Gurkha Reserve Unit

The Gurkha Reserve Unit (GRU) (Malay: Unit Simpanan Gurkha / Pasukan Simpanan Gurkha (PSG) ) is a Nepalese special elite guard force in the Sultanate of Brunei. It was formed in 1974 and maintains approximately 2,000 Gurkhas.[1]

Gurkha Reserve Unit
Pasokan Simpanan Gurkha
Logo of Gurkha Reserve Unit
Active1974 present
Country Brunei
Allegiance Sultan of Brunei
Royal Brunei Armed Forces
RoleLaw enforcement
SizeRegiment
HeadquartersSungai Akar Camp, Sungai Akar, Bandar Seri Begawan
Commanders
CommandantLieutenant Colonel Muhammad Suradzin bin Haji Muhammad Yusof
Deputy CommandantMajor Madan Kumar Gurung

Unit members are all British Army veterans who function primarily as a royal guard to protect the sultan, the Royal Family, and major oil installations. They also work as a special forces unit directly under the command of the Sultan, as well as alongside the Special Forces Regiment and Special Combat Squadron of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.

It is subordinate to the Security and Defence Section of the Brunei Ministry of Home Affairs.

History
See also: British Indian Army, History of Gorkha regiments, Brigade of Gurkhas history, Royal Gurkha Rifles history, and Gurkhas

In 1947, the Britain–India–Nepal Tripartite Agreement was signed between India, United Kingdom and Nepal,[2] except that this agreement does not apply to Gurkhas employed in the Nepalese Army. Under the agreement, four Gurkha regiments of British Army were transferred to British Army and six joined the Indian army.[3] As of 2020, India has 39 Gorkha battalions serving in seven Gorkha regiments.[3] Those transferred to the British Army were posted to other remaining British colonies. In Malaya and Singapore, their presence was required in the Malayan Emergency, and they were to replace the Sikh unit in Singapore which reverted to the Indian Army on Indian independence.

In 1973, prisoners of the 1962 uprising escaped.[4] the Sultanate of Brunei decided to hire ex-Gurkhas from Hong Kong and Singapore as security after Singapore was consulted.[4] On February 25, 1974, Mr. Mohan Singh Gurung (Ex Singapore Police, presently settled in Kathmandu, Nepal) became the first Gurkha to serve in Brunei.[4]

The unit was known as the Gurkha Security Guard.[5] The GRU was fully established in 1980.[4]

Units
  • Guard Unit (GD UNIT)
  • Support Unit (SP UNIT)
  • K-9 Unit (K-9 UNIT)

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Country Studies. Federal Research Division.

  1. Brunei Darussalam, Encyclopedia of the Nations
  2. "Untitled Document". www.singapore21.org.sg. Archived from the original on 2 November 2005. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  3. Gurkha recruitment legacy of past, says Nepal; calls 1947 tripartite agreement 'redundant', Times of India, 31 July 2020.
  4. "Remembering the Gurkhas' role in ensuring Brunei's autonomy". 3 February 2018.
  5. "A forgotten Gurkha rebellion".
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