| 5th Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) | |
|---|---|
 Cap badge of 5th Gorkha Rifles | |
| Active | 1858–present |
| Country |  India |
| Branch |  Indian Army |
| Type | Rifle Regiment |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | 6 Battalions |
| Regimental Centre | 58 Gorkha Training Centre,Shillong,Meghalaya |
| Nickname(s) | Frontier Force |
| Motto(s) | शौर्य एवं निष्ठा Shaurya Evam Nistha (Courage and Determination) |
| Regimental Colours | Rifle Green and Black |
| March | War Cry:Ayo Gorkhali ("The Gorkhas are here") |
| Anniversaries | 22 May |
| Engagements | The Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-1880 First World War 1914-1918 Indo-Pakistani war of 1971 |
| Decorations | 7Victoria Cross 64Military Cross 1Ashoka Chakra 8Maha Vir Chakras 5Kirti Chakras 23Vir Chakras 9 Shaurya Chakras 1 Yudh Seva Medal 53Sena Medals 27 Mentioned-in-Despatches |
| Battle honours | Post Independence Zoji La Kargil Charwa Sylhet Sehjra Theatre honours Jammu and Kashmir-1947-48 Punjab-1965 East Pakistan-1971 Jammu and Kashmir-1971 Punjab-1971 |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Field Marshal SirArthur Arnold Barrett, GCB, GCSI, KCVO, ADC Lt GeneralFaridoon Noshir Billimoria PVSM, ADC; General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Army Command[1] GeneralDalbir Singh Suhag, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC Lt GenZorawar Chand Bakshi, PVSM, MVC, VrC, VSM Lt GenS. K. Sinha, PVSM (Ex Governor of J&K and Assam) Maj GenIan Cardozo, AVSM, SM Lt Gen Richard Khare, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM Maj Gen S. K. Khajuria, AVSM, VSM |
| Insignia | |
| Regimental Insignia | A pair of Black crossedKhukris with the floriated numeral 5 in between |
| Tartan | Government (pipes and drums) |
| Abbreviations | 5 GR(FF) |
5th Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force), also abbreviated as5 GR(FF) is aninfantryregiment of theIndian Army comprisingGurkha soldiers ofNepalese origin. It was formed in 1858 as part of theBritish Indian Army.The regiment's battalions served in theFirst World War (Mesopotamia) andSecond World War (Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran,Mediterranean,Italian campaign, and in Burma).
The regiment was known as the5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force) when it was one of theGurkha regiments that was transferred to the Indian Army following theindependence of Indian and Pakistan in 1947 and given its current name in 1950.
Since 1947, the regiment has served in a number of conflicts, including theIndo-Pakistani War of 1965 and theIndo-Pakistani War of 1971. It has also participated inpeacekeeping operations in Sri Lanka.
The regiment was raised in 1858 as the25th Native Punjab Infantry, also known as the "Hazara Goorkha Battalion".[2] The soldiers of the regiment originated from theKingdom of Nepal and in 1861 it was renamed the 5th Gurkha Regiment.[3] The regiment's first major action was during theSecond Afghan War, where they were awarded their first battle honour atPeiwar Kotal and CaptainJohn Cook was awarded theVictoria Cross.[4] In this conflict, soldierKishanbir Nagarkoti won theIndian Order of Merit thrice, and a fourth time in the Hazara conflict of 1888. In 1891 the regiment was awarded the prestigious title of a Rifle regiment and became5th Gurkha (Rifle) Regiment which was shortened to5th Gurkha Rifles in 1901.[3]
The regiment spent most of its time up to the end of the 19th century based in thePunjab as part of thePunjab Frontier Force (PIF orPIFFER), and its regimental centre was at the frontier hill town ofAbbottabad, in theHazara region of North-West Frontier Province (nowKhyber Pakhtunkhwa inPakistan). This connection was reflected when in 1903, the regiment was renamed the5th Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force).[3]
During theFirst World War, the regiment primarily saw service in theMiddle East—the 1st Battalion saw extensive and hard service atGallipoli in 1915[4] (where seven officers and 129 men were killed in the first few hours after the battalion landed).[5] During the withdrawal, acompany of the 5th Gurkhas were among the last troops to leave.[6]
The 2nd Battalion initially served in India with the2nd (Rawalpindi) Division before transferring toMesopotamia in April 1916 and joining the42nd Indian Brigade,15th Indian Division. The 1st Battalion joined them in March 1917 from the1st (Peshawar) Division and both battalions fought together at theaction of Khan Baghdadi. A 3rd Battalion was raised for service on theNorth-West Frontier, before being disbanded in 1921.[7]
In 1921, the regiment was given the title the5th Royal Gurkha Rifles, in recognition of its service during theFirst World War.[7] During the inter-war period, the regiment received three further battle honours, for theThird Afghan War in 1919, and two for service on theNorth West Frontier. The regiment together with the13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers were the only units awarded such honours.[citation needed]
During theSecond World War, the1st Battalion 5th Gurkhas as part of the8th Indian Infantry Division's17th Indian Infantry Brigade served in theMediterranean and Middle East Theatre (including theItalian Campaign). RiflemanThaman Gurung of the 1st Battalion won theVictoria Cross while serving in Italy.[8]
The2nd Battalion served in theFar East in theBurma Campaign as part of the17th Indian Infantry Division and was involved in the retreat of theBritish Indian Army fromBurma, they were one of four battalions chosen to fight as the rearguard at theSittang River, which formed the border with India. When the bridge over the river was blown up, preventing theJapanese forces from entering India, many of the regiment were left on the wrong side. The regiment was involved in the re-entry into Burma in 1943 where three members of the regiment were awarded theVictoria Cross. After the war, the 2nd Battalion was re-issued with new uniforms, equipment and transport and posted toTokyo in Japan as part of theBritish Commonwealth Occupation Force.[9]
The3rd Battalion served as part of the37th Indian Infantry Brigade and was involved in theBattle of Imphal although understrength.
The4th Battalion was raised in 1941 and also served in the Burma Campaign as part of the7th Indian Infantry Division, fighting in five epic battles at North Arakan, Buthidaung (Battle of the Admin Box), Kohima, Pakkoku (Irrawaddy), and Sittang. The battalion had the unique distinction of getting four Battle Honours for the five battles fought. Major I M Brown of the 4th Battalion was one of the few soldiers of the Second World War who was awarded theMilitary Cross three times.[10]
On Independence, the 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force) was one of the six Gurkha regiments that remained part of the new Indian Army; they were renamed the5th Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) in 1950. The Regiment now has a total of six Battalions and has participated in virtually every major action the Indian Army has undertaken in its four wars withPakistan, including the first heliborne operations undertaken by the army during the 1971 war. The regiment has participated in the following actions:[citation needed]
The 1st and 4th Battalions were also a part of theIndian Peace Keeping Force which served in Sri Lanka and fought against the LTTE. During this deployment, the 4th Battalion's commander, Lieutenant Colonel Bawa, was injured and later died, along with many of his officers and soldiers. The regiment's present headquarters are atShillong, in North-Eastern India.[citation needed]
1858–1861: 25th Punjab Infantry
1861–1891: 5th Gurkha Regiment
1891–1901: 5th Gurkha (Rifle) Regiment
1901–1903: 5th Gurkha Rifles
1903–1921: 5th Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)
1921–1950: 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles
1950–present: 5th Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force).[3]
There were seven Victoria Crosses awarded to British officers and Gurkhas serving with the regiment prior to 1947:[13]
The following members of the regiment have received the Maha Vir Chakra:[citation needed]
