2
Both battalions were in action during the Brunei rebellion of
1963. In that campaign, Lance-Corporal Nainabahadur Rai was awarded the
Military Medal, and two years later earned a Bar to it during the
Indonesian confrontation, in which both battalions served for nine
separate tours in Brunei and Sarawak.
The 1st battalion played a major part in Hong Kong during the
1967 troubles, and was joined here by the 2nd battalion in 1968. They
were amalgamated in 1970.
The regiment served in England from September 1971 to February
1973, undertaking many unexpected duties for regiments serving in Northern
Ireland. It was the first Gurkha Regiment to mount public duties in London,
providing guards for Buckingham Palace, St. James's Palace, the Bank of
England and the Tower of London.
It distinguished itself in the Army rifle meeting at Bisley and
in mountain marching competitions in Wales, and provided the demonstration
platoons at Sandhurst and Mons Officer Cadet School.
Since 1973, the regiment has been stationed at Queen's Hill Camp,
Fanling, in the New Territories, and is part of the 48 Gurkha Infantry
Brigade.
H
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Besides border tours in support of the Royal Hong Kong Police,
and normal training, its members have exercised in Australia, Fiji and Brunei.
The regiment holds the Khud (hill) race championship, Land Forces
cross-country championship and Land Forces shooting trophy.
The regiment has numbered three famous field-marshals among its
colonels, Lord Kitchener, Viscount Slim (who commanded the 2nd Battalion
in 1938) and Sir Gerald Templer. Its present colonel is General Sir Walter
Walker, who recently paid the regiment a farewell visit before handing over
later this year.
*
The Queen granted the regiment the title "Duke of Edinburgh's
Own!'. in. 1959.
The present commanding officer (known in Gurkha regiments as
Commandant) is Lieutenant-Colonel Keith Robinson.