6th Gurkha Rifles Regimental Association

COMMEMORATION OF THE GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN WITH 2RGR

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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.”

Gallipoli Dardanelles International 108th Commemoration of the Gallipoli Campaign

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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.

Gallipoli Dardanelles International 108th Commemoration of the Gallipoli Campaign

Commemoration of the Battle of Medicina 16th April 1945

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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)

DEDICATION OF 6GR MEMORIAL IN POKHARA

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On 18th March 2023, 4 years after its inception the 6GR Memorial was formally dedicated in Pokhara. A very special and historic event.

The concept for the Memorial, initiated by John Mackinlay was for a memorial that allowed our Veterans in Nepal and UK to revere their war dead, but also to remember the 6th Gurkhas as a Family – the soldiers who died in war as well as those who had fought bravely beside them and survived, the wives and the children who were left at home, the attached servicemen and women who supported us in peace and war and the family welfare staff. In this way the memorial would serve both as a regimental cenotaph for formal occasions and as a place for an individual to cherish a private memory.

The simple design of the memorial reflects this intent. On the vertical face of white granite stone the Devanagari inscription reads:

TO THE MEN OF ALL RANKS OF THE 6th GURKHA RIFLES AND THEIR FAMILIES
WE SHALL NOT FORGET YOUR BRAVERY, COURAGE AND SACRIFICE

Below is a flat altar stone on which to put wreaths and the flowers and keepsakes of individuals who come to remember their friends and family. Across the face of the altar stone are the words:

LET THEIR DEEDS NOT BE FORGOTTEN

Our President, Big John Anderson OBE welcomed all those assembled as part of the ‘6th Gurkhas Family’. Veterans and their families came from all over Nepal, UK, India and many other parts of the world; in total numbering over 400. Tribute was paid to all those involved in the construction of the Memorial: John Mackinlay who conceived, promoted and designed it, Mike Channing and his committee who raised the funds and supervised the whole project, Gopalbahadur Gurung who led the Nepal team, Purnabahadur Gurung the Project Manager in Nepal, Dharma Raj who sculpted it, Mike Adler who managed and kept track of the money and to Yambahadur Gurung who facilitated the positioning of the memorial in the most perfect setting in front of the Gurkha Memorial Museum in Pokhara. He went on the thank all those who so generously donated funds to make this dream come true.

After the unveiling by the President, the Memorial was blessed by a Pandit, Lama, Bon and a Priest. Wreaths were then laid by: the eldest ex 6GR Other Rank, the eldest ex 6GR Gurkha Officer and the eldest British Officer. Everyone was then encouraged to pay their own respects and lay flowers and tributes.

Following the Dedication Ceremony, the gathering retired to the British Gurkhas Camp, Pokhara for where there were drinks and Tipantapan while listening to speeches by key persons of the regiment. After the speeches there was a Curry Lunch for all and continued opportunity to meet and talk with old friends. The event concluded at 4pm when buses were organised to take people home.

Major ADO Bredin (Retd)

6GRRA ANNUAL REUNION 2022

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On Saturday 19th November old friends gathered in Winchester for our Annual Reunion. The day started with our traditional memorial service in the Cathedral centred around the Welsh slate plinth for the Book of Remembrance which had been moved to a much more convenient location in the north aisle.

The short service was led again by Canon Brian Rees who included the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth as he remembered those who have died in the past year. The lesson was read by Richard Morris and the Book of Remembrance page was turned and names read out by Tony Groves. After we stood for a minute’s silence in remembrance Nirmal Thapa, late Pipe Major 1 RGR now retired, played a lament from the gallery above the north door. Gary Ghale then laid the wreath at the Book of Remembrance. Then outside into the almost sunshine we posed for a group photograph.

Back up to the Gurkha Museum, with much to discuss and report on this year the AGM started slightly early. At its successful conclusion a vote of thanks was proposed by our President Brigadier John Anderson to our Chairman Duncan Briggs and his team for their hard work to produce an important update to the Association’s Rules which was accepted virtually unanimously. The bar beckoned and we joined the ladies and guests in the McDonald Gallery.

The guests included Canon Brian Rees and his wife Susan, Major Tim Cummings OC (Gallipoli) B Company 2 RGR and his wife Claire, Chris Clarke late 2GR who has done a sterling job as current co-ordinator of The Cuttack Lunch Club and, with her husband Julian, Nicky Prentis who for many years has provided the technical support to our Association website. All were warmly welcomed in the Chairman’s after lunch speech.

No sooner had we finished a delicious curry prepared and served by Bhindya’s team and toasted His Majesty The King (this still takes getting used to after toasting the Queen for as long as anyone can remember!), the People of Nepal and the Regiment when Piper Nirmal played around the tables, including the ever popular ‘Black Bear’ accompanied by plenty of table thumping. Brigadier Christopher Bullock was invited to offer the quaich to Nirmal.

Old friends re-met, new friends made and those no longer with us remembered, it was a most enjoyable and successful day. 

Brian O’Bree

DEDICATION OF THE 14th /20th KING’S HUSSARS MEMORIAL AT THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM

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On October 3rd, my wife Ria and I were privileged to represent the Association at the unveiling and dedication of a Memorial to all those who served in the 14th/20th Kings Hussars, our affiliated regiment. The ceremony took place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire and we were blessed with good weather.

The genesis of the Memorial was an amazing story of dedication and determination, essentially driven by Darren Walker and his wife Rachel.  Darren had been a Bandsman in the 14/20KH  Band and as such was also a medic. He had been in support of, then Major, Richard Shirreff’s B Squadron in the Iraq War, a squadron which also included Ian Thomas as 2 IC. The Walkers felt strongly that there should be a specific Memorial to the Regiment which had been formed in 1922 but had merged with the Royal Hussars in 1992 to form the Kings Royal Hussars. The Walkers raised the funds for the Memorial, gained permission for it to be included with the other Cavalry memorials, did the design and commissioned both the stone mason and the metal sculpture. After a huge effort and despite Covid, the memorial was finally ready in 2022, appropriately, 100 years after the formation of the Regiment.

As can be seen from the photographs, the Memorial includes the all-important Prussian Eagle, the cap badge of the Regiment; the badge that during my service, we as 6th Gurkhas wore on our right sleeve. This is a beautiful piece of art produced by sculptor Alan Williams, but made almost entirely from items recovered from scrap bins in the Kings Royal Hussars tank park. As such, it is particularly special to the soldiers and officers of the Regiment who spent so much time and depended so much on their tanks and other equipment.

The service itself was delightfully low key, but very moving, with Chaplain Clive Baggallay, a former soldier in 14/20KH, leading the Dedication and prayers and Peter Garbutt reading a thought provoking poem by Darren Walker as well as the Regimental collect. General Sir Adrian Bradshaw did the unveiling of the Memorial and led the Act of Remembrance. A buffet lunch followed the service and included a toast to absent friends led by General Sir Richard Shirreff.

As well as the importance and significance of the Memorial Dedication, one thing that I found most moving was the strength of the bonds that still exist between our two regiments. You will see the crossed khukuris of the 43rd Gurkha Lorried Infantry Brigade shown prominently on the memorial, but more importantly for me was the large number of former soldiers and wives who wore a crossed khukuri or a 6 GR badge; very special!

Duncan Briggs

COMMEMORATION OF THE GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN WITH B (GALLIPOLI) COMPANY 2 RGR

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As many readers will know, our Association has affiliations with a number of companies in the Royal Gurkha Rifles based on past battle honours and these links are something that we have been trying to strengthen in the recent past. In 2 RGR, who had recently returned from Brunei, our affiliation is with B (Gallipoli) Company and so the invitation to join them for their Gallipoli Commemoration Day on 13 September was much appreciated.

My wife Ria and I were very happy take up the invitation as were two of our veterans living in the Shorncliffe area, CSgt Gyam Gurung and Ramlal Shrestha, plus, we were delighted that Gavin Edgerley-Harris was also able to join us to represent the Association. The day began with a ceremony at the Guard Room, with an extremely smart guard of honour, a short service, a minute’s silence and a wreath laying, including our Association wreath. After coffee and time to chat with the officers, men and families of B Company, we moved into a large MT Shed where 4 presentations on various aspects of the Gallipoli campaign had been prepared by the young riflemen of the Company. These had been well researched, despite limited time, and just showed how capable the young riflemen were and how good their spoken English had become. It was wonderful to see how interested and involved the young men had become with the gallant deeds of their forefathers and how much respect they had for those who fought in that most difficult of campaigns.

We were really pleased to meet with Lt Col Nicholas Moran, the Commanding Officer, with Major Tim Cummings the Officer Commanding B Company plus the current Company 2IC Captain Shiva Rai and his replacement Captain Begindra Limbu and of course many of the NCOs and Riflemen of B Company plus many wives. Our visit ended with a delicious tipan tapan and drinks, and we departed knowing that our Association had re-established strong personal links with B (Gallipoli) Company and 2 RGR.

I was extremely grateful to Gavin Edgerley-Harris, Gyam Gurung and Ramlal Shrestha for making time to join us and for me it was wonderful to catch up with both Gyam and Ramlal after many years.

Duncan Briggs

THE “SLIM SAHEB” PRESENTATION

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It finally happened, after so many postponements due to Covid restrictions, the much awaited presentation on “Slim Saheb” finally took place at the Gurkha Museum on Friday 03 June.

It had of course been planned for 2020 to link with the Journal and to recognise that it was 100 years since Captain William Slim had joined 1/6GR, but it was more than worth the wait. Much had been written about Slim, but little about his very formative years as an officer in the Gurkhas of the British Indian Army and it was intended to try to fill this gap. What made it even more special was that we had 9 members of the Field Marshall Slim’s family attending, including his daughter, 5 grandchildren and a great grandson also called Bill.

The presentation was led by John Mackinlay, covering Slim’s early links with 6GR at Gallipoli and then his service in 1/6GR on the North West Frontier. Bob Couldrey from 7GR covered the middle period of Slim’s service, including his command of 2/7GR and Ray Pett dealt with Slim’s later service including the Burma campaign, highlighting how important his service with Gurkhas had been for getting the best out of the many British Indian Army units that he had under command. It was an outstanding presentation; so much in depth research and so professionally presented in the lovely Macdonald Room at the Museum.

After the presentation and a few drinks, we returned to the Macdonald Gallery for a very special moment; the unveiling of the full length portrait that had been presented to the Museum by the President and Chairman of the Association. This was in fact a professional copy of the portrait of Field Marshall Slim that previously graced the Officers Mess in 6GR and had been copied under the expert artistic eye of John Mackinlay. The Honourable Una Rowcliffe, (nee Slim), the Field Marshall’s daughter kindly unveiled the portrait to great applause.

The day concluded with a delicious bhat provided by the Museum and lots of discussion about “Slim Saheb” and his years in the British Indian Army. It was a wonderful occasion, made extra special by the presence so many of the Slim Family. It was also memorable as the first Association event after the Covid19 Lockdown and we look forward to many, many more. Jai Sixth.

Duncan Briggs


PHOTOGRAPHS

8489    Una Slim about to unveil her father’s portrait in the Macdonald Gallery.
8503    The portrait of Field Marshall Slim.
8506    Members of the Slim Family who attended the “Slim Saheb” presentation.

2020 AGM of the Nepal branch

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Issued 22 April 2020

The AGM took place at Pokhara, Nepal, on Saturday 21 March 2020. Coronavirus restrictions meant it was limited to 25 attendees but the business of the meeting was succesfully conducted.

6 GR REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION NEPAL, ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2020, SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2020

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place at Hotel Gurkha Haven, Dam Side, Pokhara on Saturday 21 March 2020 but unlike previous AGMs, it was a mini – gathering with just 22 members attending including 3 UK members who were here visiting  their friends and relatives. Sadly this very low attendance, the lowest ever since the formation of 6 GR Regimental Association Nepal some 23 years ago, was due to severe restriction, of maximum of 25 people at any gathering, placed by the Nepali authorities to prevent possible spread of deadly Covid 19 virus in Nepal.

Even with very low attendance anticipated and exclusion of some elderly members, we were compelled to go ahead due to legal requirements governing the functioning of ‘associations’ in Nepal. Many of our ‘old and bold’ living in the vicinity, who were eager to attend and would have very much graced the function, had to be politely asked not to come due to the nature of Corona virus that reportedly tend to affect the elderly more than the ‘not so elderly’. This meeting also marked the 23rd anniversary of the formation of the 6 GR Regt Association of Nepal.

A month earlier, committee members and Area Representatives from Kathmandu, Chitwan and Butwal had met at this very venue to plan the AGM and a simultaneous ‘6 GR Reunions’ at all three locations a week later. Attendance at AGM, at that time, was anticipated at 200 members with most coming from nearby districts of Baglung, Parbat, Gorkha, Lamjung and Tanahun. And to cater for this number, we planned on hiring a local ‘Party Palace’. The Area Reps had been busy informing members in their respective areas, finding suitable venues and making necessary arrangements for a successful gathering. The Chairman had already nominated committee members to attend these ‘Reunions’ to show our solidarity and the central committee’s presence there. But as the crisis loomed and restrictions became known, we hurriedly altered our plans and relocated the AGM to Gurkha Haven and postponed the ‘Reunions’ until such time the situation is back to normal and restrictions no longer extant.

Prior to the commencement of the AGM, all committee members gathered at ‘Gurkha Memorial Museum’ at 0900 hours to review the site for future placement of the ‘6 GR Memorial’. Many pros and cons of the allocated site was discussed and final decision will be forwarded by the coordinator, Major Gopal Gurung MBE, for consideration by the UK team.

Although 6 GR AGM 2020 was the one with the least number of members attending and no ladies at all, it was a very enjoyable and a wonderful of gathering of old friends of all ranks. Over a few beer and delicious curry lunch, we relived our happy days and much cherished memories as members of 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles. Everyone taking the time to reflect on the good old bygone days and reinforcing the bonds and camaraderie that will forever bind us together as 6 GR family.

Finally, the Chairman and all members of the central committee thank Major Gyanbahadur Gurung Sahib for so graciously and continuously allowing 6 GR Regimental Association, Nepal, to use the premises and facilities at Hotel Gurkha Haven gratis for all functions undertaken and as our de facto permanent base in Nepal. Thank you very much Gyanbahadur Sahib!!

Jai 6 Gurkha

Welcome to the official website of the 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles

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The 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles was a rifle regiment of the British Indian Army comprising Gurkha soldiers of Nepalese origin, before being transferred to the British Army following India’s independence. Originally raised in 1817, the name 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles ceased to exist as part of the British Army in 1994.

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Provided and maintained by the 6th Gurkha Rifles Regimental Association, this website aims to help perpetuate the memory of the Regiment for all those who had the privilege and pleasure to serve in it. It is also a means of communicating the activities of The Association and The Trust as well as informing visitors of the activities of the 6th Gurkhas, both past and present.

Additional information for Association Members is in the Members Area. Further Battles and more archive photographs will be added over time. Many images on the site have come from Regimental albums and archives, now the property of The Gurkha Museum in Winchester and we are most grateful for their permission to use them. Other images have been willingly provided by individuals, too many to name, but to whom we are equally grateful.

We welcome your feedback and questions via the Contact page. Jai Sixth!

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