Queen's Gurkha Signals stronger than ever as parade marks birthday - and new unit

The Queen's Gurkha Signals have said they’re stronger than ever after welcoming their seventh squadron to the regiment. 

The formation of 243 Squadron, 7th Field Squadron took place at Gamecock Barracks during QG Signals' 76th birthday celebrations.

Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Carey, the commander of QG Signals, said it was a proud day for the unit.

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"It's the formation of our newest squadron which is 243 Gurkha Signal Squadron and this takes us as a regiment up to seven squadrons," Lt Col Carey said.

"Now we're up to our strongest we've ever been."

More than 370 soldiers were on the parade square at Gamecock Barracks, and among them were 45 signallers who had joined the newest squadron.

Signaller Kenji Gurung is a power engineer in 243 and is the youngest to join the squadron.

He said being a member of QGS was "the biggest thing in my life" and being part of 243 was like a dream.

"I was the first to be the youngest of the youngest squadron," he said.

QGS soldiers are the communications experts of the Brigade of Gurkhas, tasked to provide telecommunications, IT and cyber support to the British Army at home and on operations.

243 will have a unique role.

Major Suresh Limbu explained: "They have already started supporting the armoured regiment so they would be providing something unique."

The first Gurkhas to be trained as signallers took place during the First World War in the Indian Army Signals Corps.

This then evolved and in 1921 three Gurkha signal companies were formed and attached to different units within the British Indian Army.

However, they were not considered a unit and did not receive a cap badge.

It wasn’t until the late 1940s when the idea of a Gurkha signals unit was revived and later the four remaining Gurkha regiments within the British Army were organised into a dedicated Gurkha division.

As divisions are structured to be self-supporting the new Gurkha division needed its own signalling unit.

This is when the Gurkha Signals Training Wing (GSTW) was formed in Kuala Lumpur in what is now Malaysia.