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{{Short description|Regiment of the Indian Army}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 9th Gorkha Rifles
| image = [[File:9th Gorkha Rifles Logo.svg|frameless|upright=0.9|class=skin-invert|200px]]
| image_size =
| caption =
| dates = 1817 – Present
| country = {{flag|India}}
| allegiance =
| branch = {{army|India}}
| type = Rifles
| role =
| size = 5 Battalions
| command_structure =
| garrison = [[Varanasi]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| garrison_label = Regimental Centre
| nickname =
| patron =
| motto = ''Kayar Hunu Bhanda Marnu Ramro कायर हुनु भन्दा मर्नु राम्रो (Better to die than live like a coward)''
| colors = Red faced yellow 1894 Dark Green; faced black
| colors_label =
| march = War Cry:'' Jai Maha Kali, Ayo Gorkhali (Hail Goddess Kali, The Gorkhas are here)''
| mascot =
| equipment =
| equipment_label =
| battles =
| anniversaries =
| decorations = 3 [[Victoria Cross]] 5 [[Maha Vir Chakra]]s 17 [[Vir Chakra]]s 7 [[Shaurya Chakra]]s 13 [[Sena Medal]]s 1 [[Ashoka Chakra]]
| battle_honours = '''Post Independence'''
[[Battle of Phillora|Phillora]], Kumarkhali and Dera Baba Nanak
| notable_commanders = 
| identification_symbol = A pair of crossed [[Khukri]]s with the numeral 9 below
| identification_symbol_label = Regimental Insignia
| identification_symbol_2 = {{center|[[File:Gorkha Hat logo.svg||frameless|upright=0.9|class=skin-invert|80px]]}}
| identification_symbol_2_label = Identification symbol
| current_commander =
| current_commander_label =
| ceremonial_chief =
| ceremonial_chief_label =
| colonel_of_the_regiment = [[Lt Gen]] Zubin A Minwalla<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/in.gazette.central.w.2025-12-27.268912/|title=Gazette of India, No 52|date=2025-12-27|access-date=2026-01-16}}</ref>
| colonel_of_the_regiment_label =
}}
[[File:Kus or Khas, Goorkha, dominant tribe, Nipal.jpg|thumb| [[Chhetri]] or gorkhas]]
The '''9th Gorkha Rifles''' is a [[Gorkha regiments (India)|Gorkha infantry]] regiment of the [[Indian Army]] and, previously, the [[British Army]]. The regiment was initially formed by the British in 1817, and was one of the Gurkha regiments transferred to the [[Indian Army]] after independence as part of the tripartite agreement in 1947. This Gorkha regiment mainly recruits soldiers who come from [[Nepal]]'s Gorkhali khas community i.e. the [[Chhetri]] and [[Thakuri]] clans and it was formed for only khas [[Chhetri]] and [[Thakuri]] . Domiciled Indian Gorkhas are also recruited, and they form about 20 percent of the regiment's total strength. The 9 Gorkha Rifles is one of the seven Gorkha regiments of the Indian Army. The other regiments are [[1 Gorkha Rifles|1 GR]], [[3 Gorkha Rifles|3 GR]], [[4 Gorkha Rifles|4 GR]], [[5 Gorkha Rifles|5 GR (FF)]], [[8 Gorkha Rifles|8 GR]] and [[11 Gorkha Rifles|11 GR]].

==History==
{{Cleanup section|reason=Broken footnotes|date=August 2024}}

===Pre-independence===
The history of the 9th Gorkha Rifles dates back to 1817, when it was raised as the "Fatehgarh Levy"; this designation was changed the following year to the "Mynpoory Levy". In 1823, the unit became the 1st Battalion, 32nd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry, although this only last until 1824 when it was renamed the "63rd Regiment", and was formed as a regular unit as part of the [[Bengal Native Infantry]]. After the reorganisations that took place in the aftermath of the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]], the regiment's designation was changed to the "9th Bengal Native Infantry" in 1861;<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.regiments.org/regiments/southasia/gurkha/09GR.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060113052940/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/southasia/gurkha/09GR.htm |archive-date=13 January 2006 |access-date=21 November 2020|title=9th Gurkha Rifles |work=Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and the Commonwealth }}</ref> at this time one of its companies was formed by Gorkhas and the others by hillmen. By then the regiment had fought at Bhartpur and in the difficult [[Battle of Sobraon]] in the [[First Anglo-Sikh War]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}

By 1893, the regiment became a wholly Gorkha unit of [[Khas]] origin, accepting only those who were more closely linked to Hindu ways as compared to the Buddhist ways. In 1903, the regiment was designated as the 9th Gurkha Rifles.{{sfn|Carman|1969|p=210}}

9 GR fought in [[World War I]] in Europe,{{sfn|Parker|2005|pp=102–103}} and in the inter war years took part in the operations on the [[Military history of the North-West Frontier|North-West Frontier]].<ref name="archive.org">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/punjabdisturbanc01lahouoft|title=Punjab disturbances, April 1919; compiled from the Civil and military gazette|date=9 April 2018|publisher=Lahore Civil and Military Gazette Press|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>
In response to a peaceful civilian public gathering, that included entire families, temporary brigadier general R. E. H. Dyer blocked the only open entrance/exit to this meeting place with the 9th Gurkha infantry regiment of the British Army.[7] Thus the Jallianwala Bagh courtyard (where the event was taking place) could only be exited on 1 side, as its other 3 sides were locked.

Dyer then ordered them to shoot at the crowd, continuing to shoot even as the unarmed civilians tried to flee. The troops kept shooting until their ammunition was exhausted.[8] Dyer testified he ''... wanted to inflict a lesson that would have an impact throughout all of India.'' Dyer also had sat his disposal a British armored car sporting a machine gun, but it couldn't enter the courtyard as a result of a narrow passageway. When asked if he would have ordered the machine gun to be used to kill civilians he replied ''I think so probably.''

Estimates of those killed (many argue murdered) vary from 379 to 1,500 or more people;[1] over 1,200 others were injured, of whom 192 sustained critical injuries.[9][10] Britain has never formally apologised for the massacre but expressed "deep regret" in 2019.[11].<ref name="archive.org2">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/punjabdisturbanc01lahouoft|title=Punjab disturbances, April 1919; compiled from the Civil and military gazette|date=9 April 2018|publisher=Lahore Civil and Military Gazette Press|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

[[File:Men of the 2-9th Gurkha Rifles.jpg|thumb|left|Soldiers from 2/9 GR in Malaya, October 1941]]
In [[World War II]], the regiment's battalions fought in [[Malayan campaign|Malaya]],{{sfn|Cross|Gurung|2007|p=37}} [[Italian campaign (World War II)|Italy]], and [[North African campaign|North Africa]].{{sfn|Parker|2005|pp=164 &210}} The 3/9 GR and 4/9 GR formed part of the [[Chindit]] operations in [[Burma]],{{sfn|Allen|2000|pp=351 & 353}} and earned a reputation in the long range penetration operations.{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}}

===Post-independence===
India gained its independence in 1947 and 9th Gorkha Rifles was one of six Gurkha regiments (out of 10) allocated to the [[Indian Army]] as part of the [[Britain-India-Nepal Tripartite Agreement|Tripartite Agreement]] between Britain, India and [[Nepal]].{{sfn|Cross|Gurung|2007|pp=169–171}}{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=224}} Since 1947 the regiment has fought in the 1962 [[Sino-Indian War]], the 1/9 GR fought under the most demanding conditions on the [[Namka Chu]] in ([[Arunachal Pradesh]]).{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}}

The battalions of the regiment were involved in the [[1965 Indo-Pakistani War|1965]] and [[1971 Indo-Pakistani War|1971]] wars with [[Pakistan]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}}

==Designations==
[[File:British and Indian officers 9th Gurkhas at their headquarters (Photo 24-59).jpg|thumb|British and Indian officers 9th Gurkhas at their headquarters (Photo 24–59) in France. July 1915]]
[[File:Khas or Kus group, Goorkha, dominant tribe, Nipal.jpg|thumb|Gorkhas from the Khas or Kus tribe]]
The regiment has existed since 1817 under the following designations:{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}}

*1817–1819: Fatagarh Levy
*1819–1824: Mianpuri Levy
*1824–1861: 63rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry
*1861–1885: 9th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry
*1885–1894: 9th Regiment of Bengal Infantry
*1894–1901: 9th (Gurkha Rifle) Bengal Infantry
*1903–1947: 9th Gurkha Rifles
*1950–present: 9 Gorkha Rifles

==Battle honours==
The battle honours of the 9th Gorkha rifles are:{{sfn|Singh|1993|p=}}
*'''Pre-Independence''': Bharatpur, Sobraon, Afghanistan (1879–80), Punjab Frontier,
*'''World War I''': La Bassee, Festubert, Armentieres, Givenchy, Neuve Chapelle, Aubers, Loos, France and Flanders, Tigris, Kut-al-Amara, Mesopotamia,
*'''World War II''': ''Malaya (1941–42)'', Djebel El Meida, Djebel Garci, Ragoubet Souissi, ''North Africa (1940–43)'', Cassino I, Hangman's Hill, Tavoleto, San Marino, ''Italy (1943–45)'', Chindits 1944, ''Burma (1942–45)''.
*'''Indo-Pak Conflict 1965''': Phillora, ''Punjab 1965''
*'''Indo-Pak Conflict 1971''': Kumarkhali, ''East Pakistan 1971'', ''Jammu and Kashmir 1971'', Dera Baba Nanak, ''Punjab 1971''

==Uniforms==
As the 9th Regiment of Bengal Infantry red coats with yellow facings were worn. In 1894 the newly renamed 9th (Gurkha Rifles) Bengal Infantry were issued with what was to become the standard Gurkha parade and cold weather uniform of rifle green, with puttees, silver insignia, black metal buttons and black [[facings]]. The headdress was a round black Kilmarnock cap with a badge of crossed [[kukris]] over the numeral 9. Pipers for the 1st Battalion wore a green plaid while the 2nd Battalion were granted the Duff clan tartan by a colonel of that name.{{sfn|Carman|1969|pp=210–211}} The broad brimmed "Kashmir" slouch hat<ref>{{cite book|first=Boris|last=Mollo|page=129|title=The Indian Army|year=1981 |publisher=Blandford |isbn=0-7137-1074-8}}</ref> was adopted by the 9th Gurkha Rifles in July 1902.{{sfn|Carman|1969|p=211}} It continued in use with [[khaki]] drill service dress as general wear by all ranks in winter and summer, between the two world wars.<ref>{{cite book|first=J.B.R.|last=Nicholson|pages=33–34|title=The Gurkha Rifles|date=15 June 1974 |publisher=Bloomsbury USA |isbn=0-85045-196-5}}</ref>

==Victoria Cross recipients==
*Major (later Lieutenant Colonel) [[George Campbell Wheeler]], 2nd Battalion, 23 February 1917, River Tigris, [[Mesopotamia]].{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=392}}
*Temporary [Brevet] Major [[Frank Blaker]], [[Highland Light Infantry]], attached to 3rd Battalion, 9 July 1944, [[Taunggyi]], [[Myanmar|Burma (now Myanmar)]].{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=393}}
*Rifleman [[Sher Bahadur Thapa]], 1st Battalion, 18 September 1944, San Marino, Italy.{{sfn|Parker|2005|p=210}}

==Notable members==
* [[John Bradburne]], (1921–1979), afterwards the "Vagabond of God".
* [[Stafford Beer]], operation research theorist who served as an officer with the regiment from 1945 to 1947.<ref name=Tel>{{cite news|title=Obituaries: Stafford Beer|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1405557/Stafford-Beer.html|access-date=31 August 2015|publisher=The Telegraph|date=28 August 2002}}</ref>
* Colonel [[MN Rai]], a colonel who received the [[Yudh Seva Medal]] for bravery and [[Shaurya Chakra]] posthumously.
* Bernard Dineen, (1923–2013), afterwards an award-winning journalist for The Yorkshire Post.
* Lieutenant General [[B. K. N. Chhibber]], later governor of Punjab and administrator of Chandigarh.
* Lieutenant General Anil Kumar Bhatt, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM was Director General Military Operations (DGMO) at Army Headquarters, Commander of Chinar Corps at Srinagar (J&K) and Military Secretary at Army Headquarters.
* Lt. Colonel Nasib Singh. The raising officer for 4th Battalion, 9 Gorkha Regiment.

==References==
;Citations
{{Reflist|2}}
;Bibliography
* {{Cite book |last=Allen |first=Louis |year=2000 |orig-year=1984 |title=Burma: The Longest War 1941–45 |publisher=Phoenix Press |location=London |isbn=1-84212-260-6}}
*{{cite book |first=W. Y. |last=Carman |title=Indian Army Uniforms Under the British From the 18th Century to 1947: Artillery, Engineers and Infantry |publisher=Morgan-Grampian| location=London |year=1969 |isbn=978-0-24943-956-4 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Cross |first1=J.P. |last2=Gurung |first2=Buddhiman |title=Gurkhas at War: Eyewitness Accounts from World War II to Iraq |year=2007 |publisher=Greenhill Books |location=London |isbn=978-1-85367-727-4 }}
*{{cite book |last=Parker|first=John |title=The Gurkhas: The Inside Story of the World's Most Feared Soldiers |year=2005 |publisher=Headline |location=London |isbn=978-07553-1415-7 }}
* {{cite book |title=Battle Honours of the Indian Army 1757–1971 |last=Singh |first=Sarbans |year=1993 |publisher=Vision Books |location=New Delhi |isbn=8170941156 }}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |first=P. |last=Chaudhuri |title=9th Gurkha Rifles: A Regimental History, 1817–1947 |publisher=Lancer International, Lancer Press |year= 1985 |isbn=978-1-85127-002-6}}

==External links==
* [https://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/gurkha/9thgurkhas.htm 9th Gurkhas]

{{Indian Army Infantry Regiments}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1817]]
[[Category:Infantry regiments of the Indian Army from 1947]]
[[Category:British Indian Army infantry regiments]]
[[Category:Rifle regiments]]
[[Category:Gurkhas]]
[[Category:1817 establishments in British India]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Burma in World War II|R]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in British Malaya in World War II|R]]

9th Gorkha Rifles - Revision history

Sameer481 at 05:06, 16 January 2026