Editing Gurkha (section)

== British Indian Army (c. 1857–1947) ==
[[File:The Nusseree Battalion.JPG|thumb|The Nusseree Battalion, later known as the ''1st Gurkha Rifles'', {{c.|1857}}]]
[[File:1857 hindu raos house2.jpg|thumb|left|[[Hindu Rao]]'s house shortly after the siege]]
[[File:Gurkhas NavyAndArmyIllustrated1896.jpg|thumb|Gurkha soldiers (1896). The centre figure wears the dark green dress uniform worn by all Gurkhas in British service, with certain regimental distinctions.]]

From the end of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 until the start of [[World War I]], the Gurkha Regiments saw active service in [[Burma]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Northeast India]] and the [[Military history of the North-West Frontier|North-West Frontier]] of India, Malta (the [[Russo-Turkish War, 1877–78]]), Cyprus, Malaya, China (the [[Boxer Rebellion]] of 1900) and Tibet ([[British expedition to Tibet|Younghusband's Expedition]] of 1905).

After the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]], the [[British Raj|British authorities in India]] feared the inclusion of [[Hindu]] castes in the army. They discouraged [[Brahmin]]ical influence in the military and considered the Hindu castes more susceptible to Brahminical values.{{sfn|Singh|1997|p=221}} As a result, they discouraged the inclusion of [[Thakuri]] and [[Khas]] groups in the Gorkha units{{sfn|Singh|1997|p=221}} and refused to recruit tribes other than [[Gurung]]s and [[Magars]] for Gorkha units.{{sfn|Singh|1997|pp=220–221}} They also exerted diplomatic pressure on Prime Minister [[Bir Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana]] to ensure that at least 75% of new recruits were [[Gurung]]s and [[Magars]].{{sfn|Singh|1997|p=221}}

Between 1901 and 1906, the Gurkha regiments were renumbered from the 1st to the 10th and re-designated as the Gurkha Rifles. In this time the Brigade of Gurkhas, as the regiments came to be collectively known, was expanded to 20 battalions in the ten regiments.{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=79}}

[[File:5thRoyalGurkhaRiflesNorth-WestFrontier1923.JPG|thumb|left|2nd/5th [[Royal Gurkha Rifles]], North-West Frontier 1923]]

During [[World War I]] (1914–1918) more than 200,000 Gurkhas served in the British Army, suffering approximately 20,000 casualties and receiving almost 2,000 gallantry awards.{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=xvii}} The number of Gurkha battalions was increased to 33, and Gurkha units were placed at the disposal of the British high command by the Gurkha government for service on all fronts. Many Gurkha volunteers served in non-combatant roles, serving in units such as the Army Bearer Corps and the labour battalions.

A large number also served in combat in France, Turkey, Palestine, and Iraq.{{sfn|Chappell|1993|p=9}} They served on the battlefields of [[France]] in the battles of [[Battle of Loos|Loos]], [[Battle of Givenchy|Givenchy]], and [[Battle of Neuve Chapelle|Neuve Chapelle]]; in [[Belgium]] at the battle of [[Ypres]]; in [[Iraq]], [[Iran|Persia]], [[Suez Canal]] and [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] against Turkish advance, [[Battle of Gallipoli|Gallipoli]] and [[Salonika]].{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=99}} One detachment served with [[Lawrence of Arabia]]. During the Battle of Loos (June–December 1915) a battalion of the 8th Gurkhas fought to the last man, hurling themselves time after time against the weight of the German defences, and in the words of the Indian Corps commander, Lt. Gen. Sir [[James Willcocks]], "found its Valhalla".<ref>Sengupta 2007.</ref>

During the unsuccessful [[Gallipoli Campaign]] in 1915, the Gurkhas were among the first to arrive and the last to leave. The 1st/6th Gurkhas, having landed at [[Cape Helles]], led the assault during the first major operation to take a Turkish high point, and in doing so captured a feature that later became known as "Gurkha Bluff".{{sfn|Parker|2005|pp=117–118}} At Sari Bair they were the only troops in the whole campaign to reach and hold the crest line and look down on the straits, which was the ultimate objective.{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=121}} The 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Gurkha Rifles (2nd/3rd Gurkha Rifles) fought in the conquest of [[Baghdad]].

Following the end of the war, the Gurkhas were returned to India, and during the inter-war years were largely kept away from the internal strife and urban conflicts of the sub-continent, instead being employed largely on the frontiers and in the hills where fiercely independent tribesmen were a constant source of trouble.{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=150}}

As such, between the World Wars the Gurkha regiments fought in the [[Third Afghan War]] in 1919. The regiments then participated in numerous campaigns on the North-West Frontier, mainly in [[Waziristan]], where they were employed as garrison troops defending the frontier. They kept the peace among the local populace and engaged with the lawless and often openly hostile [[Pashtun people|Pathan tribesmen]].{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}

During this time the North-West Frontier was the scene of considerable political and civil unrest and troops stationed at Razmak, Bannu, and Wanna saw extensive action.<ref>For more detail see {{harvnb|Barthorp|2002|p=}}.{{page needed|date=June 2011}}</ref>

[[File:Ghurkas in action with a 6-pdr anti-tank gun in Tunisia, 16 March 1943. NA1103.jpg|thumb|right|Gurkhas in action with a [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder|six-pounder anti-tank gun]] in Tunisia, 16 March 1943]]

During [[World War II]] (1939–1945) there were ten Gurkha regiments, with two battalions each, making a total of 20 pre-war battalions.<ref name="Cross31">Cross & Gurung 2002, p. 31.</ref> Following the [[Dunkirk evacuation]] of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF) in 1940, the Nepalese government offered to increase recruitment to enlarge the number of Gurkha battalions in British service to 35.{{sfn|Parker|2005|pp=157–158}} This would eventually rise to 43 battalions.

In order to achieve the increased number of battalions, third and fourth battalions were raised for all ten regiments, with fifth battalions also being raised for 1 GR, 2 GR and 9 GR.<ref name="Cross31" /> This expansion required ten training centers to be established for basic training and regimental records across India. In addition, five training battalions (14 GR, 29 GR, 38 GR, 56 GR and 710 GR) were raised, while other units (25 GR and 26 GR) were raised as garrison battalions for keeping the peace in India and defending rear areas.<ref name="Cross32">Cross & Gurung 2002, p. 32.</ref> Large numbers of Gurkha men were also recruited for non-Gurkha units, and other specialized duties such as paratroops, signals, engineers and military police.

A total of 250,280<ref name="Cross32" /> Gurkhas served in 40 battalions, plus eight [[Nepalese Army]] battalions, parachute, training, garrison and porter units during the war,<ref>Osprey Military Elite Series #49 The Gurkhas by Mike Chappell 1993 {{ISBN|1-85532-357-5}}</ref> in almost all theatres. In addition to keeping peace in India, Gurkhas fought in [[Syria]], [[North Africa]], [[Italy]], [[Greece]] and against the Japanese in the jungles of [[Burma Campaign|Burma]], [[Battle of Imphal|northeast India]] and also [[Battle of Singapore|Singapore]].<ref name="PARTICIPANTS-INDIAN-SUBCONTINENT">{{cite web|title=Participants from the Indian subcontinent in the Second World War|url=http://www.mgtrust.org/ind2.htm|access-date=27 February 2007|archive-date=13 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070113150835/http://www.mgtrust.org/ind2.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> They did so with distinction, earning 2,734 bravery awards in the process<ref name="Cross32" /> and suffering around 32,000 casualties in all theatres.<ref>See {{harvnb|Parker|2005|p=xvii}}. Gurkha casualties in the Second World War were 8,985 killed or missing and 23,655 wounded.</ref>

=== Gurkha military rank system in the British Indian Army ===
Gurkha ranks in the British Indian Army followed the same pattern as those used throughout the rest of the Indian Army at that time.<ref>Cross & Gurung 2002, p. 33.</ref> As in the British Army itself, there were three distinct levels: private soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and commissioned officers. Gurkha commissioned officers in Gurkha regiments held a "Viceroy's Commission", distinct from the King's or Queen's Commission that British officers serving with a Gurkha regiment held. Any Gurkha holding a commission was technically subordinate to any British officer, regardless of rank.<ref name="Cross34">Cross & Gurung 2002, p. 34.</ref>

[[File:5th Gurkha Rifles, Japan 1946.jpg|thumb|The 2nd/5th Royal Gurkha Rifles marching through Kure soon after their arrival in Japan in May 1946 as part of the Allied forces of occupation]]

==== Rank equivalents in modern Indian and British Armies ====
{|class=wikitable
|-
! British Indian Army !! Modern Indian Army !! British Army<ref>Source: Cross & Gurung 2002, pp.&nbsp;33–34</ref> !! [[Ranks and insignia of NATO|NATO code]]
|-
!colspan=4|[[Viceroy's commissioned officer|Viceroy Commissioned Officer]]s (VCOs, &ndash;1947) and [[Junior commissioned officer|Junior Commissioned Officer]]s (JCOs, 1947&ndash;)
|-
| [[Subedar Major]]||[[Subedar Major]]||no equivalent||{{N/A}}
|-
| [[Subedar]] || [[Subedar]]||no equivalent||{{N/A}}
|-
| [[Jemadar]] || [[Naib Subedar]]||no equivalent||{{N/A}}
|-
!colspan=4|Warrant officers
|-
| [[Regimental Havildar Major]]||[[Regimental Havildar Major]]||[[Warrant Officer Class 1]]||OR-9
|-
| [[Company Havildar Major]]||[[Company Havildar Major]]||[[Warrant Officer Class 2]]||OR-8
|-
!colspan=4|Non-commissioned officers
|-
| [[Company Quartermaster Havildar]]||[[Company Quartermaster Havildar]]||[[Colour Sergeant]]||OR-7
|-
| [[Havildar]]||[[Havildar]]||[[Sergeant]]||OR-6, OR-5
|-
| [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]|| [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]||[[Corporal]]||OR-4
|-
| [[Lance Naik]]||[[Lance Naik]]||[[Lance Corporal]]||OR-3
|-
!colspan=4|Enlisted
|-
| (no rank)||(no rank)||[[Other ranks|Private]]||OR-2, OR-1
|}
'''Notes'''
* British Army officers received Queen's or King's Commissions, but Gurkha officers in this system received the Viceroy's Commission. After Indian independence in 1947, Gurkha officers in regiments which became part of the British Army received the King's (later Queen's) Gurkha Commission, and were known as King's/Queen's Gurkha Officers (KGO/QGO). Gurkha officers had no authority to command troops of British regiments. The QGO Commission was abolished in 2007.
* [[Jemadar]]s and [[subedar]]s normally served as platoon commanders and company 2ICs but were junior to all British officers, while the subedar major was the Commanding Officer's advisor on the men and their welfare. For a long time it was impossible for Gurkhas to progress further, except that an honorary lieutenancy or captaincy was (very rarely) bestowed upon a Gurkha on retirement.<ref name="Cross34" />
* The equivalent ranks in the post-1947 Indian Army were (and are) known as Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs). They retained the traditional rank titles used in the British Indian Army: Jemadar (later Naib Subedar), Subedar and Subedar Major.
* While in principle any British subject may apply for a commission without having served in the ranks, Gurkhas cannot. It was customary for a Gurkha soldier to rise through the ranks and prove his ability before his regiment would consider offering him a commission.<ref name="Cross34" />
* From the 1920s Gurkhas could also receive King's Indian Commissions, and later full King's or Queen's Commissions, which put them on a par with British officers. This was rare until after the Second World War.
* Gurkha officers commissioned from the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]] and Short Service Officers regularly fill appointments up to the rank of major. At least two Gurkhas have been promoted to lieutenant colonel and there is theoretically now no bar to further progression.<ref name="Cross34" />
* After 1948, the [[Brigade of Gurkhas]] (part of the British Army) was formed and adopted standard British Army rank structure and nomenclature, except for the three Viceroy Commission ranks between Warrant Officer 1 and Second Lieutenant (jemadar, subedar and subedar major) which remained, albeit with different rank titles Lieutenant (Queens Gurkha Officer), Captain (QGO) and Major (QGO). The QGO commission was abolished in 2007; Gurkha soldiers are currently commissioned as Late Entry Officers (as above).<ref name="Cross34" />

=== Regiments of the Gurkha Rifles (c.&nbsp;1815–1947) ===
[[File:Gurkha Memorial, Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire.jpg|thumb|upright|Memorial of [[10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles]], [[Winchester Cathedral]], [[Hampshire]]]]
[[File:Princess Mary's Own.JPG|thumb|Princess Mary's Own|300px]]

* [[1GR|1st King George V's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)]] (raised 1815, allocated to Indian Army at independence in 1947)
* [[2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)]] (raised 1815, allocated to British Army in 1948)
* [[3GR|3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles]] (raised 1815, allocated to Indian Army at independence in 1947)
* [[4 Gorkha Rifles|4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles]] (raised 1857, allocated to Indian Army at independence in 1947)
* [[5GR|5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)]] (raised 1858, allocated to Indian Army at independence in 1947)
* [[6th Gurkha Rifles]], renamed [[6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles]] in 1959 (raised 1817, allocated to British Army in 1948)
* [[7th Gurkha Rifles]], renamed [[7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles]] in 1959 (raised 1902, allocated to British Army in 1948)
* [[8th Gurkha Rifles]] (raised 1824, allocated to Indian Army at independence in 1947)
* [[9th Gurkha Rifles]] (raised 1817, allocated to Indian Army at independence in 1947)
* [[10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles]] (raised 1890, allocated to British Army in 1948)
* [[11th Gurkha Rifles]] (1918–1922; raised again by India{{snd}}[[11 Gorkha Rifles]]{{snd}}following independence in 1947)
* [[25th Gurkha Rifles]] (1942–1946)
* [[26th Gurkha Rifles]] (1943–1946)
* [[29th Gurkha Rifles]] (1943–1946)
* [[42nd Gurkha Rifles]] (raised 1817 as the [[Cuttack Legion]], renamed 6th Gurkha Rifles in 1903)
* [[44th Gurkha Rifles]] (raised 1824 as the [[16th (Sylhet) Local Battalion]], renamed 8th Gurkha Rifles in 1903)

=== Second World War training battalions ===
* 14th Gurkha Rifles Training Battalion<ref name="oob115" />
* 29th Gurkha Rifles Training Battalion
* 38th Gurkha Rifles Training Battalion<ref name="oob115" />
* 56th Gurkha Rifles Training Battalion<ref name="oob115" />
* 710th Gurkha Rifles Training Battalion<ref name="oob115">{{cite web |access-date=19 October 2009 |publisher=Order of Battle |title=115 Infantry Brigade Subordanates |url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=63267&Tab=Sub |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120225212041/http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=63267&Tab=Sub |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 February 2012 }}</ref>