Singbir Gurung

[michaeldr]

Remembered today on The Great War Forum

Singbir, Gurung

Rifleman No.2876 of the 1st King George’s Own Gurkha Rifles [The Malaun Regt]

Died 14th March 1915

Age – Unknown

Nationality – Indian

Son of Panchbir Gurung, of Pam, No.2 West, Gorkha, Nepal

Commemorated at Neuve-Chapelle Memorial, Panel 16 and 17

[michaeldr]

Thank you Christine for bringing this to our notice

[christine liava'a]

Gurkha Tribal areas

No 2 W Gorkha is just to the right & north of P in NEPAL

[christine liava'a]

The 1st KGVO Gurkhas with 1st/4th Prince of Wales Own Gurkha Rifles sailed to France on the S.S. Mounteagle on 22 November. The first action in France was the Battle of Givenchy, which, by this time had turned into a primitive (defensive) trench network.

On 11 February, 1915 the Sirhind Brigade (1st HLI, 4th Seaforths, 1/1st Gurkhas and 1/4th Gurkhas) replaced the Dehra Dun Brigade in the trenches outside Neuve Chapelle. Trench duty of building, repairing earthworks, communication links and raiding parties set in. Constant shelling persisted .

[christine liava'a]

In the beginning of the 20th century Gurkhas formed 10 Gurkha Rifles regiments. 100.000 of them fought in the First World War. They served in the battlefields of France in the Battle of Loos, Givenchy, Neuve Chapelle and Ypres; in Mesopotamia, Persia, Suez Canal and Palestine against Turkish advance, Gallipoli landings, and Salonika. One detachment served with Lawrence of Arabia. 2nd battalion of 3rd Gurkha Rifles was in the conquest of Baghdad.

[christine liava'a]

Gurkha soldiers

from www.himalayan-imports.com/ gurkha.html

[gord97138]

Name: SINGBIR GURUNG

Nationality: Indian

Rank: Rifleman

Regiment: 1st King George's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regt.)

Unit Text: 1st Bn.

Date of Death: 14/03/1915

Service No: 2876

Additional information: Son of Panchbir Gurung, of Pam, No. 2 West, Gorkha, Nepal.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 16 and 17

Cemetery: NEUVE-CHAPELLE MEMORIAL

gordon

[michaeldr]

As Christine has mentioned above, the Gurkhas were also at Gallipoli

The following are the final paragraphs from M. H. Broadway’s booklet on their involvement in that campaign

“The Cost

Twenty five British officers and some seven hundred and thirty Gurkha Officers and men were killed in action on the peninsula. Most have no known grave but their names are engraved on the regimental panels on the Gallipoli Memorial which now stands on the cliffs overlooking the beaches of Cape Helles. To this figure must be added the one hundred and ninety one Gurkhas of 10th Gurkha Rifles who were lost when the ship in which they were sailing from Egypt to Gallipoli was sunk by submarine.

Some fifteen hundred Gurkhas were wounded; as many again fell victim to disease and frost-bite which caused many to be discharged and, in many cases, left them disabled for the rest of their lives.”

Regards

Michael D.R.

[Glosters]

The Gurkhas hold a special place in everyones hearts. Many old soldiers and their families rely on the Gurkha Welfare Trust to give them independence and dignity in their later years and is a very deserving cause. Every penny donated goes to them, with the cost of admin. being met by the British Army. The following words say it all:

Sir Ralph Turner, MC Adjutant 2nd Bn, 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles:

"As I write these words, my thoughts return to you who

were my comrades the stubborn and indomitable

peasants of Nepal. Once more I hear the laughter with

which you greeted every hardship. Once more I see

you in your bivouacs or about your camp fires, on

forced marches or in the trenches, now shivering with

wet and cold, now scorched by a pitiless and burning

sun. Uncomplaining you endure hunger and thirst and

wounds; and at the last your unwavering lines disappear

into the smoke and wrath of battle. Bravest of the brave,

most generous of the generous, never had a country

more faithful friends than you".

Steve