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THE KUKRI 2008 The Kukri U B I Q U E NUMBER 60 The Journal of The Brigade of Gurkhas 2008 Design: HQLF(U) Design Studio © Crown Copyright Job Reference Number DS 14982 The Kukri - The Journal of The Brigade of Gurkhas The Kukri NUMBER 60 December 2008 (All rights reserved) Headquarters Brigade of Gurkhas Airfield Camp, Netheravon SP4 9SF United Kingdom The Journal of The Brigade of Gurkhas 2008 U B I Q U E Front Cover Queen’s Gurkha Orderly Officers Capt Khusiman Gurung RGR and Capt Sovitbahadur Hamal Thakuri QOGLR 1 The Kukri - The Journal of The Brigade of Gurkhas The Kukri - The Journal of The Brigade of Gurkhas Contents Number 60 December 2008 Editorial ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6 Report to the Right Honourable Doctor Ram Baran Yadav, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal …………………………………………………………… 8 Honours and Awards ……………………………………………………………………………………… 11 Operations 1 RGR Commanding Officer’s Haul-Down Report ……………………………………………………………… 13 Air Operations with Regional Battle Group (South) on Op HERRICK 7 ……………………………… 18 Under the Influence? Thoughts on Influence at Platoon Level from Op HERRICK 7 …………………… 20 2 RGR Operations in Afghanistan - The First Three Months …………………………………………………… 22 Op HERRICK 9 – 2 RGR Battle Group (North West): Influence………………………………………… 31 Op KAPCHA BAZ ……………………………………………………………………………………… 37 Op GALLIPOLI STRIKE 1 ………………………………………………………………………………… 37 Raid North of Patrol Base WOQAB …………………………………………………………………… 38 QGE ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 42 QGS Stafford-based Gurkha Signallers deploy on Op HERRICK 8/9 ………………………………………… 43 Op VERITAS ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 44 QOGLR ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 46 Disbandment of the Associations of the Regiments which remained in independent India Preamble ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 47 3rd Queen Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Rifles Officers’ Association – Valedictory………………………… 47 The Edwardes Family and the 3rd Gurkhas ……………………………………………………………… 50 Closure of the 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force) Regimental Association ……………………… 51 8th Gurkha Rifles Regimental Association Final Reunion ………………………………………………… 52 9th Gurkha Rifles Regimental Association ……………………………………………………………… 53 Headquarters Brigade of Gurkhas and Other Articles Newsletter ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 56 Havildar Bhanbhagta Gurung VC, 2nd KEO Gurkha Rifles ……………………………………………… 58 Farewell to Paisa Saheb …………………………………………………………………………………… 60 The Gurkha Welfare Support Office – a brief update …………………………………………………… 61 The Sherbahadur Thapa VC Memorial …………………………………………………………………… 62 Sherbahadur Thapa VC …………………………………………………………………………………… 63 Attestation Ceremonies of Gurkha Regiments in British Service ……………………………………… 63 An Unlikely Encounter …………………………………………………………………………………… 68 Almost to Kohima ………………………………………………………………………………………… 69 2 3 The Kukri - The Journal of The Brigade of Gurkhas The Kukri - The Journal of The Brigade of Gurkhas British Gurkhas Nepal 36 Headquarters Squadron ……………………………………………………………………………… 145 HQ BGN Newsletter …………………………………………………………………………………… 73 66 Fuel Squadron RLC …………………………………………………………………………………… 146 Nepal Political Update 2008 ……………………………………………………………………………… 74 QOGLR Chefs’ Update ………………………………………………………………………………… 150 British Gurkhas Pokhara ………………………………………………………………………………… 75 The QOGLR Radio Troop ……………………………………………………………………………… 151 Pension Paying Offices Update …………………………………………………………………………… 77 Commander’s Sword Competition ……………………………………………………………………… 152 The Brigade and Unit Welfare Office …………………………………………………………………… 78 The RLC Military Skills Competition - The Gore Trophy .……………………………………………… 153 BGN Movement Control Centre – the impact of the Koshi Flood on Regional Selection ……………… 79 Op TOSCA with the UNRRATT Team …………………………………………………………………… 153 Exercises PURBA and PASCHIM SIGNAL KHUKURI …………………………………………………… 80 Expedition Khukuri Paddler ……………………………………………………………………………… 154 Exercise EVEREST TIGER – Mount Everest Base Camp ………………………………………………… 81 Gurkha Company (Sittang) RMA Sandhurst ………………………………………………………… 155 SSAFA Big Brew ………………………………………………………………………………………… 83 Gurkha Company ITC Catterick ………………………………………………………………………… 157 Visitors to HQ BGN ……………………………………………………………………………………… 83 Gurkha Language Wing …………………………………………………………………………………… 162 The Nepal Army High Altitude Mountain Warfare Course ……………………………………………… 84 The Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas …………………………………………………………………… 165 Exercise INDIA KUKRI TIGER – Battlefield Tour to India ……………………………………………… 85 The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada……………………………………………………………………… 167 Elephant Polo …………………………………………………………………………………………… 86 The Royal Australian Regiment ………………………………………………………………………… 168 The Gurkha Ball 2008 …………………………………………………………………………………… 86 The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment …………………………………………………………… 173 The Gurkha Welfare Scheme …………………………………………………………………………… 87 The Gurkha Museum The Royal Gurkha Rifles ………………………………………………………………………………… 93 Curator’s Report ………………………………………………………………………………………… 174 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles The Gurkha Welfare Trust Newsletter ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 98 Director’s Report ………………………………………………………………………………………… 176 Some thoughts on the history of British involvement in Afghanistan …………………………………… 100 The Gurkha Brigade Association 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles Calendar of Events 2009 ………………………………………………………………………………… 177 Newsletter ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 104 GBA Golf Tournament 2008 ……………………………………………………………………………… 178 The Queen’s Gurkha Engineers Obituaries Regimental Headquarters Newsletter …………………………………………………………………… 107 Obituary List ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 180 69 Gurkha Field Squadron ……………………………………………………………………………… 108 Havildar Bhanbhagta Gurung VC ………………………………………………………………………… 182 70 Gurkha Field Support Squadron ……………………………………………………………………… 109 FM Sam Manekshaw ……………………………………………………………………………………… 183 Outstanding Performance at Bisley by Gurkha Sappers ………………………………………………… 111 Maj Gen D K Palit VrC ………………………………………………………………………………… 184 Statue Unveiling Ceremony, 2 October 2008 …………………………………………………………… 112 Mrs Rosa Laird McDonald CBE ………………………………………………………………………… 184 60th Anniversary of The Queen’s Gurkha Engineers …………………………………………………… 113 Col A G Watson ………………………………………………………………………………………… 185 Exercise MALAYSIAN GURKHA SAPPER 2008 ………………………………………………………… 114 Lt Col E P Stuart-Williams ……………………………………………………………………………… 186 Gurkha Highlander 2008 ………………………………………………………………………………… 116 Maj P D Tew …………………………………………………………………………………………… 187 Queen’s Gurkha Signals CSgt Krishnabahadur Dura ……………………………………………………………………………… 187 Newsletter ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 122 Rfn Yubraj Rai …………………………………………………………………………………………… 188 Farewell to the Commander and Gurkha Major ………………………………………………………… 124 Book Reviews The City of York Salutes the Gurkhas …………………………………………………………………… 125 Jungle Warfare – Experiences and Encounters …………………………… …………………………… 190 Ex JOINT VENTURE 2008 ……………………………………………………………………………… 126 Britain’s Gurkha War …………………………………………………………………………………… 190 QGS Attestation, Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, and Commissioning Parade ……………… 127 The March to Kandahar ………………………………………………………………………………… 192 News from Blandford Garrison ………………………………………………………………………… 129 The Landings at Suvla Bay 1915 ………………………………………………………………………… 194 The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment Useful Addresses Commander’s Annual Review …………………………………………………………………………… 133 The Gurkha Brigade Association ………………………………………………………………………… 195 Address by Gen Sir David Richards at 50th Anniversary Celebration……………………………………. 136 Regimental Associations ………………………………………………………………………………… 195 Gurkha Major’s Notes …………………………………………………………………………………… 137 The Gurkha Welfare Trust ……………………………………………………………………………… 197 The New Commander QOGLR ………………………………………………………………………… 140 The Gurkha Welfare Support Office …………………………………………………………………… 197 1 Transport Squadron …………………………………………………………………………………… 141 The Gurkha Museum …………………………………………………………………………………… 197 28 Transport Squadron …………………………………………………………………………………… 143 4 5 The Kukri - The Journal of The Brigade of Gurkhas The Kukri - The Journal of The Brigade of Gurkhas Last year’s Kukri reported the completion of the ensure that all these former members receive details of the GBA Editorial comprehensive review of Gurkha Terms and Conditions of programme in a circular in January or February each year. Service. Progress on its implementation, and other important developments in the Brigade, are covered in the Colonel The GBA and Regimental Associations sponsored another Commandant’s Report to the President of Nepal. Readers will All Ranks Reunion in July 2008, superbly hosted by the Queen’s “As the Warriors closed to the compounds they engaged with them) shall think themselves accursed they were not there. note with satisfaction that recruiting remains so buoyant (17,000 Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment in Aldershot, following the 30mm HE and chaingun supported by B Company snipers and We can only read this and other descriptions of courage and applicants for 230 places in 2008) and, crucially, that the new Nepal Cup Final. This concluded with a splendid performance the Fire Support Group, and used vehicles to breach walls before grit with the deepest admiration. Maoist-led coalition government has indicated that recruitment by the Brigade Band and was much enjoyed by all the serving dismounting RGR and PWRR infantry to clear room to room with and retired members of the Brigade who attended. A similar The achievements of units of the Brigade
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