Download or read book Gurkha Odyssey written by Peter Duffell and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2019-12-27 with total page 405 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A British general’s memoir of serving with these famed Nepalese warriors: “An inspiring journey, delightfully related.” —Times Literary Supplement It is 1814 and the Bengal Army of the Honourable East India Company is at war with a marauding Nepal. It is here that the British first encounter the martial spirit of their indomitable foe—the Gurkha hill men from that mountainous independent land. Impressed by their fighting qualities and with the end of hostilities in sight, the Company begins to recruit them into their own ranks. Since then these lighthearted and gallant soldiers have successfully campaigned wherever the British Army has served—from the North West Frontier of India through two World Wars to the contemporary battlefields of the Falklands and Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, with well over one hundred battle honors to their name and at a cost of 20,000 casualties. Here, Peter Duffell separates fact and myth and recounts something of the history, character, and spirit of these loyal and dedicated soldiers—seen through the prism of his service and campaigning as a regular officer in the 2nd King Edward VII’s Own Gurkha Rifles, as the Brigade of Gurkhas Major General and as Regimental Colonel of the Royal Gurkha Rifles.
Download or read book A Pride of Gurkhas written by Harold Douglas James and published by Leo Cooper Books. This book was released on 1975 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Historical Record of The Queen s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment 1958 2018 written by J. R. Cawthorne and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2023-01-31 with total page 1003 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Gurkha Army Service Corps, the predecessor of The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, was raised in Singapore in 1958 ten years after the transfer of Gurkha regiments from the Indian Army to the British Army and towards the end of the Malayan Emergency. Within four years of being formed, it was committed to continuous operations in Brunei and Borneo during Confrontation with Indonesia between 1962-66. It was also redesignated the Gurkha Transport Regiment in 1965 to reflect changes to the Army’s logistic structure. Between 1966-71, the Regiment was substantially reduced in size, along with the rest of The Brigade of Gurkhas, as Britain withdrew its forces from East of Suez. Concentrated in Hong Kong, the Regiment provided transport support to the Garrison for the next 20 years. In 1991, a composite squadron was sent to reinforce British Forces in the Gulf War after which, in preparation for the handback of Hong Kong to China, the Regiment moved to and became permanently stationed in the UK. In recognition of its past services, it was granted the royal title ‘The Queen’s Own Gurkha Transport Regiment’ in 1992. The following two decades saw it undertake multiple operational tours to the Balkans, Iraq, Cyprus and Afghanistan as well as providing humanitarian assistance to the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone. It also expanded both its role, to incorporate supply and catering, and size, which led in 2001 to it being redesignated to its current title ‘The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment’. This history records the events and activities of the Regiment during its first 60 years of service to the Crown. While of wider interest to military historians, it is principally written for members of the Regiment, past, present and future.
Download or read book History of the 2nd King Edward s Own Goorkha Rifles The Sirmoor Rifles 1921 1948 by G R Stevens written by Leslie Waterfield Shakespear and published by . This book was released on 1952 with total page 438 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Gurkha Way written by John Sadler and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2023-11-30 with total page 564 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the 18th century in the town of Gorkha, just north of Kathmandu, ruler Prithvi Narayan fought campaigns against his neighbors and the British. During the fighting his warriors, renowned for their aggression and courage, gained the respect of the British, who appreciated that the steadfast warriors would make excellent soldiers. Upon the declaration of peace in 1816, a partnership was born. This alliance would play a vital role in UK defense over the next two centuries, from surviving the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and fighting in the jungles of Burma to the Khyber Pass, which would keep the Gurkhas in action for ninety years. The First World War sent the Regiment to the trenches, where battalion after battalion was decimated. Some 20 Gurkha battalions were deployed in the Second World War, which was soon increased to 45 following Dunkirk. Around 250,000 Gurkha soldiers would serve and were deployed most significantly in North Africa but also served with distinction in the Italian Campaign and Monte Cassino, as well as the decisive battles of Imphal and Kohima in the Far East. while the Gurkhas saw a drop in overall numbers post-war, they have continued to make integral contributions to many operations, including the Falklands and in Afghanistan, which this book examines extensively, with a special focus on Operation Herrick. In The Gurkha Way, John Sadler tells the story of the Gurkhas from their inception to modern day through interviews, unpublished diaries and correspondence. With over 200 years' experience, these steadfastly loyal soldiers are a link to an imperial past but also a key component of the modern British army. There is no other comparable unit in any of the world’s armies, (with the obvious exception of the Indian Army), or one more respected and loved by the British.
Download or read book Valour written by E D Smith and published by The History Press. This book was released on 2016-10-21 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since the short and bloody war between Nepal and Britain in 1814-15, Gurkha volunteers, ever mindful of the their motto, 'It is better to die than be a coward', have fought and died for Britain, including in recent years in the Falklands, Afghanistan and Iraq. In the Second World War an astonishing quarter of a million Gurkhas fought aginst Germany and Japan. They have been awarded thirteen Victoria Crosses. Includes detailed appendices include all regimental changes and battle honours.
Download or read book The Gurkhas written by Byron Farwell and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 1990 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book will tell who the Gurkhas are and where they come from. It will describe their manners, customs, and character, and their history as soldiers, with special attention to their unique skills and remarkable valor. Their story is as colorful and as romantic as that of the French Foreign Legion, and yet it has never been fully or adequately told.
Download or read book Gurkha written by C. Lawrence and published by Uniform. This book was released on 2019 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A pictorial history of The Royal Gurkha Rifles. An introduction to this remarkable regiment, its operational deployments abroad and at home supported by a wealth of photographs chronicling its quarter century of service to the Crown. This unique insight into one of the world's elite fighting units includes descriptions of operational deployments in Afghanistan, the Balkans, Sierra Leone and East Timor, as well as special interest sections covering recruiting, sport, adventure training, snipers, tracking and, of course, the kukri fighting knife. The Roll of Honour, its Battle Honours (including those of its antecedent regiments), honours and awards received by members of the Regiment and a brief history of Britain's Gurkhas are amongst the detail amassed in this special edition.
Download or read book The Gurkhas written by Mike Chappell and published by Osprey Publishing. This book was released on 1993-09-30 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The origins of the Gurkhas date back to 1815, when one of the most skilled and determined opponents that the British soldier had to overcome in battle was the Nepalese warrior. The British were so impressed with the military skills of these fighters that they began recruiting units exclusively from Nepal. From this beginning grew the now famous Gurkha units. This volume examines the development of the Gurkhas through the various wars and confrontations of the 19th century, through the First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945), and the various postwar conflicts including Malaya, Borneo and the Falklands.
Download or read book The History of the Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment of Canada written by Roman Johann Jarymowycz and published by McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. This book was released on 2023-05-15 with total page 1398 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In three volumes spanning centuries, Lieutenant Colonel Roman Jarymowycz recounts the story of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, the oldest Highland regiment in the country. He traces its history from the roots, when soldiers, settlers, and militia volunteers rallied to defend the southern borders of their adopted country against invasion from the United States. Drawing on diaries, letters, classified documents, and the regimental archive, Jarymowycz weaves the strands of a complex story into an epic narrative of a resolute collective of officers and men. Since its birth in 1862 as the 5th Battalion, Volunteer Militia Rifles of Canada, thousands of citizens have served in the unit. In addition to securing Canada’s borders, Black Watch soldiers have fought in the South African War, both world wars, and the Korean War. They have bolstered NATO operations and United Nations peacekeeping missions, and they provided aid to the civil power during the 1997 Quebec and Eastern Ontario ice storm disaster and the COVID-19 pandemic. The Montreal-based battalion continues to serve Canada in its traditional role as a reserve infantry unit, and to this day, Black Watch soldiers frequently deploy on dangerous missions abroad. In volume 1, readers will learn of the Black Watch’s origins; its first foreign enterprise, the South African War; and a detailed account of the Great War, where the regiment evolved from the 5th Royal Highlanders to become the Canadian Black Watch, as they were known throughout the empire. The Montreal regiment trained four battalions for overseas duty, three of which participated in the greatest battles of the First World War, an unprecedented accomplishment. This volume not only offers a critical analysis of campaigns, key actions, and tactical evolution, but also includes an intimate and compelling account of the sacrifices that forged this extraordinary regiment. In volume 2 we are offered the story of the bloody battlefields of the Second World War, when the Black Watch joined Commonwealth regiments to defeat the Axis Powers. After a quick mobilization in 1939 and a long wait in England, the Black Watch experienced a baptism by fire at Dieppe. Landing in Normandy after D-Day, the regiment fought in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, its distinguished service earning numerous honours. As well as discussing these military engagements, Jarymowycz reveals the many difficulties with recruiting, training, recovering from devastating battles, communicating with higher command, and the quality and scarcity of reinforcements. Volume 3 relates the regiment’s post–Second World War story. Canada’s commitments to NATO and the United Nations led to the creation of two regular battalions of the Black Watch, while retaining the reserve battalion in Montreal. From 1953 to 1970, in Korea, Germany, Cyprus, and Canada, the regular battalions served with devotion and courage. The thousands of men who were based at Camp Aldershot, Nova Scotia, and the Regimental Depot in Sussex, New Brunswick, then moved to establish a Regular Force Home Station in the newly constructed Camp Gagetown, NB. These units earned a reputation second to none in efficiency, training, fighting ability, readiness, and strength. This monumental history of Canada’s oldest Highland regiment is at once a record of Scottish heritage, a portrait of Montreal rising as an industrial giant, and an examination of the emergence of a military culture from the Western Front.
Download or read book Battle Story Ypres 1914 1915 written by William E Fowler and published by The History Press. This book was released on 2011-09-30 with total page 185 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ypres was a medieval town known for its textiles; however, it became infamous during the Great War with trench warfare, poison gas and many thousands of casualties. As the German Army advanced through Belgium, it failed to take the Ypres Salient. On 13 October 1914, German troops entered Ypres. On looting the city, the Germans retreated as the British Expeditionary Force advanced. On 22 November 1914, the Germans commenced a huge artillery barrage killing many civilians. In 1917, the Third Battle of Ypres commenced making it an exceptionally dangerous place to live. In 1918, a German major offensive was launched, but the British held firm. Ypres was finally safe in late September 1918 when German troops withdrew from the Salient. Today the battlefields of Ypres contain the resting place of thousands of German and British soldiers. This book explores the first and second battles of Ypres through narrative, eye-witness accounts and images.
Download or read book The Handbook of British Regiments Routledge Revivals written by Christopher Chant and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-10-18 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since the creation of the standing army in 1661, when each regiment was known by the name of its current colonel, there have been many reforms and rationalizations of the British army. From 31 cavalry regiments and 113 infantry regiments in 1881, at the time of this title’s first publication in 1988, the army had reduced to just 16 regiments of armour and 39 regiments of infantry through processes of absorption and amalgamation. The Handbook of British Regiments provides insight into the lineage and history of the approximately 85 regiments and corps which formed the British army towards the end of the 1980s. Comprehensive in coverage, each has a separate entry giving factual details in a layout standardized for easy comparison, including current title, colonel-in-chief, uniform and history, amongst others. A key title amongst Routledge reference reissues, this handbook provides an accessible guide to specialists as well as lay enthusiasts, and illustrates a sense of the continuity and inherited tradition of each regiment and corps.
Download or read book The British Army the Gurkhas and Cold War Strategy in the Far East 1947 1954 written by Raffi Gregorian and published by Springer. This book was released on 2002-05-10 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book argues that postwar Britain's 'imperial over-extension' has been exaggerated. Britain developed and adjusted its defence strategy based upon the perceived Communist threat and available resources. It was especially successful at adapting to meet the strategic and resource challenges from the Far East from 1947-54. There British and Gurkha forces were deployed only in contingencies that threatened vital British interests, while the U.S. and Commonwealth allies were persuaded to accept key wartime missions, thus preserving Britain's ability to fight in Western Europe.
Download or read book Indian Army List January 1919 Volume 3 written by Army Headquarters, India and published by Andrews UK Limited. This book was released on 2012-02-06 with total page 588 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Volume 3 of 4. The January and July issues of the Indian Army List contain not only the distribution of officers on the active list of the Army in India, including officers of British army regiments, battalions etc stationed in India, but are supplemented by the addition of Orders of Knighthood, Honours and Awards, including Foreign Orders, by the non-effective officer list and the War Services of officers of the Indian Army. Details of each officer include dates of birth (except for wartime commissioned officers), date of first commission, of appointment to the Indian Army and dates of promotion. Officers are grouped according to their rank and by seniority within that rank, and are again shown under their regiments/battalions. In the case of British units, their date of arrival in India is shown, and with Indian units their date of formation and changes in title since, plus details of the backgrounds of men recruited, e.g. Sikhs, Punjabis, Dogras, Rajputs, etc. This army list also includes all native Viceroy Commissioned Officers - Subadar Majors, Subadars and Jemadars - and their war services, Major HQs and their staffs, divisional and brigade commanders and their staffs, schools, colleges, Administrative Departments of the Army are all shown. Non-regular Indian Defence Force units such as 22nd Bengal and North-Western railway Battalion, and the Indian Army Reserve of Officers are all there, along with British Warrant Officers serving in departments of the Indian Army. In 1914 there were 116 Indian and 10 Gurkha Regiments, all with one battalion apart from the cavalry, 32 Indian and one Gurkha regiment had been formed and the majority of the original regiments had raised second and sometimes third battalions. This splendid four-volume work reflects the tremendous contribution made by the Indian Army to the Empire's war effort. A full index is included.
Download or read book The Army List written by Great Britain. Army Dept and published by . This book was released on 1952 with total page 814 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book China Station written by Mark Felton and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2013-09-02 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Author, who lives in Shanghai, sets out to demonstrate that the British military has been at the forefront of many of the great changes that have swept China over the last two centuries.He devotes chapters to the various wars, military adventures and rebellions that regularly punctuated Sino/British relationships since the 1st Opium War 1839-1842. This classic example of Imperial intervention saw the establishment of Hong Kong and Shanghai as key trading centres. The Second Opium War and the Taiping and Boxer Rebellions saw the advancement of British influence despite determined but unsuccessful efforts by the Chinese to loosen the grip of Western domination. The Royal Navys might ensured that, by gunboat diplomacy, trading rights and new posts were established and great fortunes made.But in the 1940s the British grossly underestimated Japanese military might and intentions with disastrous results. After the Second World War the British returned to find that the Americans had supplanted them. The Communists victory in the Civil War sealed British and Western fates and, while Hong Kong remained under British control until 1997, the end of British rule was almost inevitable. But the handover was a masterly piece of pragmatic capitalism and the former Colony remains an economic powerhouse with strong British influence.
Download or read book Approach to Battle written by Alan Jeffreys and published by Helion and Company. This book was released on 2017-01-24 with total page 252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Indian Army was the largest volunteer army during the Second World War. Indian Army divisions fought in the Middle East, North Africa and Italy - and went to make up the overwhelming majority of the troops in South East Asia. Over two million personnel served in the Indian Army - and India provided the base for supplies for the Middle Eastern and South East Asian theatres. This monograph is a modern historical interpretation of the Indian Army as a holistic organisation during the Second World War. It will look at training in India - charting how the Indian Army developed a more comprehensive training structure than any other Commonwealth country. This was achieved through both the dissemination of doctrine and the professionalism of a small coterie of Indian Army officers who brought about a military culture within the Indian Army - starting in the 1930s - that came to fruition during the Second World War, which informed the formal learning process. Finally, it will show that the Indian Army was reorganised after experiences of the First World War. During the interwar period, the army developed training and belief for both fighting on the North West Frontier, and as an aid to civil power. With the outbreak of the Second World War, in addition to these roles, the army had to expand and adapt to fighting modern professional armies in the difficult terrains of desert, jungle and mountain warfare. A clear development of doctrine and training can be seen, with many pamphlets being produced by GHQ India that were, in turn, used to formulate training within formations and then used in divisional, brigade and unit training instructions - thus a clear line of process can be seen not only from GHQ India down to brigade and battalion level, but also upwards from battalion and brigade level based on experience in battle that was absorbed into new training instructions. Together with the added impetus for education in the army, by 1945 the Indian Army had become a modern, professional and national army.
