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THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1994
NAMES MAY CHANGE, BUT NOT GURKHA TRADITIONS
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THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE 10TH PRINCESS MARY'S OWN GURKHA RIFLES WILL AWAKEN TOMORROW (FRIDAY) MORNING AS JUST THAT. BUT BEFORE THEY HAVE HAD BREAKFAST, THEY WILL COUNT THEMSELVES AS THE 3RD BATTALION ROYAL GURKHA RIFLES.
AT AN EARLY MORNING PARADE AT GALLIPOLI LINES, THE 550 MEN OF THE 10TH GURKHA RIFLES WILL FORM UP IN THEIR COMPANIES TO RECEIVE THEIR NEW CAP BADGE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES HONG KONG, MAJOR-GENERAL SIR JOHN FOLEY.
THE FORMATION OF THE ROYAL GURKHA RIFLES REGIMENT FROM THE EXISTING FOUR GURKHA INFANTRY REGIMENTS REFLECTS THE SLIMMING DOWN IN NUMBERS OF THE BRITISH ARMY UNDER THE "OPTIONS FOR CHANGE" PROGRAMME.
THE 10TH GURKHA RIFLES WAS ORIGINALLY RAISED AS PART OF THE BRITISH BAST INDIA COMPANY'S MADRAS ARMY IN 1766.
ON MAY 1, 1890 IT CONVERTED TO A GURKHA UNIT FOR SERVICE IN BURMA AND STILL CELEBRATES THAT DAY AS ITS OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY.
AFTER SEVERAL MINOR CHANGES OF TITLE, THE REGIMENT FINALLY BECAME 10TH GURKHA RIFLES IN 1901.
THE ROYAL HONOUR TITLE "PRINCESS MARY'S OWN" WAS AWARDED IN 1950 IN RECOGNITION OF THE REGIMENT'S EXCEPTIONAL RECORD IN BOTH WORLD WARS AND TO MARK ITS AFFILIATION WITH THE ROYAL SCOTS.
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BASED AT
MIDNIGHT ON JUNE 30, THE 2ND GURKHA RIFLES CASSINO LINES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL AMALGAMATE WITH 6TH GURKHA RIFLES
GURKHA CURRENTLY IN BRUNEI - TO FORM THE 1ST BATTALION ROYAL RIFLES.
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THE 7TH GURKHA RIFLES, AT PRESENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM BUT SHORTLY TO REPLACE THE 6TH GURKHA RIFLES IN BRUNEI, WILL BECOME THE 2ND BATTALION ROYAL GURKHA RIFLES.
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE GALLIPOLI LINES TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
INVITED TO COVER THE PARADE
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THE PARADE COMMENCES AT 7 AM. TRANSPORT TO GALLIPOLI LINES WILL LEAVE FROM THE PRINCE OF WALES BARRACKS PROMPTLY AT 5.30 AM.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD ARRIVE AT THE MAIN GATES NO LATER THAN 5.20 AM. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE TRANSPORT WILL CENTRAL AT 9.30 AM.
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