Queen's Gurkha Engineers

The Queens’ Gurkha Engineers are currently located with 36 Engineer Regiment in Maidstone, Kent, UK.

Like all Gurkha units, it is manned with Gurkhas recruited from Nepal, and British Army Officers.

History

Gurkhas were first enlisted into the Corps of Royal Engineers in September 1948 when a Gurkha Training Squadron RE was formed at Kluang, Malaya. 67 Field Squadron RE was raised in 1949, 68 Field Squadron RE in 1950 and the RHQ of 50 Field Regiment RE followed in 1951.

The Regiment later became part of the Brigade of Gurkhas and ‘The Gurkha Engineers’ on 28th September; it is this date which we now celebrate as the Regimental Birthday.

The Regiment was based at Sungei Besi near Kuala Lumpur from 1955 – 1961. The Regiment became part of the Brigade of Gurkhas in September 1955, and by Royal Warrant, on 28 September 1955, its designation was changed to “The Gurkha Engineers” and its own cap badge and insignia were adopted.

The title ‘The Queen’s Gurkha Engineers’ was bestowed by Her Majesty The Queen on 21st April 1977. Shortly afterward in 1981 the newly re-established 69 Gurkha Field Squadron moved to Kitchener Barracks, to be deployed to the Falklands the following year.

Squadrons

67 Gurkha Field Squadron

67 Gurkha Field Squadron was reformed on the 13th of July 2023. 67 Gurkha Field Squadron was the first Gurkha Squadron to be formed on the 1st of October 1949. After arriving in Hong Kong, the Squadron saw its continuous service in Malaya, Borneo, Brunei and Nepal on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations and construction exercises. Operation DAWN was a long-term commitment of the 67 Gurkha Field Squadron to a drug rehab project on Town Island, Hongkong. On the 6th of September 1996, a parade was held at Borneo lines, Shek Kong, to mark the disbandment of the 67 Gurkha Field Squadron.

69 Gurkha Field Squadron

69 Gurkha Field Squadron moved to Invicta Park Barracks in 1994, along with 70 Gurkha Field Support Squadron who reformed in 2000. For Afghanistan, both Squadrons re-roled to Search and have recently adjusted to become Force Support Field Squadrons. The most recent Operations saw QGE personnel deploy to Nepal on Operation MARMAT, providing relief after the 2015 earthquake, and also to Somalia on Operation TRENTON in 2020.

70 Gurkha Parachute Squadron

In April 2022, 70 Gurkha Field Support Squadron has officially redesignated to 70 Gurkha Parachute Squadron, and now the Squadron will fall under 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team and will comprise of two Field Troops, a Reservists Field Troop, a Support Troop, Echelon and Squadron Headquarters.