Members of the Queen’s Gurkha Signals (QGS), including serving soldiers, veterans, and their families, convened to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the unit’s establishment.
Around 500 current and former members of the QGS participated in a parade at Bramcote Barracks, located near Nuneaton, Warwickshire, on 21 September where they were reviewed by General Dame Sharon Nesmith DCB ADC Gen, the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.
General Nesmith, who was commissioned into the Royal Signals in 1991, and is now the deputy commander of all UK military forces, said of the QGS: “The Royal Signals is made a richer place by the contribution that the QGS has made to the Corps over the last 75 years, both in times of peace and in periods of conflict.”
“Throughout my service, I have had the honour of working with many soldiers and officers from the QGS, and I wish you all the very best of luck for the next 75 years.”
In the latter part of 1948, as the Malayan Emergency intensified, the decision was made to form a Gurkha Signals unit to assist the newly established 17 Gurkha Infantry Division. This unit comprised a small cadre of personnel from the Royal Signals, supplemented by Gurkha non-commissioned officers.
The QGS is an exceptional organisation with very strong bonds between everyone associated with it. Once you immerse yourself within the culture, history, and professionalism of the team, you feel part of a real family.
Commander QGS, Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Carey
The organisation was formally established initially as Royal Signals Gurkha but renamed Gurkha Royal Signals after a short time. In 1977, in recognition of their service, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II bestowed the title of Queen’s Gurkha Signals, and today QGS soldiers and officers are deployed worldwide in support of British military operations.
Together with The Royal Gurkha Rifles, the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers, the Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, the Band of the Royal Gurkha Rifles and the Gurkha Staff and Personnel Support they form part of the Brigade of Gurkhas.
