List of Brigade of Gurkhas recipients of the Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross (VC) is a military decoration bestowed on members of the British or Commonwealth armed forces for acts of valour or gallantry performed in the face of the enemy. In the British honours system and those of many Commonwealth nations it is the highest award a soldier can receive for actions in combat. It was established in 1856 and since then has been awarded 1,356 times, including to three recipients who were awarded the VC twice.[1]

The Victoria Cross

The British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas, units composed of Nepalese soldiers—although originally led by British officers—has been a part of the army since 1815. When raised, it originally focused on conflicts in the Far East, but the transfer of Hong Kong from British to Chinese hands necessitated that the brigade move its base to the UK. A battalion is still maintained in Brunei and as at 2016, units serve in Afghanistan.[2]

Gurkha Soldiers (1896)

Since the VC was introduced it has been awarded to Gurkhas or British officers serving with Gurkha regiments 26 times.[3] The first award was made in 1858 to a British officer of the Gurkhas, John Tytler, during the campaigns that followed the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The first award to a native Gurkha, Kulbir Thapa, was in 1915 during the First World War. When the Victoria Cross was initially established, Gurkhas, along with all other native troops of the British East India Company Army or the British Indian Army, were not eligible for the decoration and as such, until 1911, all of the Gurkha recipients of the award were British officers who were attached to Gurkha regiments.[4] Until that time the highest award that Gurkhas were eligible for was the Indian Order of Merit. Since 1911 however, of the 16 VCs awarded to men serving with Gurkha regiments, 13 have been bestowed on native Gurkhas.[3] The most recent award was made in 1965 to Rambahadur Limbu, during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.[3] Along with the Royal Green Jackets, the Gurkha regiments are among the most heavily decorated Commonwealth units.[5]

In 1950, when India became a republic, Gurkhas serving in the Gurkha regiments of the Indian Army lost their eligibility for the Victoria Cross and they are now covered under the Indian honours system. Under this system the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), which is India's highest military decoration for valour, is considered to be equivalent to the Victoria Cross.[6] As such only those serving in the Gurkha units of the British Army remain eligible for the Victoria Cross.[1] Two George Cross (GC) medals have been awarded to Gurkha soldiers for acts of bravery displayed not in combat.[7] The George Cross (GC) is the highest award bestowed by the British government for non-operational gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. In the UK honours system, the George Cross is equal in stature to the Victoria Cross. This has been the case since the introduction of the George Cross in 1940.[8]

Recipients

  This along with the *, indicates that the Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously.

Gurkha Brigade Victoria Cross Recipients[9]
Name Unit[note 1] Date of action Conflict Place of action
John Tytler00166th Bengal Native Infantry later 1st King George V's Own Gurkha Rifles1858Indian Rebellion of 1857IndiaChoorpoorah, India[11]
Donald Macintyre002Bengal Staff Corps attached to 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles1872Looshai ExpeditionIndiaLalgnoora, India[12]
George Channer001Bengal Staff Corps attached to 1st King George V's Own Gurkha Rifles1875Perak WarMalayaPerak, Malaya[13]
John Cook005Bengal Staff Corps attached to 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles1878Second Afghan WarAfghanistanPeiwar Kotal, Afghanistan[14]
Richard Ridgeway008Bengal Staff Corps attached to 8th Gurkha Rifles1879Basuto WarIndiaKonoma, India[15]
Charles Grant008Indian Staff Corps attached to 8th Gurkha Rifles1891Manipur ExpeditionBurmaThobal, Burma[16]
Guy Boisragon005Indian Staff Corps attached to 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles1891Hunza–Naga campaignIndiaNilt Fort, India[17]
John Manners Smith005Indian Staff Corps attached to 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles1891Hunza–Naga campaignIndiaNilt Fort, India[17]
William Walker0044th Prince of Wales' Own Gurkha Rifles1903Third Somaliland ExpeditionSomalilandDaratoleh, Somaliland[18][19]
John Grant0088th Gurkha Rifles1904British expedition to TibetTibetGyantse Jong, Tibet[20]
Kulbir Thapa0033rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles1915First World WarFranceFauquissart, France[21]
George Wheeler0099th Gurkha Rifles1917First World WarMesopotamiaShumran, Mesopotamia[22]
Karanbahadur Rana0033rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles1918First World WarEgyptEl Kefr, Egypt[23]
Lalbahadur Thapa0022nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles1943Second World WarTunisiaRass-es-Zouai, Tunisia[24]
Gaje Ghale0055th Royal Gurkha Rifles1943Second World WarBurmaChin Hills, Burma[25]
Michael Allmand006Indian Armoured Corps attached to 6th Gurkha Rifles1944*Second World WarBurmaPin Hmi Road Bridge, Burma[26]
Tulbahadur Pun0066th Gurkha Rifles1944Second World WarBurmaMogaung, Burma[27]
Netrabahadur Thapa0055th Royal Gurkha Rifles1944*Second World WarBurmaBishenpur, Burma[28]
Sher Bahadur Thapa0099th Gurkha Rifles1944*Second World WarItalySan Marino, Italy[29]
Agansing Rai0055th Royal Gurkha Rifles1944Second World WarBurmaBishenpur, Burma[30]
Thaman Gurung0055th Royal Gurkha Rifles1944*Second World WarItalyMonte San Bartolo, Italy[31]
Frank Blaker009Highland Light Infantry attached to 9th Gurkha Rifles1944*Second World WarBurmaTaunggyi, Burma[32]
Ganju Lama/Gyamtso Shangderpa0077th Gurkha Rifles1944Second World WarBurmaNingthoukhong, Burma[33]
Lachhiman Gurung0088th Gurkha Rifles1945Second World WarBurmaTaungdaw, Burma[34]
Bhanbhagta Gurung0022nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles1945Second World WarBurmaSnowdon East, Tamandu, Burma[35]
Rambahadur Limbu01010th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles1965Indonesia–Malaysia confrontationBorneoSarawak, Borneo[36]

Notes
  1. Staff corps were created in 1861 to provide British officers for native regiments, including the Gurkhas, who were designated as "attached to" the various native groups.[10] The units are ordered by Gurkha regiment.

References
  1. "Victoria Cross". Ministry of Defence (UK). Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  2. "Brigade of Gurkhas". British Army. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  3. Parker 2005, pp. 391–393.
  4. Parker 2005, p. 62.
  5. "The world's most exclusive club". Ministry of Defence. 30 April 2007. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2007.
  6. "Param Vir Chakra". Pride of India.net. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  7. Parker 2005, p. xvii.
  8. "Decorations, Gallantry and Distinguished Conduct medals: George Cross". UK Government. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  9. "Brigade of Gurkhas; Honours and Awards: Victoria Cross". British Army. Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  10. "Glossary: S". British Library. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
  11. "No. 22176". The London Gazette. 24 August 1858. p. 3903.
  12. "No. 23902". The London Gazette. 27 September 1872. p. 4489.
  13. "No. 24314". The London Gazette. 14 April 1876. p. 2476.
  14. "No. 24697". The London Gazette. 18 March 1879. p. 2241.
  15. "No. 24843". The London Gazette. 11 May 1880. p. 2968.
  16. "No. 26165". The London Gazette. 26 May 1891. p. 2805.
  17. "No. 26306". The London Gazette. 12 July 1892. p. 4006.
  18. "No. 27584". The London Gazette. 7 August 1903. p. 4976.
  19. "No. 27636". The London Gazette. 15 January 1904. p. 331.
  20. "No. 27758". The London Gazette. 24 January 1905. p. 574.
  21. "No. 29371". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 November 1915. p. 11450.
  22. "No. 30122". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 1917. p. 5702.
  23. "No. 30757". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 June 1918. p. 7307.
  24. "No. 36053". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 1943. p. 2719.
  25. "No. 36190". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 September 1943. p. 4347.
  26. "No. 36764". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 October 1944. p. 4900.
  27. "No. 36785". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 November 1944. p. 5129.
  28. "No. 36742". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 1944. p. 4673.
  29. "No. 36860". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 December 1944. p. 5933.
  30. "No. 36730". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 October 1944. p. 4569.
  31. "No. 36950". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 February 1945. p. 1039.
  32. "No. 36715". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 September 1944. p. 4423.
  33. "No. 36690". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 September 1944. p. 4157.
  34. "No. 37195". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 July 1945. p. 3861.
  35. "No. 37107". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 June 1945. p. 2831.
  36. "No. 43959". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 April 1966. p. 4947.

Sources
  • Parker, John (2005). The Gurkhas: The Inside Story of the World's Most Feared Soldiers. Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7553-1415-7.

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