4 Gorkha Rifles - Second World War

Second World War

The regiment saw service in most theatres during the Second World War, including the Middle East, North Africa, Italy, and the Far East.

The 1st Battalion served throughout the Burma Campaign. During the early part of the campaign the battalion fought in the Battle of Sittang Bridge. It was commanded at this engagement and during the subsequent retreat into India by Lieutenant Colonel "Joe" Lentaigne, who later succeeded Major General Orde Wingate in charge of the Chindits. Later, during the Battle of Imphal, the battalion suffered nearly 100% casualties (and an even higher percentage of losses among officers). The 2nd Battalion 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.

The 3rd Battalion was finally raised in 1940. It saw service with the Chindits in Burma. The 4th Battalion was raised in 1941. It also fought in Burma, distinguishing itself by storming Mandalay Hill in 1945.

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" portray life in the Indian Army and the 4th Gurkha Rifles during this period.