5th Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force)


5th Gorkha Rifles, also abbreviated as 5 GR and previously 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army comprising Gurkha soldiers of Nepalese origin. It was formed in 1858 as part of the British Indian Army.
The regiment's battalions served in the First World War and Second World War.
The regiment was known as the 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles when it was one of the Gurkha regiments that was transferred to the Indian Army following the independence of Indian and Pakistan in 1947 and given its current name in 1950.
Since 1947, the regiment has served in a number of conflicts, including the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. It has also participated in peacekeeping operations in Sri Lanka.

History

19th century

The regiment was raised by Major HFM Boisragon in 1858 as the 25th Native Punjab Infantry, also known as the "Hazara Goorkha Battalion".
The soldiers of the regiment originated from the Kingdom of Nepal and in 1861 it was renamed the 5th Gurkha Regiment. The regiment's first major action was during the Second Afghan War, where they were awarded their first battle honour at Peiwar Kotal and Captain John Cook was awarded the Victoria Cross. In this conflict, soldier Kishanbir Nagarkoti won the Indian Order of Merit thrice, and a fourth time in the Hazara conflict of 1888. In 1891 the regiment was awarded the prestigious title of a Rifle regiment and became 5th Gurkha Regiment which was shortened to 5th Gurkha Rifles in 1901.
The regiment spent most of its time up to the end of the 19th century based in the Punjab as part of the Punjab Frontier Force, and its regimental centre was at the frontier hill town of Abbottabad, in the Hazara region of North-West Frontier Province. This connection was reflected when in 1903, the regiment was renamed the 5th Gurkha Rifles .

First World War

During the First World War, the regiment primarily saw service in the Middle East—the 1st Battalion saw extensive and hard service at Gallipoli in 1915. During the withdrawal, ‘C’ company of the 1st Battalion, 5th Gurkhas were among the last troops to leave.
The 2nd Battalion initially served in India with the 2nd Division before transferring to Mesopotamia in April 1916 and joining the 42nd Indian Brigade, 15th Indian Division. The 1st Battalion joined them in March 1917 from the 1st Division and both battalions fought together at the action of Khan Baghdadi. A 3rd Battalion was raised for service on the North-West Frontier at Ferozepore on 28 November 1916, before being disbanded in 1921.

Inter-War period

In 1921, the regiment was given the title the 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles, in recognition of its service during the First World War. During the inter-war period, the regiment received three further battle honours, for the Third Afghan War in 1919, and two for service on the North West Frontier. The regiment together with the 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers were the only units awarded such honours.

Second World War

During the Second World War, the 1st Battalion, 5th Gurkhas as part of the 8th Indian Infantry Division's 17th Indian Infantry Brigade served in the Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre. Rifleman Thaman Gurung of the 1st Battalion won the Victoria Cross while serving in Italy.
The 2nd Battalion served in the Far East in the Burma Campaign as part of the 17th Indian Infantry Division and was involved in the retreat of the British Indian Army from Burma; they were also one of four battalions chosen to fight as the rearguard at the Sittang River, which formed the border with India. When the bridge over the river was blown up, preventing the Japanese forces from entering India, many of the regiment were left on the wrong side. The regiment was involved in the re-entry into Burma in 1943 where three members of the regiment were awarded the Victoria Cross. After the war, the 2nd Battalion was issued with new uniforms, equipment and transport and posted to Tokyo in Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.
The 3rd Battalion was re-raised at Abbotabad on 1 October 1940 and served as part of the 37th Indian Infantry Brigade and was involved in the Battle of Imphal although understrength.
The 4th Battalion was raised in 1941 and also served in the Burma Campaign as part of the 7th Indian Infantry Division, fighting in five battles at North Arakan, Buthidaung, Kohima, Pakkoku and Sittang. The battalion had the unique distinction of getting four Battle Honours for the five battles fought. Major I. M. Brown of the 4th Battalion was one of the few soldiers of the Second World War who was awarded the Military Cross three times.
The 5th battalion was raised on 1 October 1940 as Third Battalion of the 6th Gurkha Rifles at Abbotabad. On 1 January 1948, the battalion was re-designated as Fifth Battalion of the 5th Gorkha Rifles. The battalion took part in the Chindit operations in Burma as part of 77 Independent Infantry Brigade. The battalion demonstrated extraordinary bravery in the capture of Mogaung on 23 June 1944, earning two Victoria Crosses in a single day—a rare feat in a single battle.
File:5th Gurkha Rifles, Japan 1946.jpg|thumb|300px|The 2nd Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles marching through Kure soon after arriving in Japan to join the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.

Post Independence

On Independence, the 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles was one of the six Gurkha regiments that remained part of the new Indian Army; they were renamed the 5th Gorkha Rifles in 1950. The Regiment now has a total of six Battalions and has participated in virtually every major action the Indian Army has undertaken in its four wars with Pakistan, including the first heliborne operations undertaken by the army during the 1971 war. The regiment has participated in the following actions:
The 1st and 4th Battalions were also a part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force which served in Sri Lanka and fought against the LTTE. During this deployment, the 4th Battalion's commander, Lieutenant Colonel Bawa, was injured and later died, along with many of his officers and soldiers. The regiment's present headquarters are at Shillong, in North-Eastern India.

Lineage

1858-1861: 25th Punjab Infantry
1861-1891: 5th Gurkha Regiment
1891-1901: 5th Gurkha Regiment
1901-1903: 5th Gurkha Rifles
1903-1921: 5th Gurkha Rifles
1921-1950: 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles
1950-present: 5th Gorkha Rifles.

Regimental Battalions and Affiliations

The regiment has won the following gallantry awards-
The regimental crest has undergone several changes. At raising, the crest consisted of an eight pointed star, inscribed with a garter and the number 25 in the centre, and the whole mounted by a Tudor Crown. In 1861, following the change of the regiment's title to 5th Goorkha Regiment, the crest was modified to two khukris pointing upwards, with the number 5 written above the crossing of the handles of the khukris. In 1880, the number 5 was floriated and this badge was worn till 1925. In 1921, with the ‘Royal’ title, officers wore the crest superimposed by a Tudor Crown. The Imperial Lion was superimposed on the Tudor Crown from 1927 to distinguish its Royal Status. When India became a republic on 26 January 1950, the crown and lion were replaced by the Lion Capital of Ashoka. Interestingly, badges were never worn on the Gorkha Hat, as the double green band was enough to distinguish the 5th from other regiments.