1) There have been 26 Victoria Crosses awarded to members of Gurkha Regiments. The first was awarded in 1858 and the last in 1965. 13 of the recipients were British Officers who served in the Brigade.
2) Whilst the majority of Gurkhas that complete training with the British Army in Nepal will join our Army, around 80 annually are selected to join the Gurkha contingent (GC) of the Singapore Police Force. The GC itself is always headed by a British officer, seconded from the British Army.
3) The Gurkhas were originally enemies of the British 200 years ago during the Anglo-Nepalese War. After the war finished, we were so impressed with their talent that we started hiring them for our own military forces.
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| A painting of British Soldiers facing off against Gurkha warriors in the Anglo-Nepalese War |
4) Each year a whopping 17,000 people apply to join the Gurkhas, but only 230 are make it through to be recruited.
5) There are two Gurkha officers who directly attend official state events with the Queen. They are called the Queen's Gurkha Orderly Officers, and they've been present at all state affairs since the Gurkha's introduction during Queen Victoria's reign.
6) The 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles is based at Shorncliffe in Kent as part of the elite 16 Air Assault Brigade, allowing its soldiers to wear the coveted Maroon beret, and is available for deployment to most areas in Europe and Africa.
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| Soldiers from 1st Batallion Royal Gurkha Rifles, part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, wearing the famous Maroon Beret |
7) All of the British Officers serving in the Gurkhas are fluent in Nepalese, allowing them to communicate with their troops.
8) In 1995, Lieutenant-Colonel Bijaykumar Rawat became the first native Nepalese to lead a Battalion of Gurkhas in the British Army, when he became Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles. He lead his Battalion's withdrawal from Hong Kong when the territory was handed over to China in 1997.
9) Prince Harry was attached to 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles as a Forward Air Controller for a period whilst serving in Afghanistan.
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| Prince Harry in Afghanistan with Gurkha soldiers |
10) Corporal Dip Prasad Pun of the 1st battalion (1 RGR) was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for an act of bravery during the War in Afghanistan in 2010. He alone defended his outpost against a force of up to 12 Taliban fighters. He fired more than 400 rounds, 17 grenades, and one mine. He resorted to fighting with his machine gun tripod after his ammunition had run out.
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| Corporal Dip Pradad Pun receiving the Conspicuous Gallantry cross from HM The Queen |
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