The sidebar on the right of this page displays daily-changing historical events drawn from a library of (currently) 560 items. The number of entries a day varies. Most days have 2-3. Some have 5-6. Some artistic licence and creative thinking has been necessary to ensure every day has at least one entry.
Both the day of the year and the associated entries automatically update daily. Pictures and/or links to other, more detailed material are embedded in most of the entries and could include video or audio files. The cycle begins again after 365 days. The setup is very flexible and entries can be edited or added to whenever required.
The sidebar could be displayed on the homepage of the 2GR website which means people would see it when they land there (e.g. after an internet search). It could also be added to the most intensively-used pages such as the membership address list and Noticeboard(s) so people going to such pages would see it. Alternatively the material can be displayed on its own full page as shown below but to my mind that would reduce its impact as people would have to make a deliberate choice to go to that page rather than just seeing the stuff in the margins of navigating round other bits of the site.
HISTORICAL EVENTS FROM THE REGIMENT’S HISTORY
On this day, 25th April, in....
- 1880 In the Second Afghan War, 1500-2000 tribesmen were reported along the hills to the west of Sydabad. Major General Ross set out with a brigade-strength force, including the 2nd Goorkhas, to clear the enemy. The enemy sangars were first shelled and then the infantry mounted an assault up the hillside. The 2nd Goorkhas cleared the position after a short, sharp hand-to-hand fight. 16 enemy were killed but one Goorkha died and two were wounded.
- 1943 Number One Column of the 1st Chindit Expedition, based on A Company of the 3rd Battalion, reached Singyat on the River Irrawaddy, crossing it in small boats in spite of coming under fire from the Japanese and incurring casualties. They then exfiltrated back to India in small groups, some of which were captured. Others disappeared without trace.
- 1964 The 2nd Battalion took over responsibility for the 2nd Division of Sarawak from 2nd Battalion of the 10th Gurkha Rifles.
Map showing Sarawak 2nd Division (bottom left, just east of Kuching)
- 1967 Major Gaubahadur Gurung MVO, the Gurkha Major (senior Gurkha) of the 2nd Battalion, died in his sleep. Sadly his son Sergeant Toybahahadur Gurung, who had been awarded the Prince of Wales’s kukri as the most promising soldier in the Regiment, was to be killed on 13 May 1986 in a helicopter accident in the Falklands, also while serving with the 2nd Battalion.