Dates: 1994 -
The Royal Gurkha Rifles (RGR) is a regiment of the British Army, forming part of the Brigade of Gurkhas. The Royal Gurkha Rifles are now the sole infantry regiment of the British Army Gurkhas. Like the other Gurkha regiments of the British and Indian armies, the regiment is recruited from Gurkhas from Nepal, which is a nation independent of the United Kingdom and not a member of the Commonwealth. The regiment was formed in 1994 from the amalgamation of the four separate Gurkha regiments in the British Army:
* 2nd King Edward VII’s Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)
* 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles
* 7th Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Gurkha Rifles
* 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles
The Royal Gurkha Rifles are considered to be some of the finest soldiers in the world, as is evidenced by the high regard they are held in for both their fighting skill, and their smartness of turnout on parade. Their standard of drill is considered to be on a par with that of the Foot Guards and in July 1997 the regiment mounted the guard at Buckingham Palace.
In December 1995, Lieutenant-Colonel Bijaykumar Rawat became the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, the first Nepalese to become a battalion commander in the RGR. He oversaw the departure of the battalion from Hong Kong just before that city’s transfer to Chinese control, and the battalion’s relocation to Church Crookham, Hampshire in 1996. Their motto is: Better to die than live a coward.
Added on 19/03/2010 * 1st Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles (1994- ); formed by the amalgamation of the 1st Bn, 2nd King Edward VIIs Own Gurkha Rifles and 1st Bn, 6th Queen Elizabeths Own Gurkha Rifles.
* 2nd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles (1994- ); formed by renaming the 1st Bn, 7th Duke of Edinburghs Own Gurkha Rifles.
* 3rd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles (1994-1996); formed by renaming the 1st Bn, 10th Princess Marys Own Gurkha Rifles. Amalgamated with the 2nd Bn, Royal Gurkha Rifles in 1996 as part of run down of British forces in Hong Kong.
The two battalions of the RGR are formed as light role infantry; they are not equipped with either armoured or wheeled vehicles. One battalion is based at Shorncliffe, near Folkestone in Kent as part of 52 Infantry Brigade, and is available for deployment to most areas in Europe and Africa. The other is based at the British garrison in Brunei as part of Britains commitment to maintaining a military presence in SE Asia. The two battalions rotate in each role, usually for three years at a time.
As part of the restructuring of the infantry, the UK based battalion was transferred from 2 Infantry Brigade to 52 Infantry Brigade, to be given a more mainstream role. Together with the Royal Irish Regiment and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5 SCOTS), the UK based RGR battalion will rotate as part of 16 Air Assault Brigade—it will spend five years with this formation, followed by two years as a light infantry battalion with 52 Brigade. 2RGR will take on this role for the first time in 2010.
The proximity to Afghanistan has meant that the Brunei based battalion has been called upon to deploy as part of the British force. Twice during its most recent Brunei posting the 2nd Battalion was deployed as the Afghanistan Roulement Infantry Battalion, while the 1st Battalion deployed as part of 52 Infantry Brigade in late 2007. During this tour, Cornet HRH Prince Henry of Wales was attached for a period to the 1RGR battlegroup as a Forward Air Controller.
Added on 19/03/2010 * 1st Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles (1994- ); formed by the amalgamation of the 1st Bn, 2nd King Edward VIIs Own Gurkha Rifles and 1st Bn, 6th Queen Elizabeths Own Gurkha Rifles.
* 2nd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles (1994- ); formed by renaming the 1st Bn, 7th Duke of Edinburghs Own Gurkha Rifles.
* 3rd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles (1994-1996); formed by renaming the 1st Bn, 10th Princess Marys Own Gurkha Rifles. Amalgamated with the 2nd Bn, Royal Gurkha Rifles in 1996 as part of run down of British forces in Hong Kong.
The two battalions of the RGR are formed as light role infantry; they are not equipped with either armoured or wheeled vehicles. One battalion is based at Shorncliffe, near Folkestone in Kent as part of 52 Infantry Brigade, and is available for deployment to most areas in Europe and Africa. The other is based at the British garrison in Brunei as part of Britains commitment to maintaining a military presence in SE Asia. The two battalions rotate in each role, usually for three years at a time.
As part of the restructuring of the infantry, the UK based battalion was transferred from 2 Infantry Brigade to 52 Infantry Brigade, to be given a more mainstream role. Together with the Royal Irish Regiment and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5 SCOTS), the UK based RGR battalion will rotate as part of 16 Air Assault Brigade—it will spend five years with this formation, followed by two years as a light infantry battalion with 52 Brigade. 2RGR will take on this role for the first time in 2010.
The proximity to Afghanistan has meant that the Brunei based battalion has been called upon to deploy as part of the British force. Twice during its most recent Brunei posting the 2nd Battalion was deployed as the Afghanistan Roulement Infantry Battalion, while the 1st Battalion deployed as part of 52 Infantry Brigade in late 2007. During this tour, Cornet HRH Prince Henry of Wales was attached for a period to the 1RGR battlegroup as a Forward Air Controller.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving Royal Gurkha Rifles
" Following a meeting of the Government’s South-East Asia Emergency Committee, Chaired by the Prime Minister, it was agreed to send 120 Gurkhas of the 2nd Btn Royal Gurkha Rifles, based in Brunei, to Indonesia to assist in the disater relief. Two helicopters were also to be made available. The ..."
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" Twenty-Six, Victoria Crosses have been won by Gurkha Regiments. The Victoria Cross is the most honored and prestigious award for valor and heroism in the line of duty awarded by the British Government. Nepali Gurkhas have won thirteen Victoria Crosses, including countless other military awards. ..."
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" Regimental Nicknames Liberated from ARRSEpedia I was reading through this & thought you crowd might enjoy it. Royal Armoured Corps Household Cavalry Regiment Piccadilly Cowboys Donkey Wallopers 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards Queen’s Dancing Girls 9th/12th Royal ..."
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" 1 hour 41 mins ago ITN A British soldier has been killed in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. Skip related content The soldier, from 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, was killed as a result of enemy fire just south of Musa Qala. He received medical treatment at the scene, but ..."
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" Defence News A History and Honour news article 5 Nov 08 Four soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles (1 RGR) were each awarded the Military Cross by the Queen yesterday in recognition for their individual acts of bravery while recently deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Their ..."
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