This Day in History: 1876-05-26

Extract of letter No 5045 from the Secretary to the Government of India: ‘Official permission is given to the Regiment [2nd Goorkhas] to the wearing of a ram’s head on their appointments as a result of the assault of Fort Koonja near Roorki in 1824’. The award of this honour 52 years after the event in no way diminished its significance!

The Ram’s Head, as still worn on officers’ crossbelts in The Royal Gurkha Rifles, who inherited many of the honours and distinctions of antecedent Gurkha regiments such as the 2nd Goorkhas.