Nepal Sirmooree 2025

35 1. Background: Since its inception in April 1815, the 2nd King Edward VII’s Own Gurkha Rifles (also known as Sirmoor Rifles) has been one of the Gurkha regiments that has remained most loyal to the British Crown. Due to its unwavering loyalty during the 1857 Indian Mutiny, the regiment was awarded the Queen’s Truncheon, famously known as ‘Nishani Mai’ amongst the Gurkhas. Even to this day, the Sirmoor Regiment officers and soldiers proudly pay their respect to Nishani Mai (QT) - the practice is now followed by the Royal Gurkha Rifles. The 2005 changes in Gurkhas’ Terms and Conditions of Service (GTACOS) allowed Gurkhas to resettle in the country. Many Sirmooris settled in the UK but some stayed in Nepal hence the 2nd Gurkha Rifles Association-UK (Sirmoor Rifles) was branched into three main groups: Sirmoor Club UK (known as British officers’ club), Sirmoor Sathies UK (British Gurkha members) and Sirmoor Club Nepal (Sirmooris living in Nepal). The 2nd King Edward VII’S Own Gurkha Rifles (Sirmoor Rifles) was disbanded on 01 July 1994 in Hong Kong. The 2nd Gurkha Rifles Association-UK (Sirmoor Sathies) was officially formed in March 2014 at Aldershot, UK. 2.Aim: TheUKSirmoor Sathies’ aimis tokeepalivetheRegiment’s history plus unwavering true friendship, uniquely vibrant esprit- de-corps, ethos and camaraderie amongst the three Sirmoor Rifle Associations (SRA) members. This is achieved by annually celebrating the unique battle honours, i.e. Delhi (1857), Tigris (1916), and Tamandu (1943) on the 14 September each year or on the nearest weekend, mainly to pay respect to the Queen’s Truncheon at the Regiment’s annual reunion day. This year the 167th Deli Day will be centrally celebrated on 14th Sep, 2024 and it will be the last Delhi Day, with QT at Shorncliffe Barracks Folkestone, and then hand over QT to RGR, saying goodbye to NISHANI MAI after 167 years with 2 GR (Sirmoor Rifles), as we discussed on the last Trustees’ Meeting on 29 Sep 2023. The SRA Trust will be closed on 30 June 2024 but our intent is to keep the annual celebration going until 2027, at least. The last Delhi Day will largely be subsidised by the SRA Trust Fund, thereafter the Sirmoor Sathies annual celebrations, at such a large scale, will not take place. We will celebrate annual Delhi Day as small groups within own town areas on self-funding basis from 2025 onward. 3. Delhi Day 2023: It has been another busy year for Sirmoor Sathies-UK after COVID 19 pandemic. The annual Delhi Day celebrations 2023 was hugely success and more than 1000 + Sirmooris, senior officers and members including their spouses and guests celebrated on Sat 09 Sep 23 at three different 2 GR ASSOCIATION-UK (SIRMOOR SATHIES) – ANNUAL REPORT 2023 T he Queen’s Truncheon on parade at 2 GR Sirmoor Sathies UK Delhi Day Celebration at Sir John Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe, UK - 9 Sep 2023.