Donate

Call us on 01962 842832

Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm

What’s On at The Gurkha Museum

FREE KIDS LEGO ACTIVITY- Monday is your last chanc

FREE KIDS LEGO ACTIVITY- Monday is your last chance to join us from 11:00-15:00 to learn how Gurkhas help with disaster relief by taking part in our interactive Lego experience. Build a disaster relief vehicle and program it to complete objectives on our interactive map to help a town which has been hit by an earthquake!

Email admin@thegurkhamuseum.co.uk to book your place now!
-
#winchester #hampshire #kidsinmuseums #thingstodoinwinchester @winchestersmilitarymuseums

Our summer exhibition focuses on the important wor

Our summer exhibition focuses on the important work Gurkhas do away from the battlefield and highlights the curious story of Nepti the tiger, the unlikely friend to a group of 1950’s Gurkha soldiers. 🐯

In 1952 1st/7th Gurkha Rifles were stationed in Negri Sembilan in Malaya, during the Malayan Emergency.

Whilst on a routine patrol, a group of Gurkha soldiers from No. 4 Platoon, ‘B’ Company, 1st/7th Gurkha Rifles stumbled across the body of a dead female tiger, sat next to which was a small and distressed tiger cub. Not wishing to remain in the vicinity any longer than was necessary, the patrol made the decision to take the cub with them back to their base. The cub was introduced to the camp and, aware that such a young cub would be unlikely to survive long on its own in the jungle, the Gurkha soldiers took the decision to keep the tiger.

After briefly being sent to a local rubber plantation (where Nepti delighted the manager’s two daughters but proved too boisterous for their mother’s liking and quickly returned), Nepti spent the next few months amongst the Gurkha’s lines, getting to know the soldiers and ‘greeting’ new visitors with a playful gnaw on an ankle. Though popular, she grew quickly (assisted by a diet of milk and pork chops, by all accounts her favourite food) and it was soon realised that a fully-grown tiger would be too much of a hazard for the camp. The decision was taken to send Nepti on, and luckily a deal was soon struck with London Zoo, who agreed to take her in.

Nepti arrived at London Zoo on the 18th of August 1952 and remained there for the rest of her life, having two cubs of her own. In 1953, as part of the Coronation Contingent sent from 7th Gurkha Rifles, some of the soldiers who had originally found and took care of Nepti travelled to London and were once again able to see her in her new environment.
-
Check out our summer exhibition for more stories like this one, all through August.
#bigcat #wildlife #nepti #gurkha #gurkhahistory #gurkhasoldier

VJ Day - 15th August 1945 On the 15th of August e

VJ Day - 15th August 1945

On the 15th of August each year Victory over Japan Day is commemorated. The Allied Burma campaign began with the Japanese invasion of Burma on 15th December 1941 and saw the Allies conduct the longest fighting retreat in British military history back up through Burma into India. The advancing Japanese 15th Army was finally halted at the battles of Imphal and Kohima in the early spring and summer of 1944. Mounting casualties, terrible conditions and a severe lack of supplies began to turn the tide of war against the Japanese in Burma and from then on the British 14th Army under General William ‘Bill’ Slim began a reverse of their retreat in the previous years, pushing the Japanese forces back down through Burma until the Japanese surrender was announced on 15th August 1945 in the wake of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The formal Document of Surrender was signed on 2nd September 1945. Pictured is Major Wako Hisanori, surrendering to the 1st Battalion 10th Gurkha Rifles.

27 Battalions of Gurkhas fought during the campaign, involving some 35,000 soldiers. 9 Victoria Crosses were awarded to Gurkha Regiments for actions during the Burma Campaign, including 3 posthumous awards. 3 of these Victoria Crosses were awarded to members of the Second Chindit Operation in 1944.
-
#respect #VJDay #WW2 #worldwartwo #Gurkha #OTD #OnThisDay #MilitaryHistory

Have you seen our summer exhibition yet? Running

Have you seen our summer exhibition yet?

Running throughout August, come along and find out about the role Gurkhas play in earthquake relief, the pandemic and so much more!
-
#gurkha #gurkhas #winchester #hampshire #museums

Looking for a way to keep the kids entertained thi

Looking for a way to keep the kids entertained this summer?

Join us on Monday for curry tasting, craft activities and an interactive LEGO experience with a remotely controlled lego car! Head to our website for more information. (Link in our bio)
-
@visit_winchester @miss_winchesteruk @winchester.magazine @winchestereats @mum_abouttown #winchester #hampshire #winchestermums #winchesterdads

108 years ago today, Britain declared war on Germa

108 years ago today, Britain declared war on Germany.

In order to assist Britain, an Indian Corps was mobilised within four days. Six Gurkha Battalions sailed from India, landed in France and were in the trenches before the end of October. Here they served with courage, fortitude and distinction until November 1915 when they left France. During this period, Rifleman Kulbir Thapa was to become the first Gurkha soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross after carrying a wounded comrade to safety through German wire in broad daylight.

#gurkha #OTD #onthisday #onthisdayinhistory #museum #Gorkha #Gorkhali #WW1 #WorldWarOne

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