ROYAL
VISIT
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, April 9, 1975
THE 7TH DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S OWN GURKHA RIFLES
Prince Philip To Visit Famous Regiment In New Territories
:
The Duke of Edinburgh will spend some time on the morning of
May 5 at the Queen's Hill Camp in the New Territories calling on the
7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles,
Upon arrival at the Camp, the Duke will be received by the Major
General Brigade of Gurkhas, who will present the Commanding Officer.
The Duke will then inspect the camp quarter guard, and visit the battalion.
The 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles was formed in
Burta in 1902 from Gurkhas of other regiments and men of the Burma military
police. It has since recruited mainly from two great clans, the Rais
and Limbus in the hills of eastern Nepal.
It fought in the Middle East in World War I. In World War II,
the 2nd battalion was captured at Tobruk, but was reformed and went on
to distinguish itself in Italy. The 1st battalion saw almost continuous
service in Burua and one of its members, Rifleman Ganju Lama, was awarded
the Victoria Cross.
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Both battalions were heavily involved in the 11-year Malayan
energency, during which each battalion had only one break a two-year
tour in Hong Kong. The regiment accounted for 472 terrorists, and itself
lost 32 killed.
/Both
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