Our Staff - The Gurkha Museum - Winchester

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Daren Bowyer

Director

Christine Bernáth

Assistant Director

Doug Henderson

Collections Officer

Chris Manson

Museum Assistant

Charlie Martin

Head of Fundraising and Marketing

Hombahadur Pun

Museum Assistant

Meghbahadur Rai

Receptionist

Mekhbahadur Rana

Museum Assistant

Gurkhas and the invasion of Burma – January 1824

Gurkhas and the invasion of Burma – January 1824.
The regiment, which would become the 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles was raised on May 16th 1817 in an area some 200 miles south-west of Calcutta. Originally entitled the ‘Cuttack Legion’, it later became the 8th Rangpur Light Infantry, and it was under this name that in 1824 the regiment was deployed to the region of North-East India and North-West Burma in response to a Burmese invasion launched from Manipur and Chittagong. The regiment deployed to the Sylhet frontier opposite the province of Cachar in order to drive Burmese soldiers from a firmly-held stockade position at the site of Bikranpur, which they were able to do on January 17th 1824. Despite some early successes, particularly in the dense terrain in the areas around Manipur (which the Burmese soldiers had much more experience in than the responding British), the war would turn against the Burmese forces. British forces were eventually able to deploy superior weaponry in greater numbers than the Burmese could match (including new Congreve rockets) and by February 1826 peace terms were signed with the Treaty of Yandabo. For those who fought in the campaign the ‘Ava’ bar to the Army of India Medal was issued. Britain would go on to fight two further wars with Burma, only fully bringing it into British control in 1885. #Gurkhas #gurkhahistory #onthisday #otd #onthisdayinhistory

Gurkhas and Monte Cassino 1944. The first of the b

Gurkhas and Monte Cassino 1944.
The first of the battles for the hilltop monastery of Monte Cassino in Italy began on January 17th 1944. With its mountain positioning the site formed a key spotting point for German artillery and its rugged defences made it a key point in the German Gustav Line halting the Allied advance north through Italy. Taking the monastery became crucial and so from January to May a series of attacks were launched to dislodge the German paratrooper defenders. The most famous Gurkha involvement would come during the third of these battles in March 1944, when 1st/9th Gurkha Rifles managed to take the site of Hangman’s Hill, less than 250 yards from the monastery walls. On March 20th, Naik Dilbahadur Khattri and two Gurkha riflemen managed to reach the walls of the Monastery - the first Allied soldiers in four great battles to reach their objective. In total the battalion held out for 9 days before being forced to withdraw due to a lack of supplies and ammunition. Monte Cassino was finally captured on May 17th, two months later. To read more on the Gurkhas during Second World War visit our website, link in bio. #Gurkhas #gurkhahistory #onthisday #otd #onthisdayinhistory

#Nepaliscool #VisitNepal #Everest #Gurkhas #Gurkha

#Nepaliscool #VisitNepal #Everest #Gurkhas #GurkhaHistory #GurkhaHeritage #GurkhaMuseum

On January 14th 1920 2/5GR, aiming to quell tribal

On January 14th 1920 2/5GR, aiming to quell tribal unrest, experienced heavy fighting near Ahnai Tangi in Waziristan. Despite the loss of their commanding officer, Lt-Col. J.D. Crowdy D.S.O. in hand-to-hand fighting, the Battalions objectives were secured.

You can read the full story on our website now. Link In Bio. #Gurkhas #gurkhahistory #onthisday #otd #onthisdayinhistory

Friends play a vital and rewarding role in support

Friends play a vital and rewarding role in supporting the Museum in the maintenance and enhancement of its collections and its vision to ensure the future of Gurkha Heritage.

The Friends of The Gurkha Museum aim to give support to the Museum in every possible way by offering voluntary assistance, by promoting events and by making financial grants for specific projects and acquisitions.

Become a Friend of the Museum today to receive excellent benefits and help us to promote and preserve the heritage of the Gurkha Soldier long into the future. Visit our website, link in bio. #Gurkhas #GurkhaHeritage #GurkhaMuseum

Gurkhas driving down COVID-19. The First Battalio

Gurkhas driving down COVID-19.

The First Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles currently have teams deployed across the UK at service stations offering COVID-19 tests for lorry drivers headed towards Europe.

The Gurkha teams are working hand in hand with the Department of Transport to make sure the drivers are not delayed at the ports on their onward journeys into Europe.

Great work by both sides to keep our roads moving and to help control the spread of COVID-19. #Covid19UK #Kent #Army #gurkha #gurkhas #nepal #covid #testing #soldier

© The Gurkha Museum Trust Winchester - Registered Charity Number 1169920 (formerly 272426)