, Norfolk to mark the 108th Anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign. The Service was well attended with representatives from; Australia, New Zealand, France and Turkey. The famous words of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, first president of the post-war republic of Turkey who also served as a Colonel in the Campaign were read by the Political Officer from the Turkish 1 Embassy in London.
Wreaths were then laid at the War Memorial after which your Secretary gave the “Exhortation”. Also present was the great nephew of Capt Frank Beck who commanded the “King’s” (Sandringham) Company of the 1/5th (Territorial) Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment.
This year marked the 78th anniversary of the Liberation of the city of Medicina, important battle of the Second World War in Northern Italy. Not only remembered for it being one of the last battles against the Germans in Italy, but also for the unusual situation where 2/6GR were operating as “Armoured Infantry” supported by our partner armoured regiment the 14/20th Kings Hussars. This partnership has developed into a long standing relationship which is sustained to this day through successor regiments; The Royal Gurkha Rifles and the Kings Royal Hussars.
This year Support (Medicina) Company of the 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles (1 RGR) celebrated the Liberation of Medicina on 16 April. It is from this Company that the young soldiers who joined the Association’s visit to Medicina in April 2022 serve and are now stationed in Brunei. After the visit in 2022, Anthony Vosper commissioned the flag with Flagmakers and then subsequently presented it to the Chief of Staff at RHQ in Camberley for onward carriage to SP(Medicina) Coy, 1RGR in Brunei where it now flys outside the office of Support (Medicina) Company 1 RGR where ever they might be.”
Major ADO Bredin (Retd)