The Brigade of Gurkhas has rightly earned a reputation as being amongst the finest soldiers in the world, and the formation of The King’s Gurkha Artillery recognises the outstanding contribution that they have made, through their years of dedicated service.

Minister for Veterans and People – Alistair Carns

Introduction 

On 28 April 2025 the UK Secretary of State for Defence announced the establishment of The King’s Gurkha Artillery (KGA). This will be a new unit in the Brigade of Gurkhas and will be integrated into the Royal Regiment of Artillery. A new Gurkha capbadge has also been created – the first in 14 years – to represent the new unit and specialisms. Gurkhas who join the KGA will initially be trained on the Archer and Light Gun artillery systems.

This is not the first time a Gurkha artillery unit has been created, neither will this be the first time Gurkha soldiers have been trained on artillery guns. To mark the KGA’s formation The Gurkha Museum Trust will summarise the history of the Gurkha Gunner.

1875 – 1939 

The late Field Marshal Sir John Chapple, in his work The Lineages and Composition of Gurkha Regiments in British Service, documented instances of Gurkhas serving in artillery units during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  During the years 1875 and 1876, two Gurkha soldiers served in the Bombay Artillery. Chapple noted that by 1918, the number of Gurkhas serving in artillery units had increased to 85 following the First World War but then decreased to 30 by 1921.  

However, during this period, some Gurkha rifle regiments had an artillery component of their own.  In 1884,  the 6th and 8th Gurkhas (both antecedents of today’s Royal Gurkha  Rifles) each received a complement of two 7-pounder mountain guns, which both chose to to nicknames Bubble and Squeak. 

Gurkha Gunners with their 7-pounder mountain gun, c.1900.

The guns had a specially trained team of Gurkhas to operate them.  Over the following years, these guns accompanied the Gurkhas on several campaigns, where they proved useful in blasting down enemy defences.  The final time the 8th Gurkhas used  their mountain guns in active service was during the Arbor Expedition of 1911 on the North-Eastern Frontier of India.  On 3 December 1911, the guns were used to great effect against on a  stockade held by Arbor fighters. 

Although these guns were subsequently withdrawn from active service,  Bubble and Squeak, continued to hold sentimental significance to their Gurkha units.  For many years, the 1st Battalion, 8th Gurkhas transported Bubble and Squeak with them wherever they were garrisoned.  The guns would be fired as part of their Dashain celebrations. 

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1939 – 1945 

Between the World Wars, there is less evidence of heavy gun detachments embedded within Gurkha units.  This would change with the outbreak of the Second World War.  The German strategy of Blitzkrieg relied upon the rapid advance of tanks and armoured vehicles.  Infantry units now needed to defend against tank assaults. Subsequently, infantry battalions began to be trained on and equipped with their own anti-tank guns. 

Gurkhas operating a 6-pounder anti-tank gun in North Africa, c.1942

In 1942, the 2nd Battalion, 4th Gurkha Rifles (2/4 GR) received their complement of 2-pounder anti-tank guns while engaged in the North African Campaign.  The 2-pounder guns proved ineffective, as 2/4GR learned at the Battle of the Cauldron in June 1942.  Facing an onslaught of German heavy armour, the Gurkha anti-tank crews waited until their targets were only 500 yards away.  The shells ricocheted off the tanks’ armour.  Lacking the means to destroy the German tanks, the following day most of the battalion had been encircled and captured.  

Other Gurkha units using heavy guns in North Africa included the 1st Battalion, 2nd Gurkha Rifles (1/2GR).  While garrisoned in Cyprus, members of 1/2GR were trained to deploy with 25-pounder guns.  These Gurkhas later nicknamed themselves the Royal Sirmoor Artillery.  During the Second Battle of El Alamein, these “Royal Sirmoor Artillery” positioned their guns to bombard the Germans defending Point 62. 

Gurkhas from the ‘Royal Sirmoor Artillery’ with their anti-tank guns, North Africa, c. 1942 

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101 and 102 Field Regiments, Royal Artillery 

After the partition of India in 1947 and the transfer of four Gurkha regiments into the British Army, it was decided that these remaining regiments should be organised into a dedicated Gurkha division.  As a division is structured to be an all-arms self-supporting formation, the 7th Gurkha Rifles (7GR) were selected for conversion to the artillery role. 

This led to the establishment of 101 Field Regiment (7th Gurkha Rifles) and 102 Field Regiments (7th Gurkha Rifles), Royal Artillery.  Two gunner lieutenant-colonels were appointed to command these regiments, and training began in Malaya in June 1948.  The Gurkha soldiers soon became proficient on their 25-pounder guns. 

Gurkha gunners practicing gun drills with 26 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, Malaya, c.1948.

A live fire exercise in Malaya, c.1948.

Regardless of the success of their training, the new Gurkha artillery units were short-lived.  In 1948, communist insurgents in Malaya began guerilla attacks against the British-backed Malayan government.  The British declared a state of emergency and the insurgents withdrew into the jungle. 

The Gurkha soldiers, expert jungle fighters, spent the next decade rooting the insurgents out.  7GR deployed with their guns in 1950 against insurgent camps.  With the increased need for infantry, however, the two Gurkha artillery regiments reverted to the infantry role.  

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The King’s Gurkha Artillery 

In April 2025, the Royal Regiment of Artillery and Brigade of Gurkhas announced the formation of The King’s Gurkha Artillery (KGA).  Over the next four years, 400 Gurkha soldiers will join KGA.  The KGA will deliver close support artillery batteries.  Initially Gurkha soldiers will be trained on the Archer and Light Gun artillery systems.  In the future, Gurkha soldiers will also train on the remote-controlled Howitzer artillery system. 

The historical account of the Gurkha Gunners is part of The Gurkha Museum Trust’s commitment to preserve, protect and to promote the Brigade of Gurkhas’ heritage, culture and ethos.  Our responsibilities include recording the creation and disarmament of Gurkha capbadges and units, as well as commemorating the Gurkhas’ campaigns, decorations and deployments.   

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