4 Gorkha Rifles The 4 Gorkha Rifles ( GR ) , abbreviated as 4 GR , is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army . It was raised in 1857 as part of the British Indian Army . In 1947 , after India ' s independence , 4 GR along with the 1 GR , 3 GR , 5 GR , 8 GR , and 9 GR , remained with the Indian Army . Four Gorkha Regiments , 2 , 6 , 7 , and 10 GR were transferred on 1 January 1948 to the British army . These regiments , much shriveled , in 1994 were amalgamated to form the Royal Gurkha Rifles . 4th Gorkha Rifles has five infantry battalions . These are designated sequentially , in the order of raising , as 1 / 4 GR , 2 / 4 GR , 3 / 4 GR , 4 / 4 GR , and 5 / 4 GR . The regiment , in its first 90 years since its raising , saw action in wars in Africa , Europe , and Asia , including in the Second Afghan War , the Boxer Rebellion ( China ) , World War 1 , and World War 2 . Since 1947 , the regiment has seen action in Pakistan prompted wars and armed clashes in 1947 - 48 , 1965 , 1971 , 1987 , and 1999 , and in China ' s war on India , from bases in Tibet , in 1962 . It has also been deployed on Counter Insurgency and internal security tasks in various parts of India . The Regiments Second battalion ( 2 / 4 GR ) , in 1998 - 99 , was deployed in UN Peace Keeping Mission , in Lebanon , as part of UNFIL , in area Ibl - al - Saqi along the Israel - Lebanon border in the Golan heights . 1857 - 1947 . In 1857 , in the wake of the 1857 rebellion , an Extra Goorkha Regiment , was raised at Pithoragarh , ( UP ) , as part of the old Indian army , and was briefly known as 19th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry . Following the decision in 1861 , to number the " Goorkha Regiments " sequentially , in order of raising , the Regiment was designated as the 4th Goorkha Regiment . In 1924 , the regiment was honored with " Royal " connection ; it become the 4th Prince of Wale ' s Own ( PWO ) Gurkha Rifles , and Edward Albert , the Prince of Wales , later the love lorn King Edward VIII , was appointed as Colonel - in - Chief . In 1950 , after India become a republic , the appellation PWO was discarded . In 1866 , the then Government acquired Bakloh , as " Goorkha Cantonment " for the " 4th Goorkha Regiment " and Balun , Dalhousie Cantonment , as cantonment for British troops , along with a sliver of territory to connect the two cantonments , from the Raja of Chamba for a sum of rupees 5000 / . Bakloh , a hill station , remained the " home " , and the Regimental Center and Depot , of the 4th Gurkha Rifles , for 82 years , from 1866 to 1948 . 1857 - 1914 . Between 1857 and 1914 , the regiment saw action in " small wars " , on India ' s N E , in the Lushai Hills , present day Mizoram , and along India ' s North - West Frontier , including during the Second Afghan War . In 1900 the Regiment formed part of the Expeditionary Force deployed to China in response to the Boxer Rebellion . In 1903 , in Somalia , during the Third Somaliland Campaign , Captain William George Walker , a Regimental officer , on deputation with Somali Camel Corps , became the first person from the regiment to be awarded the Victoria Cross , for risking his life to save the life of another officer . World War 1 . Soon after the start of World War 1 , the 1st Battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles ( 1 / 4 GR ) , was deployed to France , as part of Sirhind Brigade , the 3rd ( Lahore ) Division , Indian Corps , to form part of Indian Expeditionary Force A , to reinforce British Expeditionary Force ( BEF ) in France . The orbat of Sirhind Brigade , included two British infantry battalions , and two Indian Battalions , the 1 / 1st Gurkha Rifles and 1 / 4th Gurkha Rifles . The battalion arrived at Marseilles from Egypt on 30 November , and was hurriedly deployed to the front in December 1914 . As a part of the Sirhind brigade , 1 / 4 GR GR saw action in the battles of Givenchy , Neuve Chapelle and Ypres , in France . In April 1916 the 3rd ( Lahore ) Division was deployed to Mesopotamia The 2nd Battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles ( 2 / 4 ) saw service in Mesopotamia , present day Iraq . 3rd Battalion , 4th Gurkha Rifles ( 3 / 4 GR ) , was ordered to be raised during the war ; but due to a clerical error the 4th Battalion , 3rd Gurkha Rifles ( 4 / 3 ) was raised . 3 / 4 GR was eventual raised in World war 2 , in Bakloh , on 1 October 1940 . World War 2 . In World War 2 , the Regiment saw action in the Middle East , North Africa , Italy , India ' s border areas in Nagaland , Manipur , and Mizoram , and the Far East . Burma Campaign . 1st Battalion ( 1 / 4 GR ) , in the Burma Campaign saw action , as part of 48 Infantry Brigade , 7 Indian Infantry Division , in the Battle of Sittang Bridge , in February 1942 , and the retreat into India , under the command of Lieutenant Colonel " Joe " Lentaigne , who succeeded Major General Orde Wingate after he was killed in an air crash on 24 March 1944 , as commander of the Chindits . In 1944 , during the Battle of Imphal , the battalion suffered very high casualties . Soon after its raising in October 1940 , 3rd Battalion ( 3 / 4 GR ) was deployed to the Burma front to form part of the 111th Indian Infantry Brigade , commanded by Brigadier W . D . A . Lentaigne , ( succeeded later by Major John Masters ) to participate famously in the Second Chindit Expedition , 1944 , Operation Thursday . The 4th Battalion the 4th Gurkha Rifles ( 4 / 4 / GR ) was raised in 1941 . It distinguished itself in the storming of Mandalay Hill , Burma , in 1945 . Iraq , Syria , and Italy . The 2 / 4 GR saw service in Iraq and Syria . It was overrun by two Bersaglieri battalions of the Italian Trento Division storming the fortress of Mersa Matruh on 29 June 1942 , but was rebuilt and subsequently fought in the Italian Campaign . Bugles and a Tiger . A prominent figure who was part of the 4th Gurkha Rifles during the thirties and the Second World War was the author John Masters , who participated in operations on the North West Frontier , in Iraq , the Second Chindit Operation , the capture of Mandalay and at one point commanded the 3rd Battalion of the regiment . His autobiographical books " Bugles and a Tiger " and " The Road past Mandalay " and " Pilgrim ' s Son " portray life in the Indian Army and the 4th Gurkha Rifles during this period . 1947 Present . Customs , traditions , and regimental Arcane . The Regiment drills and standards are similar to British ' Greenjackets ' . It marches ' quickstep ' at 180 paces a minute , the only Indian Army regiment to do so . Commanders in 4th Gorkha Rifles , unlike other regiments in the Indian Army , but like some some British Rifle Regiments , wears ( a plain Black ) Lanyard attached to a whistle over the Jersey . The intention of this arrangement is to facilitate use of the whistle with the left hand to draw attention of the command , while leaving the right hand free to use the sword . The uniform and insignia are Spartan ; the regiment prides itself on its simplicity and disregard for pomp and ceremony . ' 4 GR ' , in black metal , is worn as regimental signage on the shoulder straps by all ranks . The official , and correct , spelling of ' gorkha ' , since February 1949 , is Gorkha , and not Gurkha , as the British still choose to spell it . Regimental Day . The Regimental day of the 4th Gorkha Rifles is 11 March . It commemorates the 1st Battalion ' s action in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in France and the 2nd Battalion ' s entry into Baghdad ( albeit in different years ) , during World War 1 . On the occasion of the regimental day officers and men of the regiment exchange greeting , and meet over lunch or dinner . The main regimental day lunch for serving and retired officers is usually held at an officers mess , in Delhi cantonment . The luncheon is usually scheduled on the first holiday in the week of the regimental day ( 11 March ) . The Regimental day event is in addition to the annual luncheons hosted by the 14 Gorkha Training Centre , in October , for all 1 GR and 4 GR officers , and by the Gorkha Brigade , for officers of all the Gorkha Regiments , in February , in Delhi Cantonment . A report on the event is usually carried in the News Letter . In 2011 , the main regimental day lunch was held in Noida , the burgeoning city East of Delhi , across the river Yamuna , in Uttar Pradesh , which has large concentration of senior 4 GR retired officers . [ 10 ] Regimental day luncheons , on a smaller scale , are also organized in Pune , Mhow , and other towns . Regimental Centre : Bakloh to Sabathu . In the wake of the Partition of India , in 1947 , the 4th Gorkha Rifles ( GR ) Regimental Center and Depot , was shifted from Bakloh , first to Dharamshala , the Centre of the 1st Gorkha Rifles , and then to Chakrata , and finally to Sabathu , Shimla Hills . In Sabathu the 4th Gorkha Rifles Centre was merged with the 1st Gorkha Rifles Centre to form the First and Fourth Gorkha Training Centre ( 14 GTC ) . Battalions of the regiment . First Battalion of the 4th Gorkha Rifles ( 1 / 4 GR ) , JETHI Paltan , was awarded the COAS Unit Citation in 2002 , for its performance in counter terrorism operations in Kupwara district , Kashmir . The Battalion was commended for neutralizing 94 Foreign Terrorists , in Tangdhar , Panzgam and Lolab . The Battalion suffered two fatal casualties , Capt Anirban Bandhyopadhyay and Nb Sub Deb Bahadur Thapa . They were posthumously awarded the Sena Medal and the Kirti Chakra respectively . Second Battalion of the 4th Gorkha Rifles ( 2 / 4 GR ) , Mainli Paltan , which was raised in Bakloh , in 1886 , celebrated its 125 anniversary , or the Quasquicentennial anniversary , in Trivandrum , Kerala , 21 – 24 April 2011 . The anniversary was attended amongst others by Major General BD Kale , former commanding officer of the battalion , and the President of the 4 GR Officer ' s Association . Third Battalion of the 4th Gorkha Rifles ( 3 / 4 GR ) , Chindits , Sainli Paltan , which was raised on 1 October 1940 , has an enviable war record . It valiantly defended Bilafond La , at heights of nearly , against Pakistan attacks , in 1987 . Forth Battalion of the 4th Gorkha Rifles ( 4 / 4 GR ) , the Kainli Paltan , also called Phor Phor , which was raised in November 1962 , following the Chinese Invasion , celebrated its golden jubilee at Dera Baba Nanak ( DBN ) , Punjab , on 22 – 25 November 2011 . The 5th Battalion the 4th Gorkha Rifles , 5 / 4 GR , the kannchi Paltan , was raised by Lt Colonel Ranjit Singh Chandel , formerly of 1 / 4 GR , on 1 January 1963 , in the wake of the Chinese Invasion , at Ambala Cantonment , Haryana , the sprawling cantonment town , north of Delhi . 5 / 4 GR celebrated its Silver Jubilee in Naraina , Delhi Cantonmentin 1988 . On 19 – 21 October 2012 , the Battalion , celebrated its Golden Jubilee , in Gandhinagar , Gujarat . The Golden Jubilee program included : Wreath Laying , Guard of Honor , and Sainik Sammelan , Barakhana and wreath laying . Over 200 Bhu Puus ( bhut purva or former Ex Servicemen , in Nepalese ) , attended the jubilee with their wives , children , and grandchildren . Regimental Reunions . The 4th Gorkha Rifles organizes a Regimental reunion every four years , usually at Sabathu , the Regimental Centre of the First and 4th Gorkha Rifles . The Regimental centenary celebrations and reunion , was organized and hosted by 3 / 4 GR , in 1957 , in Calcutta , West Bengal . Reunion , 1977 . In 1977 , the regimental reunion was held in Bakloh . It was hosted by 5 / 4 GR . The reunion was attended by large number of officers , Junior Commissioned officers ( JCOs ) s and men , including many Indian and British officers who had served in Bakloh , before the 4 GR Centre was shifted to Sabathu . Reunion , 2007 . The Regiment celebrated its Sesquicentenary in 2007 . Reunion , 2011 . The preparation and planning for Reunion , 2011 , started in November 2010 , a year before it was held on 27 – 29 November 2011 . The planners of Reunion , 2011 , had projected an attendance between 250 - 300 , based on attendance at previous regimental reunions . Eventually Reunion , 2011 , was attended by 773 all ranks , including 107 from Nepal , and 10 from the UK ( including dependents ) . The program for Reunion , 2011 , included informal lunch , ' Reception ' dinner , a sit down " continental Reunion Dinner " , Subedar Major ' s dinner for Junior Commissioned Officer ' s and families , Guard of Honor , wreath laying at the regimental war memorial , " Sainik Sammelan " , display by the pipes and drums , Puja in the 14 GTC Mandir , Pagal Gymkhana , release of first day cover , book release , toasts to the Regiment , group photograph outside " Kennedy House " , reminiscence , regimental gossip , and speeches . Amongst those who made speeches were Major General PS Paul , the Colonel of the Regiment , Maj General , ( Retd ) BD Kale , President of the Officers Association , Brigadier Arvind G Kundalkar , SM , Centre Commandant , and Geoffery Lloyd , representative of the British Officers Association . During the release of the book " Regimental customs , and traditions " , Lt General ( Retd ) Vijay Madan , an authority on regimental arcana , and former Colonel of the Regiment , inevitably , spotted errors of fact in the book . The offending error of fact was on page 114 of the book . The author of the " Regimental Song " was shown as Major ( Retd ) Nasir Hussain VSM , Officer in Charge of Military bands , in the Military Training Directorate of India , instead of Captain Babar Singh Thapa of 1 / 4 GR , the Battalion Madan had commanded . Major Nasir , the Madan pointed out , was not the author of the regimental song , but the music for the Regimental song which makes the song and music such compelling music . The " Regimental Song " , was first rendered by Mr Karan Sundaram , an accomplished Karnāṭaka vocalist , and musician , at the Regimental Centenary , organized by 3 / 4 GR in Calcutta , in 1957 . The reunion was big success , " every event " as one participant in the Reunion noted , " was Suberb " , " especially Symphony and Picnic ! . " Possibly because the reunion was so ' suberb ' , it was expensive . The 14 GTC , the chief organizer and host of Reunion , 2011 , hope to defray expenses for the next reunion by seeking contribution from sponsors ( and , may be , from those who attend ) . The " Forth Gorkha Officers Association , News letters " , is published annually . It has articles and reports on the activities and achievements of the units of the Regiment . It also includes news of the 4 GR pensioners and the Gorkha Sabha , the representative body of 4GR and other pensioners , in Bakloh , and Dharamshala .