VICTORIA CROSSES OF THE GURKHA AND INDIAN REGIMENTS

The first award to a native Gurkha, Kulbir Thapa, was in 1915 during the First World War. When the Victoria Cross was initially established, Gurkhas, along with all other native troops of the British East India Company Army or the British Indian Army, were not eligible for the decoration and as such, until 1911. The book is divided into two parts, the first part deals with the men who were serving in the Gurkha regiments at the time of their VC actions. Of the 26 Gurkha regiment VC’s half were awarded to native born Gurkhas and half to British officers. Part two of the book deals with the men who were serving in the Indian Army at the time of their VC actions. Of the 135 VCs awarded to Indian regiments, only 28 were awarded to native Indians, the remainder going to British soldiers serving in Indian regiments.