The Brigade of Gurkhas is the collective term for units of the current British Army that are composed of Nepalese soldiers. The brigade, which is 3,640 strong, draws its heritage from Gurkha units that originally served in the Indian Army prior to Indian independence, and prior to that of the East India Company. The brigade includes infantry, engineer, signal, logistic and training and support units. They are famous for their ever-present kukris, a distinctive heavy knife with a curved blade, and for their reputation of being fierce fighters and brave soldiers. They take their name from the hill town of Gorkha from which the Nepalese Kingdom had expanded. Although the real Gurkhas are Chhetri people, today the ranks have been dominated by four ethnic groups: the Gurungs and Magars from western Nepal; and the Rais and Limbus from the east, who live in hill villages of hill farmers.
The history of the service of the Brigade of Gurkhas to the British Crown goes back as far as 1815. Since then the Brigade has conducted itself with distinction during numerous conflicts worldwide. Prior to 1997 the Brigade's focus was in the Far East but following the handover of Hong Kong it moved to the UK which is now its base.
The Brigade still maintains a battalion in Brunei and plays a full part in the British Army's operational deployments worldwide.
Major Units
The major units of the Brigade today are The Royal Gurkha Rifles (two battalions), The Queen's Gurkha Engineers, Queen's Gurkha Signals, and The Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment. In addition there are two independent companies - Gurkha Company (Sittang) at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Gurkha Wing (Mandalay) at the Infantry Battle School, Brecon.
The Gurkha Company at the Infantry Training Centre Catterick, meanwhile, trains the recruits who pass the demanding selection procedure. This selection is organized by HQ British Gurkhas Nepal, which also works with the Gurkha Welfare Scheme, the field arm of the Gurkha Welfare Trust, in support of retired Gurkhas. Sub-units also include the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkha Staff and Personnel Support Company and the Learning Development Wing.
After falling to a Liability Target low of 2612 between 2015 and 2016, now the Brigade of Gurkhas has been expanded to a liability of 3254 with the opening of 642 new positions.
First cut, then make U turns!
That will help the Army plug the recruitment and retention gap somewhat. Never a shortage of Gurkhas...
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If my information is up to date, the Gurkha Brigade includes:
Headquarters Brigade of Gurkhas (HQBG)
Headquarters British Gurkhas Nepal (BGN)
Gurkha Staff and Personnel Support Company was formed on 30 Jun 2011. GSPS personnel were known as Gurkha Clerks before the inception of GSPS.
Gurkha Company (Mandalay) in Brecon, Wales
Gurkha Company (Sittang) dates back to 1972 and is as an integral part of the Royal Military Academy Sandhusrt (RMAS)
Gurkha Company is located at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick
The Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas
The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment also known as 10 The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment or 10 QOGLR
The Queen’s Gurkha Engineers (QGE) include:
- 69 Gurkha Field Squadron. 36 Royal Engineers Regiment
- 70 Gurkha Field Squadron, 36 Royal Engineers Regiment
- ARRC Close Support Troop and ARRC Engineer Section from October 2014, based in Gloucester
The Queen's Gurkha Signals include:
- 246 Signal Squadron, 2 Signal Regiment
- 248 Signal Squadron, 22 Signal Regiment
- 250 Signal Squadron, 30 Signal Regiment
- Brunei Signal Troop
- Nepal Signal Troop
- Alpha Troop, 217 Signal Squadron, 22 Signal Regiment
- Seremban Troop, 44 RLC Sqn, Sandhurst academy (Troop commander, 3 NCOs, 12 signallers)
And, last but not least, the two Gurkha battalions.
Guess other troops / platoons etcetera will be formed to fill gaps all over the place. For a while, 24 Commando Engineer also had a Gurkha sub-unit.
You might also know me as Liger30, from that great forum than MP.net was.
Gabriele wrote:And, last but not least, the two Gurkha battalions.
One of them living as my close neighbours.... I think the latest news was a Company being sent to A-stan on force protection duty.
- is the rotation between the two bns also getting quite close?
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
The whole 2nd battalion is going, to cover a 8 months period in two roulements. It began back in February.
As for when they'll next rotate, i do not really know. Brunei press said back in October 2015 that as part of the renewed deal they expected 1st Gurkha battalion to stay for the following 5 years. That would mean no more rotation until 2020.
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Details of the brigade's re-building: 1 more Signal Sqn and 2 more logistic sqns to be formed in next three years; plus over 200 additional posts in the two battalions and in the Gurkha engineers. http://ukarmedforcescommentary.blogspot ... habit.html
They are calling back even the people they have just made redundant, offering the same ranks they had and allowing them to keep the compensation received.
Another glorious MOD fuck up.
But at least, the additional Signal and Logistic sub-units are a blessing. Army 2020 is desperately short of both.
You might also know me as Liger30, from that great forum than MP.net was.
The British Army's newest Gurkha recruits have arrived in the UK from Nepal. This year's intake numbers 270, but that is expected to rise in future years as Gurkha numbers are increased by 25 percent.
More than 10,000 applied but only 270 were chosen to be the latest Gurkha recruits to join the British Army from Nepal this year. They’ve now started their training at Catterick Garrison and after more than 2 months, they took their first trip out of the base to experience what life is like in the UK.
More than 10,000 applied but only 270 were chosen to be the latest Gurkha recruits to join the British Army from Nepal this year. They’ve now started their training at Catterick Garrison and after more than 2 months, they took their first trip out of the base to experience what life is like in the UK.
10,000 applicants! Wow. With overall recruitment (and retainment) issues, can't we take on greater Gurkha numbers? What proportion of the British Army are Gurkhas and what are the issues for increasing this?
dmereifield wrote:can't we take on greater Gurkha numbers?
I think it is somewhere upthread that the Brigade took its share of the 2010 SDSR "casualties", but (uncharacteristic sense displayed there) 650-ish vacancies were reinstated - partly getting back the folks let go and partly through new recruitment.
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
They also slowed down the rotation between the two Gurkha Rifles bns
... works wonders for children's schooling, and thereby retention?
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
One thing to note about the Gurkhas is that regardless of cap badge they all, without exception, complete the full Combat Infantry Course. Nowhere else will you find that every Cook, Clerk, Bandsmen, Signaller, Medic, Combat Engineer and Logistic specialist is a fully trained infantryman.
For the past 11 weeks, Gurkha training riflemen in Catterick have been confined to the barracks (bar for their one culture lesson beyond the wire) but this week the class of 2018 successfully ‘passed off the square’.
(Forces TV) 3rd June 2018
What could be better than trying the Great British dish of fish 'n' chips for the very first time? Hannah King accompanied the latest Gurkha recruits to Whitby – where they’ve been learning some history, practising their English, and trying the local cuisine. Here’s how they got on...