www.gurkhabde.com/publication The magazine for Gurkha Soldiers and their Families PARBVolAT 66 No 3: SeptemberE 2014 Gurkha permanent staff with the World Marathon Champion Mr Kiprotich during the Bupa Great North Run 2014 ii PARBATE Vol 66 No 3 September 2014 PARBATE ENTERING A MODERN ERA HQ Bde of Gurkhas, FASC, Sandhurst, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 4PQ. All enquiries Tel: 01276412614 / 94261 2614 Fax: 0127641 2694 / 94261 2694 Email: [email protected] Editor Cpl Sagar Sherchan 0127641 2614 [email protected] Comms Officer Cpl Sagar Sherchan GSPS Mr Ken Pike 0127641 2776 [email protected] elcomeelcome to to a a brand brand new new edition edition with with lots lots of of changes changes Please send your articles together with high WWinin terms terms of of the the outline outline and and design. design. Lots Lots of of attractive attractive quality photographs (min 300dpi), through your unit’s Parbate Rep, to: subjectssubjects and and some some great great photographs photographs from from around around the the globe globe The Editor, Parbate Office, awaitawait our our readers. readers. HQBG, FASC, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 4PQ AsA soperations operations in in Afghanistan Afghanistan gradually gradually wind wind down, down, Parbate is published every month by kind permission soldierssoldiers from from 1 1 RGR RGR settled settled in in Brunei Brunei focusing focusing on on getting getting of HQBG. It is not an official publication and the views expressed, unless specifically stated otherwise, do backback the the basics basics right right (page (page 2). 2). not reflect MOD or Army policy and are the personal views of the author. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the Editorial Staff. No AlsoAlso in in this this edition, edition, as as we we approach approach the the celebration celebration of of 200 200 years years responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised in this magazine can be accepted by the Editorial Staff or ofof Gurkha Gurkha service service to to the the British British Crown Crown in in 2015, 2015, we we recall recall the the first first Publishers and advertisements are accepted on the express condition that they in no way contravene the provisions of fewfew years years of of Gurkha Gurkha history history (page (page 8). 8). the Trades Descriptions Act 1968 nor any other prevailing Consumer Legislation. The Editorial Staff and Publishers cannot accept responsibility for the result of errors or NarrowlyNarrowly missing missing out out on on an an event event record record in in the the Trailwalker Trailwalker omissions in articles or advertisements. 2014,2014, 1 1 RGR RGR sang sang the the song song of of victory victory over over more more than than 50 50 teams teams Parbate is designed by the fromfrom different different units units across across the the British British Army Army and and some some non non AMC Design Studio, militarymilitary teams teams (page (page 10). 10). ADR004086 and produced using recycled paper. PostPost operations operations and and injury, injury, our our injured injured heroes heroes achieve achieve some some You can find out more about the greatgreat results results in in the the first first ever ever Invictus Invictus Games Games held held in in London. London. Gurkhas and see some of the things they do on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn FromFrom Operations Operations to to Invictus! Invictus! (page (page 22 22 ). ). Search for SportingSporting actions actions from from around around the the Brigade Brigade including including some some news news The Gurkha Brigade Association ofof success success in in boxing boxing and and rugby. rugby. Follow us @ Gurkha Bde Search for Gurkha Brigade Association Alternatively, visit our website: www.gurkhabde.com Front Cover: HRH The Princess Royal inspecting the parade at the opening of the Gurkha Memorial Chautara in NMA (p4) PARBATE Vol 66 No 3 September 2014 01 “ Obviously I have my disability but this is PARBATE an opportunity to do Vol 66 No. 3 - September 2014 inside... something to represent my country. I’m not FEATURES saying I like being this 04 Pacific Kukri way, but I have a 1 RGR deploys to New Zealand chance to bring 04 Royal Opening of Chautara something good out Gurkha Memorial opening of this disability and to show others what I am 06 Ex Delhi Scholar capable of.” Indian Mutiny Battlefield Tour From Operations to Invictus! 08 First few years of Gurkha service G200 part 1 10 Trail Walker 2014 22 1 RGR takes first place 11 OP Comet Gurkhas secure Commonwealth Games 13 QG Signals Gurkha Major changes Farewell bid to Maj Yam Rana 16 Nepali language Course Capt Simon Pearson-Burton takes the Doko challenge PARBATE SPORT 19 Best Boxer- Royal Corps of Signals Sig Yuwaraj Pun 21 Nepal Cup QGE wins this year’s Nepal Cup 21 Passion on Table Tennis Rfn Bibek Karki, 1 RGR 21 The Spartan Race Gurkha Coy Permanent Staff takes the challenge 22 Being Invictus Gurkha Heroes performs outstanding 22 The Great North Run Recruits from Gurkha Coy take their first ever run in front of the public Kushal Limbu, ex-servicemen from 2 RGR in action during the Men’s 100 meters final race in the Invictus Games held in London. 02 PARBATE Vol 66 No 3 September 2014 inside... “The hardest part was not the physical sessions that we 02suffered each day; it was the dieting I had to go through to get my weight down” - Sig Yuwaraj Pun 19 The Doko Trailwalker team makes history 10 “ Having missed the Olympics in 2012 while based in Brunei, it was once-in-a-lifetime event for us to be involved.“ - Cpl Nudan, 1 RGR 11 Ex PACIFIC KHUKURI By Lt Callum Jones, 1 RGR B Coy of bringing the Company’s mindset away s 1 RGR settled into its new tour of from the years of Counter Insurgency, and Brunei, training returned to focus back to the basics of conventional war, the Aon getting the basics right. training was centred on honing personal For B Coy this meant the initial few skills before progressing to the complexities months in the Jungle and then preparation of fighting as a Company. for an Overseas Exercise in New Zealand. B Coy deployed to Tekapo training area B Coy, 1RGR and attached personnel with elements of every Platoon within the deployed to New Zealand on the 7th April 14 Battalion’s Support Coy. For three weeks as part of Exercise Pacific Khukuri. The Coy individuals progressed from CQB through Group, led by Maj Leigh Roberts, started a to pairs, fire team, Section, Platoon and comprehensive live firing package focussing subsequently Coy live firing. This finished on conventional war fighting. With the aim with a 10 day final field exercise that included both blank and live firing training. Royal visit for Chautara opening With some 50,000 trees already planted, and 160 dedicated memorials established on the site, the Arboretum is a living tribute that will forever acknowledge the personal sacrifices made by the armed and civil services of this country. The President of the Gurkha Brigade Association, Lieutenant General Sir David Bill KCB escorted Her Royal Highness to the Guard of Honour provided by the Brigade of he Gurkha Chautara at the stone resting places used by the sherpas of Gurkhas, where she received a Royal Salute. National Memorial Arboretum Nepal. With some 20,000 Gurkhas having Field Officer, Major Mark Barratt OC 246 Twas officially opened by fought and died in the World Wars alone, the Gurkha Signal Squadron, 2 Signal Regiment, the Princess Royal on 23 Sep 14 to monument is a fitting tribute to the ultimate invited Her Royal Highness to review the commemorate the Gurkhas from all ranks sacrifices that have been made over the front rank of the Guard of Honour and past who have served the Crown since 1815. years. The turnout of visitors from across the the Pipes and Drums, before taking his leave. Attended by a crowd of over 400 people services, including some overseas uniforms After the Princess Royal was finished including servicemen and their families, on display, demonstrated the outstanding and led to the Chautara, the Lt General gave retired Gurkhas and members of the public, reputation of the Gurkhas and the regard in a touching tribute to the Gurkhas before the nation’s media were also present to which they are held by colleagues and allied the chaplains from the Hindu, Buddhist and record the unveiling. forces alike. Christian faiths each gave a short speech The Chautara Memorial which was built Created in 1997, the National Memorial before the unveiling. by soldiers from the Queen’s Gurkha Signals Arboretum is a special place that remembers Have a look at the photo gallery Regiment with the help of a professional those who have served, and continue to for the Chautara opening at stone mason, is modelled on the traditional serve, our nation in many different ways. www.gurkhabde.com/photo-gallery 04 PARBATE Vol 66 No 3 September 2014 Some difficult conditions saw the given the opportunity to carry out these drills One of the most important points that company braving -20°C during a march to during the final day of phase 1. was taken away from this was the knowledge Ex PACIFIC KHUKURI the defensive location. After several hours The final attack saw a return to blank of where every other call sign is on the ground of hard walking through the now snowy firing in order to maximise the training and the ability to communicate with them. ground, the positions were sighted and the benefit.