The
7th (Duke of Edinburgh's Own) Gurkha Rifles started as a
regiment of the
British Indian Army, before being transferred to the
British Army following
India's independence.
Formation
The original 7th Gurkhas was formed as the
Assam Sebundy Corps in 1835, eventually becoming a
Gurkha regiment within the
Bengal Native Infantry, ranked as the
43rd Gurkhas. In 1903, it was renumbered as the 7th Gurkha Rifles. The year before, the
8th Gurkha Rifles was formed from a nucleus of men primarily from the
10th Gurkha Rifles, but also from other Gurkha units. In 1903, this became the 2nd Battalion, 10th Gurkha Rifles. until 1907; at that time, the 7th Gurkhas amalgamated with the
8th Gurkha Rifles to become its 2nd Battalion, while 2/10 Gurkha Rifles was renamed as the "new" 7th Gurkhas.
First and Second World Wars
During the First World War, the regiment served primarily in the Middle East. The 2nd Battalion was captured by the
Turkish Army at
Kut-al-Amara in 1916, before being reformed in
Mesopotamia the same year. Following the end of the war, the 1st Battalion saw service in the
Iraq and
Kurdistan campaigns, while the 2nd Battalion returned to India to fight in the
Third Afghan War. During the Second World War, the regiment primarily saw service in North Africa,
Italy and the Far East.
Post war
In 1948, following India's independence, the 7th Gurkha Rifles was one of four...
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