The 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles was originally a Gurkha regiment of the British Indian Army. Following India's independence in 1947, it was one of the Gurkha regiments allocated to the Indian Army.

Early History

In 1857, it was decided to augment the existing Gurkha regiments by raising another. Initially, this was known as the Extra Goorkha Regiment, before being numbered as the 19th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry. In 1861 it was finally ranked as the 4th Goorkha Regiment.

The regiment's first major action was during the Second Afghan War, also seeing service on the North-West Frontier and during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.

First World War

During the First World War, the 1st Battalion served in France, participating in the battles of Givenchy , Neuve Chapelle and Ypres, while the 2nd Battalion saw service in Mesopotamia. A 3rd Battalion was authorised to be raised, but due to a clerical error, the 4th Battalion, 3rd Gurkha Rifles was raised instead of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Gurkha Rifles.

In 1924, the regiment became the 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles, with the Prince of Wales becoming Colonel-in-Chief.

Second World War

The regiment saw service in most threatres during the Second World War, including North Africa, Italy and the Far East. A battalion of the 4th Gurkhas saw service with the Chindits in Burma. It was during the Second World War that the 3rd Battalion was finally raised in 1940, followed by the 4th Battalion in 1941.

4th Gorkha Rifles

Following India's independence in 1947, the 4th Gurkhas was one of the Gurkha regiments to be allocated to the Indian Army, becoming the 4th Gorkha Rifles in 1950.

• Battle Honours
  • Ali Masjid, Kabul 1879, Kandahar 1880, Afghanistan 1878-80, Chitral, Waziristan 1895, Tirah, Punjab Frontier, China 1900
  • The Great War: Givenchy 1914, Neuve Chapelle, Ypres 1915, St. Julien, Aubers, Festubert 1915, France and Flanders 1914-15, Egypt 1916, Tigris 1916, Kut al Amara 1917, Baghdad, Mesopotamia 1916-18, Gallipoli 1915, N.W. Frontier India 1917, Baluchistan 1918
  • Afghanistan 1919
  • The Second World War: Iraq 1941, Syria 1941, The Cauldron, North Africa 1940-43, Trestina, Monte Cedrone, Italy 1943-45, Pegu 1942, Chindits 1944, Bishenpur, Shwebo, Mandalay, Burma 1942-45
  • Punch, Gurais, Jammu and Kashmir 1947-48, Punjab 1965, Jammu and Kashmir 1971