Captain Lakhbahadur Gurung, The Royal Gurkha Rifles

Captain Lakhbahadur Gurung, The Royal Gurkha Rifles

Captain Lakhbahadur Gurung has been appointed one of The King’s Gurkha Orderly Officers on the 9th of July 2023. He was enlisted into the Brigade of Gurkhas on the 21st of January 1999. On completion of nine months Infantry Basic Training at Church Crookham, Hants, he joined B Company, The Second Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles (2 RGR) in Brunei. He was commissioned as a Late Entry Captain on the 15th of May 2019 and completed two years as Platoon Commander. This was followed by a further two years as Second in Command in A (Amboor) Company. His recent previous appointments in 2 RGR included Regimental Sergeant Major and Company Sergeant Major of C (Tamandu) Company.

Captain Lakh has completed eight operational tours to: Macedonia in 2001, Zambia in 2020 and super six in Afghanistan. He has completed nine overseas exercises that included Belize, Australia, Malawi, Canada, Kenya, Latvia, Thailand, Romania and latest as Company Second in Command in Jordan. 20 of his 25 years of service has been on regimental duty with 2 RGR, the remainder of that time has been spent with 2 PARA for two years, 2000-2002, with Recce Platoon, 3 PARA for nine months and with 1 Yorkshire Regiment for three years in Germany, 2009-2012.

He was awarded a Mentioned in Despatches for his courageous and outstanding leadership action when Late Lance Corporal Gajbahadur Gurung was killed in action at his check point on Operation Herrick-15, 2011-12.

Captain Vivek Jung Shah MBE, Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment

Captain Vivek Jung Shah MBE was born in the mid-west of Nepal, in an area known as Nepalgunj. He spent the majority of his childhood in Nepalgunj City, where he represented his city in multiple sports at Under 15 to 18 level. He enlisted into the Brigade of Gurkhas in 1999. On completion of his basic training, he joined 28 Squadron, Queen’s Own Gurkha Transport Regiment to be part of 10 Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) in Colchester.

In 2000, he was assigned to 9 Supply Regiment Royal Logistic Corps in Hullavington and deployed on Operation AGRICOLA 7 in 2001 to Kosovo. In 2003, he deployed to Iraq on Operation TELIC 2 and again deployed on Operation TELIC 9 in 2006. He deployed on Operation HERRICK 7 in 2007 as part of a Surge Team, Operation HERRICK 9 in 2008, Operation HERRICK 11 in 2009 and finally Operation HERRICK 16 in 2012.

He was assigned to The First Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles in 2014, as a first line optimisation team commander. Promoting to Warrant Officer Class Two, he took up the appointment of Squadron Technical Warrant Officer of 1 Supply Squadron Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment (QOGLR).

Captain Vivek Jung Shah MBE was commissioned in 2018 and had a short period as a Troop Commander with 28 Fuel and General Transport Squadron QOGLR. Thereafter, he led a Troop of Gurkhas to 4 Regiment RLC to form 60 Combat Support Squadron QOGLR. In 2020, he was assigned back to 28 Fuel and General Transport Squadron QOGLR as Squadron Second in Command and deployed on Exercise NOBLE PATNER 20 to Georgia, an infantry exercise designed to strengthen partnerships in the Caucasus.

In 2021, he was invited to become a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List. This honour was granted for his development of an innovative community engagement strategy and leading role in enhancing infrastructure during the QOGLR growth in Abingdon. He had the privilege of maintaining the ‘Kaida’ inherent in the Gurkhas’ proud traditions and culture in the Abingdon Nepalese Community, culminating with the offering of a Hindu Temple to the wider community within Oxfordshire.

Throughout 2022, Captain Vivek Jung Shah MBE took a leading role in the reformation of 31 Squadron QOGLR following the Integrated Review in 2021. In the summer, he was given the acting rank of Major to deploy on Operation TOSCA 37 to Cyprus as the Quartermaster and Officer Commanding of Support Company.

He is a keen athlete and loves playing football and managing football teams. He is deeply honoured to have the privilege of serving as the King’s Gurkha Orderly Officer: a role which he has always aspired to, ever since he joined the Brigade of Gurkhas as a young soldier.