Sirmooree #80

3 PRESIDENT’S FOREWORD Another year has vanished as quickly as it begun as we all go about our increasingly busy 21 st Century Lives. It is perhaps true to say that the heart wishes more than the body is willing to give at times, but we remain steady and true to the Maharani’s salt and our fellow Sirmooris, if now a little stiffly! As you will see in this excellent edition of the Sirmooree there has been plenty of activity to engage in and occasions for we old soldiers and our wives and families to meet around the world. I am very conscious that this is only possible because of the selflessness of a small number of very dedicated Sirmooris in the UK, Nepal and Hong Kong who make it happen. They are unsung but deserve our respect. A big thank you to those of you who have given generously of your time on our behalf. To save blushes I won’t name them all here but, as they used to say in Northern Ireland, “ we know who you are ” and you know who you are too! This year the Sirmoor Club Annual Luncheon will be held on the 11 th May. Historians among us know that this date marked the start of the Indian Mutiny in Meerut in 1857. It was only a short time later that Charles Reid got his marching orders and the Sirmoor Battalion really placed the 2 nd Goorkhas to the forefront of the Indian Army with their actions on Delhi Ridge. That was 162 years ago and that we still continue to exist, albeit in name and spirit rather than great deeds, says much for the durability of the Regimental system and old comrades’ associations. This year in July marks exactly 25 years since we were removed from the British Army’s active Order of Battle. Our traditions live on in the Royal Gurkha Rifles who were formed on the 1 st July 1994 from the 4 antecedent Regiments and continue to do us proud, particularly on hard operations. In fact, the Gurkha light is currently burning bright and a new 3 rd Battalion of the www.2ndGoorkhas.com