8 Gorkha Rifles

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=8 Gorkha Rifles


caption=
dates= 1824 - Present
country= India
allegiance=
branch= Army
type= Rifles
role=
size=6 Battalions
command_structure=
garrison=Shillong, Meghalaya
garrison_label=Regimental Centre
nickname="The Shiny Eight"
patron=
motto="Kafar Hunu Bhanda Marnu Niko (Better to die than live like a coward)"
colors="Ayo Gorkhali (The Gorkhas are here)"
colors_label= War Cry
march=
mascot=
battles=First Anglo–Burmese War
Bhutan War
Great War
World War II
Sino-Indian war
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
equipment=
equipment_label=
anniversaries=
decorations=4 (Victoria Cross Pre Independence)
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
12 Vishist Seva Medals
battle_honours=Post Independence
Punch
Chushul
Sanjoi and Mirpur
Theatre Honours
Jammu & Kashmir 1948
Ladakh 1962
Jammu & Kashmir, 1965
current_commander=
current_commander_label=
ceremonial_chief=
ceremonial_chief_label=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
notable_commanders=Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw
identification_symbol=A pair of crossed Khukris with the numeral 8 above
identification_symbol_label=Regimental Insignia
identification_symbol_2= [http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb309/hammersfan_01/Tartans/Government.gifGovernment (pipe bags and ribbons)]
identification_symbol_2_label=TartanThe 8 Gorkha Rifles is a Gorkha regiment of the Indian Army. It was raised in 1824 and later transferred to the British Indian Army. The regiment served in the Great War and World War II, before being 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 citations for bravery in the field of battle, and even producing one of the two field marshals, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, of the Indian Army.

History

The Shiny Eight, as the regiment is 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 a number of transitions 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 Nagaland 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, for his actions during the British expedition to Tibet. Braving the high altitude climes of Tibet, the expeditionary force successfully stormed the Tibetan fortress of Gyantse at 19,000 feet.

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.

World War II

The Regiment's 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.In January 1943 the 2nd Battalion was attached to the 3rd Indian Motor Brigade which had just returned from the Western Desert after having been almost destroyd at the Battle of Gazala [cite web|title=rothwell|url=http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/NA150541.htm] At the end of the month the brigade was renamed as the 43rd Indian Infantry Brigade (Lorried). The brigade and its Gurkha battalions were sent to Italy in mid 1944 as an Independent brigade. [citeweb|title=rothwell|url=http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/NA150541.htm]

Post Independence

Kashmir Operations

Soon after partiti€on, 1/8 Gorkha Rifles saw action in the Jammu and Kashmir operations of 1948. In the action against Pakistan in the Kashmir area. 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 the Pakistan guns, which forced them to withdraw from this sector and saved Leh from falling into Pakistani hands. In this action, Lieutenant-Colonel Hari Chand was awarded Maha Vir Chakra (MVC).

Sino-Indian war of 1962

One Param Vir Chakra was awarded to Major Dhan Singh Thapa, of the 1/8 Gorkha Rifles, during the Sino Indian War. To date this is the only recipient of the Param Vir Chakra for the Regiment.

Later Period

The Regiment was also involved in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistan conflicts during which members of the regiment were awarded 4 Maha Vir Chakras.The Regiment was also actively involved in the operations in Sri Lanka where again members of the regiment were awarded for gallentry winning one Maha Vir Chakra and four Vir Chakras.

In 1979 when the 1/8 became a Mechanised Infantry Regiment a further battalion was raised on July 1, 1979 and named the 7/8 Gorkha Rifles.

Notable Members

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.

See also

* Gorkha regiments of the Indian Army
* Indian Army
* British Indian Army
* Thomas Russell Fairgrieve

References

* [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/Regiments/8Gorkha.html Bharat-Rakshak]