The Shiny Eight, as the regiment is popularly known in the Gorkha fraternity of the Indian Army, finds its roots of lineage to 16 Sylhet Local Battalion raised in 1824 and since then the identity of the regiment has undergone transitions over the period to its present designation as the Eight GORKHA RIFLES in 1907. The chronicles of the regiment, spanning 176 glorious years, are replete with astonishing tales of heroism, guts and sacrifice. Little wonder that the regiment has acquired an enviably long tally of 56 Battle Honours, four VCs, one PVC and four ACs.

Military assignments commenced soon after the raising of the regiment when the first battalion formed the spearhead for operations in Burma War of 1824-25. The services of the regiment were to be requisitioned again when the British went to War with Bhutan in 1864. Two battalion columns of the regiment sallied forth, shoulder to shoulder to crush the Bhutanese revolts and the stronghold of Devnageri. The first VC came to the regiment in October 1879 in its first ever operational mission when its units were summoned to deal with Naga rebels. This was the first time that a regular army unit was ever employed in the Naga hills. The Young Husband Expedition of 1904 was another jewel in the crown that brought VC again to the regiment. Braving the high altitude climes of Tibet, the expeditionary force successfully stormed through the Tibetan fortress of Gyantse at 19000 feet.

World War I testified the enigmatic valour and heroism of the regiment during the course of combat services in Italy, France, Mesopotamia and Egypt. 15 battle honours were earned during the period. 8 GR battalions also saw active overseas actions in Iraq. Egypt, Libya, Tobruk, El Alamein and Burma during World War II where the Regiment earned one VC and 22 Battle Honours.

Soon after partition, the First battalion saw action in the J&K operations of 1948. When the Pakistanis were all out to seize Kashmir by brute force, Lt Col Hari Chand with a handful of men marched on an unconventional route from Kulu to Leh at an altitude of 18,000 ft and destroyed enemy guns, which forced them to withdraw from this sector and saved Leh from falling into enemy hands. For this dauntless and gallant action, Lt Col Hari Chand was awarded Maha Vir Chakra. In the Chinese aggression of October 1962, Maj Dhan Singh Thapa, earned laurels for the Regiment while defending Pangong Lake {Ladakh Sector) with ferocious tenacity and held on magnificently against Chinese human wave attacks. Maj Dhan Singh Thapa was honoured with the PVC for his steadfastness and valour in this operation. The regiment also exhibited sterling combat performances during 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak conflicts during which four MVCs and a Battle Honour came its way. The regiment was also actively involved in the operations in Sri Lanka and brought home one MVC and four VrCs. 

Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw, MC, is the most celebrated personality of the Regiment. His contribution in the Indo-Pak War of 1971 is now a legend in the military history of the Indian Armed Forces.