5th Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force)

5th Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force)
Cap badge of 5th Gorkha Rifles
Active1858–present
CountryIndia India
Branch Indian Army
TypeRifle Regiment
RoleInfantry
Size6 Battalions
Regimental Centre58 Gorkha Training Centre, Shillong, Meghalaya
Nickname(s)Frontier Force
Motto(s)शौर्य एवं निष्ठा
Shaurya Evam Nistha
(Courage and Determination)
Regimental ColoursRifle Green   and   Black
MarchWar Cry: Ayo Gorkhali ("The Gorkhas are here")
Anniversaries22 May
EngagementsThe Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-1880

First World War 1914-1918
The Third Anglo-Afghan War of 1919
Second World War 1939-1945
Indo-Pakistani war of 1947-48
Indo-China war of 1962

Indo-Pakistani war of 1965
Indo-Pakistani war of 1971
Decorations7 Victoria Cross
64 Military Cross
1 Ashoka Chakra
8 Maha Vir Chakras
5 Kirti Chakras
23 Vir Chakras
9 Shaurya Chakras
1 Yudh Seva Medal
53 Sena Medals
27 Mentioned-in-Despatches
Battle honoursPost Independence
Zoji La
Kargil
Charwa
Sylhet
Sehjra
Theatre honours
Jammu and Kashmir-1947-48
Punjab-1965
East Pakistan-1971
Jammu and Kashmir-1971
Punjab-1971
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Field Marshal Sir Arthur Arnold Barrett, GCB, GCSI, KCVO, ADC

Lt General Faridoon Noshir Billimoria PVSM, ADC; General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Army Command[1]

General Dalbir Singh Suhag, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC

Lt Gen Zorawar Chand Bakshi, PVSM, MVC, VrC, VSM

Lt Gen S. K. Sinha, PVSM (Ex Governor of J&K and Assam)

Maj Gen Ian Cardozo, AVSM, SM

Lt Gen Richard Khare, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM

Maj Gen S. K. Khajuria, AVSM, VSM
Insignia
Regimental InsigniaA pair of Black crossed Khukris with the floriated numeral 5 in between
TartanGovernment (pipes and drums)
Abbreviations5 GR(FF)

5th Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force), also abbreviated as 5 GR(FF) is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army comprising Gurkha soldiers of Nepalese origin. It was formed in 1858 as part of the British Indian Army. The regiment's battalions served in the First World War (Mesopotamia) and Second World War (Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran, Mediterranean, Italian campaign, and in Burma).

The regiment was known as the 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force) when it was one of the Gurkha regiments that was transferred to the Indian Army following the independence of Indian and Pakistan in 1947 and given its current name in 1950.

Since 1947, the regiment has served in a number of conflicts, including the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. It has also participated in peacekeeping operations in Sri Lanka.

  1. ^ Lieutenant General Bilimoria, His Life & Times by Major General Ian Cardozo, published 2016, Centre for Armed Forces Research, United Services Institute of India