The 9 Gorkha Rifles is a Gorkha regiment of the Indian Army. The regiment was one of the Gurkha regiments transferred to the Indian Army after independence as part of the tripartite agreement. This Gorkha regiment dominantly recruits soldiers from Chhetri (Kshatriya) and Thakuri clans. Domiciled Indian Gorkhas are also taken, who form about 20 percent of the total strength of the regiment
HISTORY
The history of the 9 Gorkha Rifles dates back to 1817, when it was raised at Infantry Levy at Fatehgarh as Fatehgarh Levy. In 1823, it became 63rd Regiment a regular unit as part of the Bengal Native Infantry. After the reorganisations post-1857, the designation was changed to 9th Bengal Native Infantry with one of its companies formed by Gorkhas and other hillmen. By then the Regiment had fought at Bhartpur and in the difficult Battle of Sobraon in the First Anglo-Sikh War.
By 1893, the regiment became a wholly Gorkha unit of Khas origin,ie; those who were more closely linked to Hindu ways as compared to the Buddhist ways. In 1903, the Regiment was designated 9th Gurkha Rifles.
The first battalion, 1/9 GR, was one of the two units along with a Baluch unit involved in opening fire on 13 April, 1919, at the Jalianwala Bagh, Amritsar, on orders of the now-infamous Brig Gen REH Dyer.
9 GR fought in World War I in Europe and in the inter war years took part in the operations in the North West Frontier. In World War II, it fought in Italy and North Africa. The 3/9 GR and 4/9 GR formed part of the Chindit operations in Burma, and earned a reputation in the long range penetration operations.
Post Independence
India gained its independence in 1947 and 9 Gorkha Rifles was one of six Gurkha regiments (out of 10) to be allocated to the Indian Army as part of the Tripartite Agreement between Britain, India and Nepal. Since 1947 the regiment has fought in the 1962 Indo-China War, the 1/9 GR fought under the most demanding conditions on the Namka Chu in (Arunachal Pradesh). The Regiment was also involved in the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan.
Titles of the Regiment and its Predecessor
(1817-1819) Fatagarh Levy
(1819-1824) Mianpuri Levy
(1824-1861) 63rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry
(1861-1885) 9th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry
(1885-1894) 9th Regiment of Bengal Infantry
(1894-1901) 9th (Gurkha Rifle) Bengal Infantry
(1903-1947) 9th Gurkha Rifles
(1950-present) 9 Gorkha Rifles
Battle Honours
Post Independence
Bharatpur
Sabraon
Afghanistan (1879-80)
Punjab Frontier
La Bassee
Festubert
Armentiers
Givenchy
Neuve Chapelle
Aubers
Laos
France and Flanders
Tigris
Kut-al-Amara
Mesopotamia
Djebel-el-Maida
Djebel Garci
Ragoubet Scuissi
Chindit
Tavoleto
Hangman's Hill
San Marino
Baghdad
Cassino
Decorations
3 Victoria Cross
1 Ashoka Chakra
5 Param Vishist Seva Medals
5 Maha Vir Chakras
3 Kirti Chakras
6 Ati Vishist Seva Medals
17 Vir Chakras
7 Shaurya Chakras
13 Sena Medals
14 Vishist Seva Medals
Victoria Cross Recipients
Major later Lt. Colonel George Campbell Wheeler, 2nd Battalion, 23 February 1917, River Tigris, Mesopotamia.
Temp Major Frank Gerald Blaker, Highland Light Infantry, attached to 3rd Battalion, 9 July 1944, Taunggyi, Burma (now Myanmar).
Rifleman Sher Bahadur Thapa, 1st Battalion, 18 September 1944, San Marino, Italy.
