4 Gorkha Rifles

The 4 Gorkha Rifles is a regiment of the Indian Army and was transferred from the British Indian Army at the time of India's independence in 1947. The regiment was formerly known as the 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles was originally a Gurkha regiment of the British Indian Army.

Early history

In 1857, it was decided to augment the existing Gurkha regiments by raising another. Initially, this was known as the Extra Goorkha Regiment, before being numbered as the 19th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry. In 1861 it was finally ranked as the 4th Goorkha Regiment.

The regiment's first major action was during the Second Afghan War, also seeing service on the North-West Frontier and during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.

First World War

During the First World War, the 1st Battalion served in France, participating in the battles of Givenchy, Neuve Chapelle and Ypres, while the 2nd Battalion saw service in Mesopotamia. A 3rd Battalion was authorised to be raised, but due to a clerical error, the 4th Battalion, 3rd Gurkha Rifles was raised instead of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Gurkha Rifles.

In 1924, the regiment became the 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles, with the Prince of Wales becoming Colonel-in-Chief.

Second World War

The regiment saw service in most theatres during the Second World War, including North Africa, Italy and the Far East.

The 1st Battalion served throughout the Burma Campaign. It suffered nearly 100% casualties (over 100% casualties among officers) during the Battle of Imphal. The 2nd Battalion saw service in Iraq and Syria. It was overrun by German armoured forces in North Africa in 1942, was rebuilt and subsequently fought in the Italian Campaign.

The 3rd Battalion was finally raised in 1940. It saw service with the Chindits in Burma. The 4th Battalion was raised in 1941. It also fought in Burma, distinguishing itself by storming Mandalay Hill in 1945.

4 Gorkha Rifles

Following India's independence in 1947, the 4th Gurkhas was one of the Gorkha regiments to be allocated to the Indian Army, becoming the 4 Gorkha Rifles in 1950. The third battalion fought a fine action at Bilafond La, at heights of nearly 20,000 feet in 1987. The First battalion was awarded the COAS Unit Citation in 2002, for its outstanding performance in counter terrorism operations in Kupwara dist, Kashmir.

The Regiment is unique in the Indian Army, as the battalions do not celebrate individual Raising Days. Regimental Day (called Neuve Chapelle - Baghdad Day) is celebrated on 11 March by the entire Regiment, commemorating the First Battalion's entry into the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in France and the Second Battalion's entry into Baghdad on that day(different years), during the First World War.

Battle honours

• Ali Masjid, Kabul 1879, Kandahar 1880, Afghanistan 1878-80, Chitral, Waziristan 1895, Tirah, Punjab Frontier, China 1900
• The Great War:Givenchy 1914, Neuve Chapelle, Ypres 1915, St. Julien, Aubers, Festubert 1915, France and Flanders 1914-15, Egypt 1916, Tigris 1916, Kut al Amara 1917, Baghdad, Mesopotamia 1916-18, Gallipoli 1915, N.W. Frontier India 1917, Baluchistan 1918
• Afghanistan 1919
• World War II: Iraq 1941, Syria 1941, The Cauldron, North Africa 1940-43, Trestina, Monte Cedrone, Italy 1943-45, Pegu 1942, Chindits 1944, Bishenpur, Shwebo, Mandalay, Burma 1942-45
• Post 1947:Punch, Gurais, Jammu and Kashmir 1947-48, Punjab 1965, Jammu and Kashmir 1971

References

4 Gorkha Rifles on Bharat-Rakshak.com