Gurkhas and the Second World War
Gurkhas and the Second World War
Gurkhas at War
On the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Gurkhas were immediately deployed in service of the British War effort.
Gurkha soldiers saw service in three main combat theatres: North Africa, Italy and the Far East. Gurkhas fought as part of the British 8th Army in North Africa, against Italian and German troops. They suffered heavy losses at battles such as Tobruk, where 2nd Battalion of the 7th Gurkha Rifles was captured.
The Italian Campaign
After the final defeat of Italian and German forces in North Africa in 1943, Gurkha troops remained a key component of the Allied forces deployed in the liberation of Italy from 1943 until 1945. The 43rd Gurkha Lorried Brigade, composed of the 2nd Battalions of the 6th, 8th and 10th Gurkha Rifles, fought alongside the 4th, 8th and 10th Indian Infantry Divisions. They reached some of the furthest-north points of the Italian Campaign before the German surrender in May 1945. During the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944, the 1st Battalion of the 9th Gurkha Rifles reached the walls of the Monastery. They held out nearby for 9 days before withdrawing due to lack of supplies.
The Burma Campaign
Meanwhile, 23 Battalions of Gurkha soldiers (as well as garrison, training and parachute units) fought in Malaya and Burma. They remained steadfast during early losses against the advancing Japanese assaults and proved instrumental in the fightback down into Burma, after the halting of the Japanese advances towards India at the battles of Kohima and Imphal in 1944. Gurkha troops also formed a key part of the two Long-Range Penetration ‘Chindit’ Operations in 1943 and 1944. Intended to harass and tie down Japanese troops from behind their lines deep in the jungles of northern Burma.
Gurkha Victoria Crosses in the Second World War
Gurkha soldiers and British officers within Gurkha Regiments were awarded with 12 Victoria Crosses (five of which were posthumous). In total, roughly 120,000 Gurkhas served in the Second World War, suffering over 20,000 casualties and over 9,000 deaths.
