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2022 Pocket Diary

2022 Pocket Diary

2022 Pocket Diary

£7.00

2022 Pocket Diary.

Week to View.

80mm x 170mm

Kicking off our Gharma Sunnu content for 2022, thr

Kicking off our Gharma Sunnu content for 2022, three podcasts breaking down and examining paintings we have on display here at the museum.

Delivered by our Collections Officer, the first podcast will be released Friday 21st January and goes right back to the Anglo Nepal war, where 1,600 British troops clashed with 600 Goorkhas at the hill fort of Kalunga. The artwork by Jason Askew can be seen in our McDonald Gallery and has been there on display since 2017.

Use the link in our bio to see our full range of online content. 🔗

#gurkha #GharmaSunnu #goorkha #military #museum #history #podcast #onlinehistory #gurkhahistory #army

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 vital 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 the 1st Battalion, 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. 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 two months later on May 17th.

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#gurkhas #OTD #onthisday #gurkhaheritage

Gurkhas at Ahnai Tangi gorge. – 14/1/1920 Much

Gurkhas at Ahnai Tangi gorge. – 14/1/1920

Much of 1920 was spent dealing with the results of the 3rd Anglo-Afghan War on the North-West Frontier, quelling revolt in large hostile Waziri and Mahsud tribal groups.

The 2nd Battalion of the 5th Gurkha Rifles (2/5GR) was deployed to Field Service in Waziristan, arriving at the site of Palosina Camp on January 3rd 1920, joining up with the 67th Brigade, which contained, amongst other units, the 2nd/9th and 4th/3rd Gurkhas as well.

On January 6th, the Brigade moved forward to Kotaki to join up with more reinforcements with the plan to advance on and capture the feature known as Ahnai Tangi gorge.

After several days of skirmishes the actual gorge was captured and advanced through however there was still work to be done. Overlooking the Tangi river still lay two high ground positions, known as ‘Flathead Left’ and ‘Flathead Right’ which would give any enemy a clear line of sight and fire onto advancing troops.

On January 14th 1920 the Battalion went into action to secure both Flatheads. Flathead Left was quickly captured and Lt. Col Crowdy moved the Battalion headquarters up to it. As the site was still overlooked by Flathead Right, ‘A’ Company under Capt. G. A. Maconchy was ordered to secure it. Some of the party managed to reach the top of Flathead Right but were faced with a massive outnumbering of troops and were driven back and killed.

With Flathead Right still uncaptured and the troops on Flathead Left under heavy fire, more and more enemy troops began to make their way closer to Lt Col. Crowdy’s position. Crowdy led a charge into the attackers, which successfully managed to drive them back but in so doing was tragically killed.

For the rest of the day the soldiers of 2/5GR dug in and fought off six attacks from Waziri troops. By 7.30pm the position on Flathead Left had been reinforced by other troops from 67th Brigade and the Battalion was able to withdraw.

The medals of Lt. Col. J. D. Crowdy D.S.O, and a memorial plaque created for Capt. G.A. Maconchy by his fellow officers, are both held in the collections here at the Museum.
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#gurkha #OTD #onthisdayinhistory

Every year on his birthday (25th January), the poe

Every year on his birthday (25th January), the poet Robert Burns is celebrated worldwide. A pioneer of the Romantic movement, some of his most popular work include 'Auld Lang Syne', 'Scots Wha Hae' and 'A red, red rose'.

This year we will join in with the celebrations here at the Museum for a night of stories detailing the historic link between Scottish regiments Gurkhas, a three course Nepalese dinner with a Scottish twist as well as an exclusive chance to try Harkbir 1899, The Gurkhas' Whisky.

Book now using the link in our bio #gurkhas #robertburnsnight #GurkhasWhisky #whisky #Harkbir1899

Operation Longcloth – The First Chindit Operatio

Operation Longcloth – The First Chindit Operation– 11th January 1943

On January 11th 1943 the 3rd battalion of the 2nd Gurkha Rifles left to join the other units involved with the upcoming first ‘Chindit’ operation, Operation Longcloth, which would start in early February.

Originally conceived as being part of a larger offensive, the first Chindit operation would march over 3000 soldiers into Burma to harass and disrupt Japanese supply lines and tie down Japanese soldiers. The involved soldiers, including Gurkha battalions, ended up marching nearly 1000 miles through very inhospitable jungle terrain, carving a path with kukris and machetes.

The effectiveness of the operation was questioned due to its high casualty rate (almost 1/3rd of the original 3000 soldiers were either casualties or captured). But the boosting effects on morale of an Allied strike behind enemy lines lent support for a second operation (Operation Thursday) which began in February 1944.
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#gurkha #chindits #Longcloth #military #OTD #onthisdayinhistory #military #army #WW2 #Burma

Gurkhas have a long history and affiliation with S

Gurkhas have a long history and affiliation with Scotland and Scottish Regiments. From the storming at the Heights of Dargai, where the Gurkhas and the Gordon Highlanders fought together on the North West Frontier to Brigadier General Bruce’s famous visit to the Isle of Skye, the bonds that exist between Gurkhas and Scottish Regiments are clear.

This Burns Night, we will celebrate this relationship, as well as the great poet Robert Burns, with a fantastic Burns Night celebration in our McDonald Gallery here in Winchester. You'll also have the opportunity to be the first to try 'Harkbir 1899', the 8 year old Scotch, inspired by Havildar Harkbir Thapa.
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Book your tickets today using the link in our bio 🔗
#winchester #hampshire #gurkhas #thingstodoinwinchester

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