XN000022-1975-04-09 — Page 9

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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.

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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.