Editing Gurkha (section)

== Other ==

=== Victoria Cross recipients ===
{{Main|List of Brigade of Gurkhas recipients of the Victoria Cross}}

There have been 26 [[Victoria Cross]]es (VC) awarded to soldiers of Gurkha regiments.{{sfn|Parker|2005|pp=391–393}} The first was awarded in 1858 and the last in 1965.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brigade of Gurkhas; Honours and Awards: Victoria Cross |url=http://army.mod.uk/gurkhas/7561.aspx |website=British Army |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=27 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205193507/http://army.mod.uk/gurkhas/7561.aspx |archive-date=5 February 2009}}</ref> Thirteen of the recipients have been British officers serving with Gurkha regiments. Since 1915, the majority have been awarded to Gurkhas serving in the ranks as private soldiers or NCOs.{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=xvii}} Since Indian independence in 1947, Gurkhas serving in the Indian Army have been awarded three ''[[Param Vir Chakra]]s'', which are equivalent to the Victoria Cross.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prideofindia.net/param.html|title=Param Vir Chakra|work=Pride of India.net|access-date=29 May 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525075456/http://prideofindia.net/param.html|archive-date=25 May 2011}}</ref>

Two [[George Cross]] (GC) medals have been awarded to Gurkha soldiers for acts of bravery.{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=xvii}} The George Cross (GC) is the highest award bestowed by the British government for non-operational gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. In the UK honours system, the George Cross is equal in stature to the Victoria Cross. This has been the case since the introduction of the George Cross in 1940.<ref>{{cite web |title=Decorations, Gallantry and Distinguished Conduct medals: George Cross |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility |website=UK Government |access-date=27 January 2021 |archive-date=23 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623150944/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Treatment of Gurkhas in the United Kingdom ===
[[File:Nick Clegg being presented a Gurkha Hat, by a Gurkha veteran.jpg|thumb|left|[[Nick Clegg]] being presented a Gurkha Hat by a Gurkha veteran during his [[Maidstone]] visit, to celebrate the success of their joint campaign for the right to live in the UK, 2009]]

The treatment of Gurkhas and their families was the subject of controversy in the United Kingdom once it became widely known that Gurkhas received smaller pensions than their British counterparts.{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=334}} The nationality status of Gurkhas and their families was also an area of dispute, with claims that some ex-army Nepali families were being denied residency and forced to leave Britain. On 8 March 2007 the [[British Government]] announced that all Gurkhas who signed up after 1 July 1997 would receive a pension equivalent to that of their British counterparts. In addition, Gurkhas would, for the first time, be able to transfer to another army unit after five years' service and women would also be allowed to join, although not in first-line units, conforming to the British Army's policy. The act also guaranteed residency rights in the UK for retired Gurkhas and their families.

Despite the changes, many Gurkhas who had not served long enough to entitle them to a pension faced hardship on their return to Nepal, and some critics derided the government's decision to only award the new pension and citizenship entitlement to those joining after 1 July 1997, claiming that this left many ex-Gurkha servicemen still facing a financially uncertain retirement. An advocacy group, [[Gurkha Justice Campaign]],<ref name="gurkha justice">{{cite web |url=http://gurkhajustice.org.uk/ |title=Gurkha Justice Campaign |access-date=31 January 2011 |last=Lumley |first=Joanna |author-link=Joanna Lumley |publisher=Gurkha Justice Campaign |archive-date=23 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723232706/http://gurkhajustice.org.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> joined the debate in support of the Gurkhas.

In a landmark ruling on 30 September 2008, [[Nicholas Blake (judge)|Mr Justice Blake]] in the High Court in London decided that the Home Secretary's policy allowing Gurkhas who left the Army before 1997 to apply for settlement in the United Kingdom was irrationally restrictive in its criteria, and overturned it. He upheld the claim of six Gurkha soldiers for the right to settle in Britain at the end of their service, reciting the Military Covenant and observing that granting them residence in Britain "would, in my judgment, be a vindication and an enhancement of this covenant".<ref name="Gurkha judgement">Paragraph 72, Limbu & Ors, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department & Ors [http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2008/2261.html 2008 EWHC 2261] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017165920/http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2008/2261.html |date=17 October 2019 }} (Admin) (30 September 2008).</ref> In response to the decision of the High Court, the Home Office said it would review all cases that were affected by it.<ref name="bbc_764">{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7644441.stm | title = Gurkhas win right to stay in UK | access-date = 2 September 2011 | date = 30 September 2008 | work = BBC News | archive-date = 1 August 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200801111643/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7644441.stm | url-status = live }}</ref>

On 29 April 2009 a motion introduced by the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] that all Gurkhas be offered equal right of residence was passed in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] by 267 votes to 246. This was the only first-day motion defeat for a government since 1978. [[Nick Clegg]], the Liberal Democrat leader, stated that "this is an immense victory ... for the rights of Gurkhas who have been waiting so long for justice, a victory for Parliament, a victory for decency." He added that it was "the kind of thing people want this country to do".<ref name="bbc_802">{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8023882.stm | title = Brown defeated over Gurkha rules | access-date = 31 January 2011 | date = 29 April 2009 | work = BBC News | quote = Gordon Brown's government has suffered a shock defeat in the Commons on its policy of restricting the right of many former Gurkhas to settle in the UK. MPs voted by 267 to 246 for a Lib Dem motion offering all Gurkhas equal right of residence, with the Tories and 27 Labour rebels backing it. | archive-date = 26 February 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210226224824/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8023882.stm | url-status = live }}</ref>

On 21 May 2009 Home Secretary [[Jacqui Smith]] announced that all Gurkha veterans who retired before 1997 with at least four years service would be allowed to settle in the UK. Actress [[Joanna Lumley]], daughter of Gurkha corps Major James Lumley who had highlighted the treatment of the Gurkhas and campaigned for their rights, commented, "This is the welcome we have always longed to give".<ref name="bbc_806">{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8060607.stm | title = Gurkhas win right to settle in UK | access-date = 31 January 2011 | date = 21 May 2009 | work = BBC News | quote = All Gurkha veterans who retired before 1997 with at least four years' service will be allowed to settle in the UK, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said. Ms Smith told MPs she was 'proud to offer this country's welcome to all who have served in the brigade of Gurkhas'. It comes after a high-profile campaign by Joanna Lumley and other supporters of Gurkha rights&nbsp;– and an embarrassing Commons defeat for the government. | archive-date = 31 October 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211031114509/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8060607.stm | url-status = live }}</ref>

A charity, [[Gurkha Welfare Trust|The Gurkha Welfare Trust]], provides aid to alleviate hardship and distress among Gurkha ex-servicemen.{{sfn|Parker|2005|pp=379–383}}

On 9 June 2015, a celebration called the Gurkha 200, held at The Royal Hospital Chelsea and attended by members of the royal family, commemorated the bicentennial of the Gurkha Welfare Trust by paying tribute to Gurkha culture and military service.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Gurkha 200|url = http://www.gurkha200.co.uk/|website = Gurkha 200|access-date = 2015-06-09|archive-date = 30 May 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150530025326/http://www.gurkha200.co.uk/|url-status = live}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=April 2017}}

Gurkha Square in [[Fleet, Hampshire|Fleet]], Hampshire, which contains the Fleet war memorial, is named after the Gurkhas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fleethants.com/allhistory/gurkhas/main1.htm|title=The Brigade of Gurkhas|website=www.fleethants.com|access-date=2019-07-16|archive-date=13 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913185226/http://www.fleethants.com/allhistory/gurkhas/main1.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Settlement rights====
A 2008 [[High Court of Justice|UK High Court]] decision on a test case in London, ''R. (on the application of Limbu) v Secretary of State for the Home Department'' [2008] EWHC 2261 (Admin), acknowledged the "debt of honour" to Gurkhas discharged before 1997. The Home Secretary's policy allowing veterans to apply on a limited set of criteria (such as connection to the United Kingdom) was quashed as being unduly restrictive. The Court found that the Gurkhas had suffered a "historic injustice" and that the policy was irrational in failing to take into account factors such as length of service or particularly meritorious conduct.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7644441.stm | work=BBC News | title=Gurkhas win right to stay in UK | date=30 September 2008 | access-date=30 September 2008 | archive-date=2 October 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002005652/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7644441.stm | url-status=live }}</ref>