A detachment of the 4th Gurkha (Rifle) Regiment, 1891 (c)

Photograph, India, 1891 (c).

In 1857 it was decided to augment the existing Gurkha regiments by raising another for service during the Indian Mutiny (1857-59). Initially, this was known as the Extra Goorkha Regiment, before being numbered as the 19th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry. In 1861 it was ranked as the 4th Goorkha Regiment and finally the 4th Gurkha (Rifle) Regiment in 1891. During the Second Afghan War (1878-80) it fought at Ali Masjid, the Bazar Valley and Jellalabad. Later the regiment fought at Kabul and marched with Major-General Frederick Roberts in his famous trek to Kandahar.

From an album of 64 photographs compiled by Lieutenant-Colonel C A Mercer, 4th Gurkha Rifle Regiment.