Gurkha Memorial, London facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Gurkha Memorial

The memorial in 2008. Whitehall Court is in the background.
Coordinates	51°30′18″N 0°07′30″W / 51.50509°N 0.12503°W / 51.50509; -0.12503
Location	London
Designer	Philip Jackson
Type	Memorial
Dedicated to	Gurkha soldiers in the United Kingdom

The Memorial to the Brigade of Gurkhas is a special statue in London, England. It honors the brave Gurkha soldiers. Queen Elizabeth II officially revealed it on December 3, 1997. This memorial was the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. It was built because the Gurkhas' main training center moved from Hong Kong to London in 1997.

Honoring Gurkha Soldiers

The Gurkha Memorial stands on Horse Guards Avenue in Whitehall, London. It was created to celebrate the long history and bravery of Gurkha soldiers. These soldiers have served with the British Army for many years. The memorial was a big moment for them in the UK.

The Statue's Creation

The sculptor who made the Gurkha Memorial is named Philip Jackson. He based his design on an older statue from 1924. That earlier statue was made by Richard Reginald Goulden. It is located in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Goulden's original statue had two copies made before. These copies were put up in Nepal to remember Gurkha soldiers from World War I. One was placed in Kunraghat in 1928. The other was in Birpur in 1930.

The London memorial is much bigger than these older statues. It is more than one and a half times their size. Philip Jackson created his version using his own artistic style. He also worked with a real person, Captain Khemkumar Limbu, as a model. The base of the statue was designed by Cecil Denny Highton.

A Special Inscription

The memorial has several important messages carved into its base. One of the most famous is a quote from Sir Ralph Lilley Turner. He was a former officer in the 3rd Gurkha Rifles. His words truly capture the spirit of the Gurkha soldiers.

This quote describes the Gurkha soldier as "bravest of the brave" and "most generous of the generous." It also says that no country has ever had "more faithful friends" than the Gurkhas. These words show the deep respect and admiration for their loyalty and courage.

Gurkha Regiments and Service

The memorial also lists the many Gurkha regiments that have served. These include groups like the 1st King George V's Own Gurkha Rifles and The Royal Gurkha Rifles. It also mentions other units where Gurkha soldiers served after 1815. This includes units of the Royal Nepalese Army. They fought as Britain's allies in major conflicts. These include the Indian Mutiny and both the First and Second World Wars.

The memorial also lists many places where Gurkha soldiers have served. These are called "Campaign Services." They include places like India, Burma, and the North West Frontier. More recent campaigns include the Falkland Islands and Bosnia. This shows their long history of service around the world.

Finally, the memorial lists "Battle Honours." These are special awards for bravery in specific battles. They include major conflicts from the First World War, such as France and Belgium. For the Second World War, honors include North Africa and Italy. These lists highlight the incredible bravery and dedication of the Gurkha soldiers throughout history.