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Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm

Our Staff

Daren Bowyer

Director

Doug Henderson

Assistant Curator

Kimberley Matthews

Operations Manager

Emma Boryer

Head of Fundraising and Marketing

Meghbahadur Rai

Receptionist

Hombahadur Pun

Museum Assistant

Mekhbahadur Rana

Museum Assistant

Richard Croydon

Receptionist

Victoria Anastasi

Fundraising Coordinator

Joseph Harris

Community Engagement and Partnerships Officer

Anusha Adhikari

Digital Communications Officer

Jill Bowyer

Community Engagement and Partnerships Officer

Lorna Hunter

Community Engagement and Partnerships Officer

Gordon Whelan

Financial controller

🌟 #FundraisingFriday: Today, we want to take a

🌟 #FundraisingFriday: Today, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation to those who dedicate their efforts to raise funds and support our small military museum. 🙏

Dhanyabad to members of the AGC currently serving in the British Forces Brunei (SPS, GSPS, RMP, AWS, ETS) who ran 11 kilometers for three consecutive days, from 16 June to 18 June 2025, achieving a total distance of 33 kilometers individually.

Their incredible challenge aims to raise funds for the Gurkha Museum, and they are still seeking support. Let's rally together to cheer them on! Join the effort in the link in our bio!

#FundraisingForHeritage #SupportGurkhas #Gurkhas #GurkhaPride 🥇

In the summer of 1899, Gurkha orderly Harkabir Tha

In the summer of 1899, Gurkha orderly Harkabir Thapa embarked on an adventure with British officer and mountaineer Major Charles Bruce of the 5th Gurkha (Rifle) Regiment. Harkabir astounded everyone by running to the summit of Glamaig Hill and back in just one hour and fifteen minutes, navigating a challenging four-mile route that included a bog, a steep grassy section, and a scree-covered summit.

When local ghillies reported his time to Laird MacLeod of MacLeod, he was skeptical. It took most climbers took over two hours. Harkabir retried the ascent, remarkably completing it in just 55 minutes, 20 minutes faster than before, while running barefoot.

Many athletes have since tried to beat this time, but it took a professional fell runner in running shoes, nearly a hundred years later, to shave five minutes off the time set in 1899.

The Gurkha Museum trust has honoured his incredible legacy and achievement with our whiskey, Harkbir 1899, available for purchase in our shop

#GurkhaHistory #WhiskyHeritage #MuseumStories #GurkhaMuseum #HarkabirThapa

🌟 Fundraising Friday - today, we want to take a

🌟 Fundraising Friday - today, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation for those who dedicate their efforts to raise funds and support our small military museum. 🙏

Dhanyabad to Corporal Dipak Gurung from #27regimentrlc for conquering the National Three Peaks Challenge in just 23 hours and 11 minutes! 🎉

His incredible challenge aims to raise funds for the Gurkha Museum, and they're still on the lookout for support. Let's rally together to cheer him on! Join the effort in the link in our bio!

#FundraisingFriday #MilitaryHeritage #ThreePeaksChallenge #CharityChallenge #GurkhaPride

🎖️ Gurkha VC: Born in 1920, Agansing Rai joi

🎖️ Gurkha VC: Born in 1920, Agansing Rai joined the 5th Gurkha Rifles at 21 and became a section commander in the 2nd Battalion during the Chin hills campaign in Burma (1943-1944).

In June 1944, while his battalion was under pressure from the Japanese 15th Army near Bishenpur, C Company was ordered to retake 'Water Piquet' and 'Mortar Bluff'. C Company faced heavy fire, but Naik Agansing Rai led a successful charge, killing three enemies and inspiring his men to overpower Mortar Bluff.

After regrouping, he led another charge against renewed artillery fire, losing three men but managing to eliminate the enemy gun crew. During the advance on Water Piquet, he bravely advanced alone, killing all four enemy occupants and demoralizing the opposition.

Agansing was awarded the Victoria Cross by Field Marshal Lord Wavell on January 23, 1945. He later retired as an honorary Lieutenant and died in Kathmandu in May 2000.

To learn more about Gurkhas and their bravery, join us here at The Gurkha Museum in #winchester
#GurkhaHistory #BritishArmy #WWIIFacts #GurkhaHeritage #WWII

🎖️ Gurkha VC: #OTD in 1944, Netrabahadur Thap

🎖️ Gurkha VC: #OTD in 1944, Netrabahadur Thapa VC commanded 41 Gurkha soldiers at an isolated piquet. After holding off multiple attacks, he was shot and hit by a grenade blast. His body was found the next day, holding his khukuri, next to a dead enemy soldier bearing fatal khukuri wounds.

Netrabahadur Thapa, born in 1916, served with the 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles in 1932. He was promoted to Subedar and later transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the regiment and posted to the Chin hills in Burma with the 17th Indian Division.

In March 1944, the division was ordered to withdraw to Imphal to halt the Japanese assault. Netrabahadur was in command of a garrison at an isolated hillside piquet called 'Mortar Bluff', where he and his men defended themselves fiercely. The Japanese attacked, but Netrabahadur and his men managed to drive them back. Despite low ammunition and enemy control, Netrabahadur continued to hold out and requested reinforcements. Eventually, a section of 8 men arrived with grenades and ammunition, causing the attackers to lose their attention.

Undeterred, Netrabahadur led a renewed offensive at the head of his platoon HQ, leading to his death. His Victoria Cross was presented to his widow, Nainasara Magarni, by Field Marshal Lord Wavell, the Viceroy of India on 23 January 1945.

To learn more about Gurkhas and their bravery, join us here at The Gurkha Museum in #winchester

#GurkhaHistory #BritishArmy #WWIIFacts #GurkhaHeritage #WWII

Join us at The Gurkha Museum from 1-30 Aug, 10:00-

Join us at The Gurkha Museum from 1-30 Aug, 10:00-16:00, and explore original documents, artifacts, and stories to celebrate #Gurkha bravery and #heritage! 🎉

Celebrate the Gurkhas’ bravery in Burma (now Myanmar), hear from family members what it was like to be a Prisoner of War in the Far East, discover what happened in the Far East after Victory in Europe (VE) and Victory over Japan (VJ) were declared 80 years ago.

Find more on our website : TheGurkhaMuseum.co.uk

#GurkhaMuseum #Victory1945 #GurkhaHeritage #WWII #britisharmy

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