Gurkha Memorial Museum part 2
This blog post is a continuation of the Gurkha Memorial Museum. Part one introduces the museum, its departments and displays. It also gives a brief history of the museum and Gurkhas before 1857, which is where the museum starts recording the heroic actions of Gurkhas. Part 2 identifies minor conflicts the Gurkhas were in. If you haven’t already read part 1, please check it out before continuing to part 2.
The Borneo Operation 1962-1966 aka the Indonesian Confrontation
On Dec 8, 1962, the president of Indonesia, President Sukarno, began attacking areas tactical importance in Brunei, which was under the control of Malaya’s prime minister Rahman. Prime minister Rahman asked the British government for assistance in uniting his country and quelling the invasion. The British sent British and Gurkha troops to fight; Gurkhas beat President Sukarno’s troops in 10 days.
The British and Gurkha forces succeeded in reclaiming the lost ground, but President Sukarno was persistent in his conquests. In 1963 president Sukarno resorted to gorilla style warfare. British and Gurkha regiments began patrolling and ambushing enemy units. The Gurkha and British forces conquered all the Indonesian forces by March 12, 1966. Indonesia and Malaya signed a peace treaty on August 11th.
Permanent base for Gurkhas in England
IN 1972 a Gurkha infantry battalion received a permanent base in Church Crookham England.
Minor engagements
Gurkha forces went to Belize in 1978 during the Belizean-Guatemalan territorial dispute. Their jungle warfare skills aided the Belize in defending attacks by Guatemala. The Gurkha forces remained there for several years.
Gurkha units assisted with the invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982. They did not participate in a lot of combat, but they did play a major role in moral support.
The Gurkhas also had a minor role in the 1991 Gulf War. Their engagement was limited to officer attachments and stretcher bearers.
From 1990 to 2002 Gurkha forces were deployed to multiple international destinations to support NATO and United Nation forces.