8 Gorkha Rifles
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| 8 Gorkha Rifles | |
|---|---|
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| Active | 1907 - Present |
| Country | India |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | 6 Battalions |
| Regimental Centre | Shillong, Meghalaya |
| Nickname | The Shiny Eight |
| Motto | Kafar Hunu Bhanda Marnu Niko (Better to die than live like a coward) |
| War Cry | Ayo Gorkhali (The Gorkhas are here) |
| Decorations | 1 Param Vir Chakra, 4 Ashoka Chakras, 1 Padma Vibhushan, 1 Padma Bhushan, 4 Param Vishist Seva Medals, 7 Maha Vir Chakras, 1 Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, 2 Kirti Chakras, 8 Ati Vishist Seva Medals and 1 Bar, 22 Vir Chakras, 13 Shaurya Chakras, 1 Yudh Seva Medal, 34 Sena Medals and 12 Vishist Seva Medals |
| Battle honours | Post Independence: Punch, Chushul, Sanjoi and Mirpur, Theatre Honours Jammu & Kashmir 1948, Ladakh 1962, Jammu & Kashmir, 1965 |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw |
| Insignia | |
| Regimental Insignia | A pair of crossed Khukris with the numeral 8 above |
| Tartan | Government (pipe bags and ribbons) |
The 8 Gorkha Rifles is a Gorkha regiment of the Indian Army. The regiment was one of the Gurkha regiments transferred to the Indian Army after independence. The regiment is one of the most celebrated regiments of the Indian Army, receiving numerous citiations for bravery in the field of battle, and even producing one of the two field marshals, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, of the Indian Army.
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[edit] History
The Shiny Eight, popularly known in the Gorkha fraternity of the Indian Army, finds its roots of lineage to 16 Sylhet Local Battalion raised in 1824 and since then the identity of the Regiment has undergone transitions over the period to its present designation as the 8 Gorkha Rifles in 1907.
Military assignments commenced as soon after the raising of the Regiment when the first battalion formed the spearhead for operations in Burma War of 1824-25. The services of the Regiment were to be requisitioned again when the British went to War with Bhutan in 1864. Two battalion columns of the Regiment sallied forth, shoulder to shoulder to crush the Bhutanese revolts and the stronghold of Devnageri. The first Victoria Cross (VC) came to the Regiment in October 1879 in its first ever operation mission when its units were summoned to deal with Naga rebels. This was the first time that a regular army unit was ever employed in the Naga hills. The Younghusband Expedition of 1904 was another jewel in the crown that brought a VC again to the Regiment, awarded to John Duncan Grant. Braving the high altitude climes of Tibet, the expeditionary force successfully stormed the Tibetan fortress of Gyantse at 19,000 feet.
[edit] World War I
World War I testified the enigmatic valour and heroism of the Regiment during the course of combat services in Italy, France, Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) and Egypt. 15 battle honours were earned during the period.
[edit] World War II
8 GR battalions also saw active overseas actions in Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Tobruk, El Alamein and Burma during World War II where the Regiment earned one VC and 22 Battle Honours. Lachhiman Gurung was awarded the VC during the Burmese Campaign where he bore the brunt of atleast 200 enemy soldiers.
[edit] Post Independence
Soon after partition, 1/8 Gorkha Rifles saw action in the J&K operations of 1948. When the Pakistanis were all out to seize Kashmir by brute force, Lieutenant Colonel Hari Chand with a handful of men marched on an unconventional route from Kulu to Leh at an altitude of 18,000 feet and destroyed enemy guns, which forced them to withdraw from this sector and saved Leh from falling into enemy hands. For this dauntless and gallant action, Lieutenant-Colonel Hari Chand was awarded Maha Vir Chakra (MVC).
Major Dhan Singh Thapa, 1/8 Gorkha Rifles, is the first & only recipient of the Param Vir Chakra for the Regiment during the Chinese aggression of 1962. The Regiment also exhibited sterling combat performances during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak conflicts during which 4 Maha Vir Chakras and Battle Honours came its way. The Regiment was also actively involved in the operations in Sri Lanka and brought home one Maha Vir Chakra and four Vir Chakras. The 7/8 Gorkha Rifles was raised on 01 July 1979 at Shillong, consequent to the 1/8 Gorkha Rifles becoming Mechanised. The regiment has produced one Army Chief, Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw, MC and is incidentally the most celebrated personality of the Regiment. His contribution in the 1971 Indo-Pak War is a legend in the military history of India's Armed Forces.
