On the 18th of March 2023, four years after its inception, the 6th Gurkha Rifles (6GR) Memorial was formally dedicated in Pokhara. A very special and historic event for our Regiment.
The concept for the Memorial, initiated by John Mackinlay, was for a memorial that allowed our veterans in Nepal and UK to revere their war dead, but also to remember the 6th Gurkhas as a Family; the soldiers who died in war as well as those who fought bravely alongside them and survived, the wives and the children who were left at home, the attached servicemen and women and civilians who all supported the Regiment in peace and war. In this way the memorial would serve both as a regimental cenotaph for formal occasions and as a place for individuals to cherish a private memory, a truly Regimental Memorial.
The simple design of the memorial reflects this aspiration. On the vertical face of white granite stone the Devanagari inscription reads:
TO THE MEN OF ALL RANKS OF THE 6TH GURKHA RIFLES AND THEIR FAMILIES
WE SHALL NOT FORGET YOUR BRAVERY, COURAGE AND SACRIFICE
Below is a flat altar stone on which to put wreaths and the flowers and keepsakes of individuals who come to remember their friends and family. Across the face of the altar stone are the words in English:
LET THEIR DEEDS NOT BE FORGOTTEN
President of the 6th Gurkha Regimental Association Brigadier John Anderson welcomed all those assembled for the Dedication as part of the unique 6th Gurkha Family. Veterans and their families had come from all over Nepal, from UK, from India and many other parts of the world; in total numbering almost 500. Tribute was paid to those who created the Memorial; John Mackinlay who conceived, promoted and designed it, Mike Channing and his Committee who raised the funds and supervised the whole project, Gopalbahadur Gurung who led the Nepal team, Purnabahadur Gurung, the Project Manager in Nepal, Dharma Raj who sculpted it and Chairman Yambahadur Gurung who facilitated the positioning of the Memorial in the most perfect setting in front of the Gurkha Memorial Museum. Brigadier John also thanked all those who so generously donated funds to make this dream come true.
After unveiling by the President, the Memorial was blessed by a Pandit, a Lama, a Bon Guru and a Christian Priest. Wreaths were then laid by Corporal Balman Gurung MM, the oldest 6GR Other Rank present, Lieutenant (QGO) Budhi Bahadur Gurung the oldest 6GR Gurkha Officer present and Captain Mike Channing, the oldest 6 GR British Officer present. Everyone was then encouraged to pay their own respects and to lay flowers and tributes.
Following the Dedication Ceremony, the gathering retired to the British Gurkha Camp Pokhara where there were drinks and tipan tapan and a few short speeches from key members of the Regiment and the presentation of a “Maya ko Chinno” to many veterans from Nepal. A delicious curry lunch for all followed on, creating a wonderful opportunity to meet and chat with old friends from our time serving together. The event concluded late in the afternoon when buses were organised to take the veterans and families home.
The 6GR Regimental Associations of UK and Nepal are particularly grateful to the Chairman and Officers of the Gurkha Memorial Museum for all their help and goodwill, to Commander British Gurkhas Nepal and all the Staff at the British Gurkha Camp in Pokhara who provided the perfect setting for our post dedication gathering and provided every possible assistance and to the GWS Engineers who prepared the foundations for the Memorial.
By Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Duncan Briggs, Chairman 6th Gurkha Rifles Regimental Association
