Following on from separate research (before joining here) I have recently read an American master's student dissertation: 'Imperial Influence On The Postcolonial Indian Army, 1945-1973' and spotted this odd reference: From pg. 126 of: https://core.ac.uk/download/84397770.pdf I have contacted the author, he cannot recall the source(s) and thought it was from an Oral History by a British Gurkha officer (I expect this will be the IWM< so will check there another day). Partition being on the 14th-15th August 1947, for Pakistan and India respectively. I have spent time this week doing research and cannot identify where the 2nd Gurkha Rifles were. They were selected to become part of the British Army. There is a gap in their history after VJ-Day (2nd September 1945) and their deployment to Malaya. There are two accounts of them: From: 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles) - Wikipedia Slightly different and in brackets some additions from elsewhere: From: http://2ndgoorkhas.com/the-regiment/history-of-the-regiment/ and 20th Division 1945 I am aware that another Gurkha battalion, 1/4th Ghurkha Rifles (Prince of Wales Own Gorkha Rifles), was not withdrawn from Waziristan before Partition (Waziristan often being the focal point for trouble in the North West Frontier Province and tribal areas). They were attacked on leaving Wana in a defile on the 22nd September 1947. Looking through threads here some members are known for their interest in the regiment in WW2!
Not sure where 1st and 2nd battalions of the 2nd Gurkha Rifles were, but number of Gurkha units where still on territory of Pakistan immediately after partition. As you mentioned, 1st/4th Gurkhas Rifles were in Wana, 2nd/4th was somewhere in Punjab on Pakistani side of border. 1st/1st Gurkha Rifles was in Razmak while 2nd/1st was in Peshawar. Both battalions of the 8th were in Pakistan too, in Lahore and Secunderabad, if I am not wrong.
1/2 and 2/2 GR appear to have been at Dehra Dun at the Regimental Centre awaiting amalgamation with 8 GR. 2/2 GR had been reformed on 3/2 GR in May 1946. 4/2 GR were in Fort William, Calcutta. They were to be retained by India, becoming 5/8 GR. 5/2 GR had been disbanded in January 1947.
I skimmed through General Tuker's book last night and he refers to two of 2nd GR battalions: 4/2 GR were in Bengal 15/10/46 - Calcutta January 1947 and in West Bengal August 1947 2/2 GR were at Ondal, West Bengal January 1947 From: http://www.sanipanhwar.com/1950 While Memory Serves by Tuker.pdf I didn't realise that non-Nepalese Gurkhas formed many armed police formations across India, notably in Calcutta and they displayed fortitude when confronting rioters etc. Tuker also comments that in most of his command (Eastern Command, which after changes extended to the United Provinces and Delhi) were at half strength. The 2 GR Depot at Dehra Dun may have meant those units there remained as the city saw similar levels of communal violence. As sol posted, confirmation for 2/1 GR moved from Peshawar to Allahabad 31/8/1947 (after Partition)
Two updates. This thread is a spin-off from Which British units were left in India before and at the time of Partition? Post 3 by Idler confused me, so I asked him for a clarification: Stevens being one of the author of 'History of the 2nd King Edward's Own Goorkha Rifles' x4 volumes and he wrote Vol. 3 1921-1948, by Lt.-Col. G.R. Stevens. Given the chaos of Partition and separating the Indian Army into two I fear it will be very hard to discover where all 2GR were.
