We are also proud to announce that this month, The Gurkha Museum has been granted Full Accreditation by Arts Council England for another five-year term. This achievement reaffirms our commitment to maintaining high standards in collections care and management. This accreditation opens up opportunities for grant applications to funding bodies, allowing us to proceed with Project Kaida fundraising without any collection-related concerns.
The Gurkha Museum’s early years (1972 – 1990)
Before the establishment of The Gurkha Museum, the responsibility of collecting artefacts and documenting the heritage of Gurkha units rested with each individual unit. During the peak of the Second World War, the Gurkha Brigade of the British Indian Army consisted of 130,000 soldiers. Even in the 1950s and 60s, the Brigade remained a formidable force with tens of thousands of soldiers. However, as British involvement in conflicts like the Malayan Emergency and the Borneo Confrontation came to an end, the Brigade of Gurkhas gradually reduced in size, raising concerns about preserving its rich history.
In 1969, serious discussions began regarding the creation of a museum dedicated to Gurkha heritage. After "much discussion and many frustrations", Brigadier Kent was finally granted the authority to establish the museum in 1972. Although the initial plan was to have the museum in its current location at Winchester's Peninsula Barracks, circumstances at the time made it impossible. Instead, a vacant block at Queen Elizabeth's Barracks in Church Crookham was designated as the temporary space.
Due to limited funding from the Ministry of Defence, a significant portion of the museum's finances came from the fundraising efforts of Gurkha battalions stationed in Hong Kong. Planning for the museum commenced immediately, and on 1 July 1972, Lady Tuite generously donated the museum's first artefact - Colonel Dundas' review order jacket from the 3rd Gurkha Rifles. Finally, on 21 June 1974, the museum was officially inaugurated by Field Marshal Harding.
Despite its small size and inconvenient location behind the wire of an active army barracks, the museum managed to attract some important visitors in its early days. Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck, former Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army during World War II, paid a visit in August 1974. Another notable visitor was Bhanbhagta Gurung, recipient of the Victoria Cross for his actions in Burma in 1945, who visited the museum in 1986.
By the late 1980s the museum had outgrown its space at Church Crookham barracks and, eventually, was able to move to its current location at Peninsula Barracks as originally planned.
Initial collection displayed in The Gurkha Museum
Explore the Museum’s inaugural guidebook showing the
artefacts displayed in the first Gurkha Museum in Church Crookham, Hampshire.
Today many of these historically and/or culturally significant artefacts remain
on exhibit in the public galleries at the Museum in Winchester.
We would love to hear about your favourite item among the two floors of display
cabinets. Additionally, we are eagerly seeking suggestions for items that
deserve a prominent place in the redeveloped exhibits post Project Kaida. Share
your thoughts with us.
Have a look at the guidebook HERE.
Check out all upcoming events HERE.To visit The Gurkha Museum website, please click HERE.
