GURKHA HONOURS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 10, 12 January 1929, Page 18

GURKHA HONOURS

INSCRIBED ON A TRUNCHEON

< ■ . ■ i ■ ■ • As the recent Army Order .relating to the uniform :of light, infantry . regiments reminds us, the methoas tiy which : the Army commemorates' its glorious past are^ numerous, • says an -English newspaper writer. The most common is the placing of ,the name of a campaign or action on the Regimental Colours, but the method adopted by the Sirm.oor Battalion after the -Indian Mutiny was unique. : ' ' ■. ' • During the .Indian Mutiny- the Sir-' moor Battalion formed part of the main' picquet in Hindoo Rao's house in a. very exposed position in-advance of-the main line/ During the.-whole-siege itwas never relieved, and it ■> sustained twenty-six-attacks. ■ ■ For'- over "three months the battalion ■ was constantly under enemy.fire; morning, noon, and night/ : ' ...'■■'.■:'.■■ ";" ..,'!■", ' To'commemorate its gallantry* 'the battalion had conferred- upon it the honourand privilege of carrying colours similar to those of British line regiments, inscribed with the word "Delhi" in Persian; Hindi, and English. •As a further honour the battalion was redesignated '' The Sirmoor Rifle Reginient:" The present title of the regiment is the 2nd' King Edward Js: -Own Gurka Rifles. ■, ; ■• ' '■ ':' •''. Unfortunately,; on being converted into a rifle regiment ithad to cease carrying colours in conformity with the British practice, so, instead the commanding officer suggested that they be permitted- to carry a teuncheon. This .was agreed to;-' '■ ■'■■"■' •'■: "■.■","-' .-- -; ' ' The truncheon is six feet high, is of bronze, and -is surmounted by a crown in silver, supported: by.: three ; Gurkha soldiers in bronze. On'aring of silver below, the figures is: the- folloiying iiscription in silver: "Main- Pioquet, Hindoo Eao's; House; Delhi, 1857/^

Below • :this- ■is a : representation 5 -in bronze of the Delhi, Gate of the Moguls, with' two kookeries, > the , Gurkha national, weapon, under it in silver. . On the silver ring just-above -the top of the. staff ■iß.'vthe above inscription..in Nagii;:characters:.i-S j~'i ":.<:-^*. ./• i r -:';.-;y .■