Battle Honours

5 GORKHA RIFLES was originally raised as 25th PUNJAB INFANTRY or the Hazara Gorkha Battalion on 22 May 1858 at Abbotabad. Later rechristened as 5th GORKHA RIFLES in 1891, the regiment has since acquitted itself with a dazzling record of military victories, valour and array of awards not forgetting the unique feature of winning two VCs in a one action on the same day (5/5 GR (FF) on 23 Jun 1944 at Mogaung as part of the second Chindits Operation). It is the only Regiment to have won nine VCs in the Great Wars and has 49 battle honours to its credit. It saw hard fought actions in the scorched deserts of Gallipoli and Mesopotamia and rugged clime of Afghanistan during the First World War with an enviable martial account. The British conferred the title 'Royal' on the Regiment in 1921 in recognition of its superlative combat services in the Great War. The Second World War too bore the testimony of sustained military glories with the 'Fighting Fifth' fighting their way through Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Italy, Lebanon, Burma, Java, Malaya and Siam.

In the post independence era, the battalions of the regiment continued with their forays in all the wars with elan and heroism now typical to the regiment. In the Hyderabad action the regiment claimed the first Ashok Chakra of independent India (Hav Nar Bahadur Thapa of 5/5 GR (FF)). Zojila pass was captured paving the way for link up with Leh in 1948 and Dera Baba Nanak Bridge was captured in 1965. The 1971 war with Pakistan yet again endorsed the stoic resilience and fortitude of the regiment when a battalion  executed the first ever helibrone operations well behind the enemy lines, where it fought one of the fiercest battles in Sylhet. Concurrently, another battalion captured 'Sehjra Bridge' in Bangladesh. On the Western frontier, infiltration was undertaken in the Chicken's Neck Sector with a masterly technique that completely surprised the enemy. The regiment was honoured with four MVCs together with five Battle Honours. In Sri Lanka the Regiment earned one MVC and two VrCs.

The eminent officers of the Regiment include names like Lt Gen ZC Bakshi, PVSM, MVC, VrC, VSM, till date considered one of the most highly decorated fighting Generals and Lt Gen SK Sinha, PVSM, the former Vice Chief of Army Staff, Ambassador of Nepal and Governor of Assam and Lt Gen ML Chibber, one of the scholarly Generals.

Pre-Independence

Peiwar Kotal, Charasia, Kabul-1879, Kandahar-1880, Afghanistan 1878- 80, Punjab Frontier, Helles, Krithia, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli, Suez Canal, Egypt-1915-16, Khan Baghdadi, Mesopotamia-1916-18, NW Frontier-1917, Afghanistan-1919, NW Frontier-1930, Sangria, Caldaria, Casino II, St Angelo in Geodic, Rocco D' Arc, Ripper Ridge, Famine Mortal, Mints San Barolo, Sitting, Krause, Yenangyaung, Stockades, Buthidaung, Imphal, Sakawng, Bishenpur, Shenam Pass and Irrawady.

Post-independence

Zoji La, Kargil, J&K 1947-48, Charwa, Sehjra, Sylhet, J&K 1971 and East Pakistan 1971