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{{for|the current regiment of the [[Indian Army]]|11 Gorkha Rifles}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 11th Gurkha Rifles
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| dates = 18 May 1918 – 12 April 1922
| country = {{flag|British India|23px}}
| allegiance = [[British Crown]]
| branch = {{army|British India|23px}}
| type = [[Infantry]]
| role =
| size = Four [[battalion]]s
| command_structure = [[1st (Peshawar) Division]]<br>[[53rd (Welsh) Division]]
| garrison =
| garrison_label =
| nickname =
| patron =
| motto =
| march =
| mascot =
| anniversaries =
| equipment =
| equipment_label =
| battles = [[First World War]]
:[[Sinai and Palestine Campaign]]
::[[Battle of Nablus (1918)]]
[[Third Anglo-Afghan War]]
| battles_label =
| decorations =
| battle_honours = [[Afghanistan 1919]]<ref name=Gaylor246>{{harvnb|Gaylor|1996|p=246}}</ref>
| battle_honours_label = Battle Honours
| disbanded =
| notable_commanders =
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label =
}}
The '''11th Gurkha Rifles''' was a [[Gurkha]] [[regiment]] of the [[British Indian Army]]. It was formed in [[Mesopotamian campaign|Mesopotamia]] and [[Sinai and Palestine Campaign|Palestine]] in May 1918, saw active service in the [[Indian Army during World War I|First World War]] and the [[Third Anglo-Afghan War]], and was disbanded in April 1922.

==History==
===Background===
Heavy losses suffered by the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War I)|British Expeditionary Force]] on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] following the [[German spring offensive]] in March 1918 resulted in a major reorganization of the [[Egyptian Expeditionary Force]]:
* two divisions{{snd}}[[52nd (Lowland) Division|52nd (Lowland)]]<ref name=Becke115>{{harvnb|Becke|1936|p=115}}</ref> and [[74th (Yeomanry) Division|74th (Yeomanry)]]<ref name=Becke121_2b>{{harvnb|Becke|1937|p=121}}</ref>{{snd}} were transferred to France in April; they were replaced by the [[3rd (Lahore) Division|3rd (Lahore)]]<ref name=Perry54>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=54}}</ref> and [[7th (Meerut) Division]]s<ref name=Perry90>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=90}}</ref> from [[Mesopotamian campaign|Mesopotamia]];
* nine [[yeomanry]] [[regiment]]s were dismounted, converted to machine gunners and sent to France at the end of the same month; the [[4th Cavalry Division (British Indian Army)|4th]]<ref name=Perry2124>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|pp=21–24}}</ref> and [[5th Cavalry Division (British Indian Army)|5th Cavalry Divisions]]<ref name=Perry2528>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|pp=25–28}}</ref> were reformed with Indian cavalry regiments withdrawn from France and the [[15th (Imperial Service) Cavalry Brigade]] already in Egypt;
* the [[10th (Irish) Division|10th (Irish)]],<ref name=Becke1516>{{harvnb|Becke|1938|pp=15–16}}</ref> [[53rd (Welsh) Division|53rd (Welsh)]],<ref name=Becke120121>{{harvnb|Becke|1936|pp=120–121}}</ref> [[60th (2/2nd London) Division|60th (2/2nd London)]],<ref name=Becke2930>{{harvnb|Becke|1937|pp=29–30}}</ref> and [[75th Division (United Kingdom)|75th Divisions]]<ref name=Becke126128>{{harvnb|Becke|1937|pp=126–128}}</ref> were reduced to a single British [[battalion]] per [[brigade]]. They were reformed with nine Indian infantry battalions and an Indian [[Pioneer (military)|pioneer]] battalion each.{{efn|The remaining infantry division in the [[Egyptian Expeditionary Force]] in March 1918{{snd}}the [[54th (East Anglian) Division]]{{snd}}remained unaffected by these changes.<ref name=Becke128129>{{harvnb|Becke|1936|pp=128–129}}</ref>}}
In fact, the 75th Division already had four Indian battalions assigned,{{efn|In March 1917, the Egyptian Expeditionary Force started forming the [[75th Division (United Kingdom)|75th Division]], originally to be made up of [[Territorial Force]] battalions arriving from India. In May 1917, to speed up the formation of the division, it was decided to incorporate Indian battalions.<ref name=Becke129>{{harvnb|Becke|1937|p=129}}</ref> To this end, the independent [[29th Indian Brigade]] was broken up in June 1917 and its battalions posted to 75th Division.<ref name=Perry167>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=167}}</ref>}} so of the 36 battalions needed to reform the divisions, 22 were improvised<ref name=Perry174>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=174}}</ref> by taking whole [[Company (military unit)|companies]] from existing units already on active service in Mesopotamia and Palestine to form the [[150th Infantry]] (3 battalions), [[151st Sikh Infantry]] (3), [[152nd Punjabis]] (3), [[153rd Punjabis]] (3), [[154th Infantry]] (3), [[155th Pioneers]] (2), [[156th Infantry]] (1) and the '''11th Gurkha Rifles''' (4).<ref name=Perry177178>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|pp=177–178}}</ref> The donor units were then brought back up to strength by drafts. In the event, just 13 of the battalions were assigned to the divisions<ref name=Hanafin>{{cite web |url=http://orbat.com/site/history/open4/uk_eygptianexpeditionaryforce1918.pdf |title=Order of Battle of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, September 1918 |last=Hanafin |first=James |publisher=orbat.com |format=PDF |accessdate=11 November 2011 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109153754/http://orbat.com/site/history/open4/uk_eygptianexpeditionaryforce1918.pdf | archivedate=9 January 2015}}</ref> and the remaining nine were transferred from Mesopotamia to India in June 1918.<ref name=PerryVar>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|pp=44,64,81,103,155}}</ref>

===Formation===
The regiment formed four battalions. The first three were formed in Mesopotamia in May 1918 with companies posted from Gurkha battalions (and the [[39th Garhwal Rifles]]) serving in the [[14th Indian Division|14th]], [[15th Indian Division|15th]], [[17th Indian Division|17th]], and [[18th Indian Division]]s.<ref name=PerryVar2>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|pp=128,134,144,148}}</ref> They were transferred to [[Mumbai|Bombay (Mumbai)]] in June 1918.<ref name=Perry80>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=80}}</ref> All three later took part in the [[Third Anglo-Afghan War]] in 1919 as part of the [[1st (Peshawar) Division]].<ref name=Perry38>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=38}}</ref> They were disbanded in India in 1921 and 1922 with personnel transferred to various regular Gurkha battalions.<ref name=Gaylor246/>

In contrast, the fourth battalion was formed in Palestine with three companies and two half-companies posted from Gurkha battalions serving in the 3rd (Lahore), 7th (Meerut), and British 75th Divisions. It remained in Palestine until the end of the war, before returning to India.<ref name=Becke121_2a>{{harvnb|Becke|1936|p=121}}</ref> It was disbanded in 1920 with personnel transferred to the other three battalions of the regiment.<ref name=Gaylor246/>

The badge of the 11th Gurkha Rifles was crossed [[kukri]]s, points upwards, cutting edge inwards, with "XI" above the intersection.<ref name=Gaylor246/> The [[11 Gorkha Rifles]], formed by the [[Indian Army]] in 1948 after the [[Partition of India]], uses the same badge. It does not claim any connection with the [[First World War]] regiment.<ref name=Gaylor297>{{harvnb|Gaylor|1996|p=297}}</ref>

==Battalions==
==={{anchor|1}}1st Battalion===
The 1st Battalion was formed at [[Kut-al-Amara]] on 18 May 1918<ref name=Gaylor246/> by the transfer of complete companies from:<ref name=Perry178>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=178}}</ref>
*1st Battalion, [[5th Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)]]
*2nd Battalion, 5th Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)
*1st Battalion, [[6th Gurkha Rifles]]
*2nd Battalion, 6th Gurkha Rifles

In June 1918, the battalion arrived at [[Bombay Brigade]], [[6th Poona Divisional Area]] and in December was transferred to the [[2nd (Nowshera) Brigade]], 1st (Peshawar) Division.<ref name=Perry80/> It served with the brigade and division in the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919.<ref name=Perry38/>

The battalion was disbanded on 20 August 1921<ref name=Gaylor347>{{harvnb|Gaylor|1996|p=347}}</ref> at [[Abbottabad]] with the personnel transferring to 2nd Battalion, 5th Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force).<ref name=Gaylor246/>

==={{anchor|2}}2nd Battalion===
The 2nd Battalion was formed at [[Baghdad]] on 24 May 1918<ref name=Gaylor246/> by the transfer of complete companies from:<ref name=Perry178/>
*1st Battalion, [[2nd King Edward's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)]]
*1st Battalion, [[3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles]]
*2nd Battalion, [[4th Gurkha Rifles]]
*1st Battalion, [[7th Gurkha Rifles]]

In June 1918, the battalion arrived at Bombay Brigade, 6th Poona Divisional Area and in December was transferred to the 2nd (Nowshera) Brigade, 1st (Peshawar) Division.<ref name=Perry80/> It served with the brigade and division in the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919.<ref name=Perry38/>

The battalion was disbanded on 15 August 1921<ref name=Gaylor347/> at Abbottabad with the personnel transferring to 2nd Battalion, 4th Gurkha Rifles and 1st Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles.<ref name=Gaylor246/>

==={{anchor|3}}3rd Battalion===
The 3rd Battalion was formed at [[Baghdad]] on 25 May 1918<ref name=Gaylor246/> by the transfer of complete companies from:<ref name=Perry178/>
*1st Battalion, [[39th Garhwal Rifles]]
*2nd Battalion, 39th Garhwal Rifles
*2nd Battalion, [[9th Gurkha Rifles]]
*1st Battalion, [[10th Gurkha Rifles]]

In June 1918, the battalion arrived at Bombay Brigade, 6th Poona Divisional Area.<ref name=Perry80/> In October, the Garhwal companies went to 4th Battalion, 39th Garhwal Rifles and were replaced by drafts from 1st Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles, 1st Battalion, 9th Gurkha Rifles and 2nd Battalion, 10th Gurkha Rifles<ref name=Gaylor246/> In December, it was transferred to the [[Presidency Brigade]], [[8th (Lucknow) Division]].<ref name=Perry103>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=103}}</ref> It served with the [[3rd Indian Brigade]], 1st (Peshawar) Division in the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919.<ref name=Perry38/>

The battalion was disbanded on 12 April 1922<ref name=Gaylor347/> at Abbottabad with the personnel transferring to 2nd Battalion, 5th Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force), 1st Battalion, 7th Gurhka Rifles and 1st Battalion, 10th Gurkha Rifles.<ref name=Gaylor246/>

==={{anchor|4}}4th Battalion===
The 4th Battalion was formed at [[Sarafand al-Amar|Sarafand]] (now [[Tzrifin]]) on 24 May 1918<ref name=Becke121_2a/> by the transfer of complete companies from:<ref name=Perry178/>
*1st Battalion, [[1st King George's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)]]
*2nd Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles
*1st Battalion, [[8th Gurkha Rifles]]
and half companies of
*2nd Battalion, 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles
*3rd Battalion, 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles

The battalion joined the [[158th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|158th Brigade]], [[53rd (Welsh) Division]] on 4 June 1918 near [[Ram Allah]]. It remained with the division for the rest of the [[Sinai and Palestine Campaign]],<ref name=Becke121_2a/> taking part in the [[Battle of Nablus (1918)|Battle of Nablus]] (18–21 September 1918). At the end of the battle, the division was employed on salvage work and working on the [[Nablus]] road.<ref name=Becke123>{{harvnb|Becke|1936|p=123}}</ref>

On 27 October, the division started moving to [[Alexandria]] even before the [[Armistice of Mudros]] came into effect on 31 October, thereby ending the war against the [[Ottoman Empire]]. It completed its concentration at Alexandria on 15 November. The division received demobilization instructions on 20 December 1918. The Indian infantry battalions returned to India as transports became available and the division was reduced to cadre by 7 June 1919.<ref name=Becke123/> The battalion was disbanded on 1 August 1920<ref name=Gaylor347/> in India with the personnel transferring to 1st, 2nd and 3rd battalions of the regiment.<ref name=Gaylor246/>

==See also==
{{portal|World War I}}
* [[Indian Army during World War I]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book
| last = Becke | first = Major A.F.
| year = 1936
| title = Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2A. The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42–56)
| publisher = [[His Majesty's Stationery Office]]
| location = London
| isbn = 1-871167-12-4
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Becke | first = Major A.F.
| year = 1937
| title = Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2B. The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th) with The Home-Service Divisions (71st–73rd) and 74th and 75th Divisions
| publisher = [[His Majesty's Stationery Office]]
| location = London
| isbn = 1-871167-00-0
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Becke | first = Major A.F.
| year = 1938
| title = Order of Battle of Divisions Part 3A. New Army Divisions (9–26)
| publisher = [[His Majesty's Stationery Office]]
| location = London
| isbn = 1-871167-08-6
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Gaylor | first = John
| year = 1996
| edition = 2nd
| title = Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–1991
| publisher = Parapress
| location = Tunbridge Wells
| isbn = 1-898594-41-4
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Perry | first = F.W.
| year = 1993
| title = Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions
| publisher = Ray Westlake Military Books
| location = Newport
| isbn = 1-871167-23-X
}}

==External links==
* {{cite web | url=http://www.1914-1918.net/53div.htm | title=The 53rd (Welsh) Division in 1914-1918 | publisher=The Long, Long Trail | first=Chris | last=Baker | accessdate=24 June 2015}}
* {{cite web |url=http://orbat.com/site/history/open4/uk_eygptianexpeditionaryforce1918.pdf |title=Order of Battle of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, September 1918 |last=Hanafin |first=James |publisher=orbat.com |format=PDF |accessdate=11 November 2011 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109153754/http://orbat.com/site/history/open4/uk_eygptianexpeditionaryforce1918.pdf | archivedate=9 January 2015}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=British Indian Army infantry regiments, Military units and formations established in 1918, Military units and formations disestablished in 1922
|description=
}}

[[Category:British Indian Army infantry regiments]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1918]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1922]]

11th Gurkha Rifles - Revision history

CleanupBot at 04:37, 8 July 2023