Nepalese Army

Last modified: 2005-09-17 by rob raeside
Keywords: nepal | gorkha |
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• Introduction
• Police or Army Flag
• Army Colours
  • Main Colours
  • Colours of Shree Devidutta Battalion
  • Colours of Shree Bhairavnath Battalion
  • Colours of Shree Ganeshdal Battalion
  • Colours of Shree King's Household Cavalry
  • Colours of Shree Vajradal Company
  • Colours of Shree Bhagvati Prasad Company
  • Colours of Shree Parshwavarti Company
• Gorkha Soldiers Organization

• Nepal
• Royal Nepalese Army website

The modern Nepalese Army was founded in 1762, and today consists of 22 battalions and 44 independent companies. At least one of these is cavalry, and a few others have since WWII converted to artillery, engineers and signals without any change in their old names or in their colours. The Nepalese gave the British Army quite a licking in an 1814-16 border war, and have been perpetual friends and allies of Britain and India ever since. Nepal supplied the British Indian Army with ten regiments of Gurkha mercenaries. At Indian independence six remained in India, and four went directly to the British Army. By British tradition these are "Rifle" regiments and do not carry colours. The Nepalese Army on the other hand has always been sovereign, and shows not a trace of British influence. Nepalese units have been rotating on UN peacekeeping duty in Lebanon since 1978, but I don't know if they have taken their Colours with them.
Todd Mills, 21 June 1997

At the official site of the Royal Nepalese Army, is what would seem to be the Royal Nepalese Army flag: red, about 1:2, with a black swords-wreath-crown-moon device (as seen on the Nepalese flag) in the fly and the Nepalese national flag on a red bordered white rectangle in upper hoist. 
Joe McMillan, 28 January 2003

In the device, the wreath is on the bottom, and it is probably a swords/wings*/torch device in the center.
Nathan Lamm, 28 January 2003

*These are not wings, but two crossed "kukris" -- Gurkha knives. A photograph of one can be found here.
Santiago Dotor, 29 January 2003

Police or Army Flag

From Flaggenmittelungen 1795(?), translated by Jarig Bakker:

Nepal: On a postage stamp a police- or army- flag has been depicted: on blue with a red border two crossed golden swords, on top of which a laurel wreath. On top of the center piece the royal crown with tail (?), all in white; below the center piece a white banderole with red inscription (text not readable)

Army Colours

The sample colours are adapted (scanned and considerably retouched) from watercolours in "Royal Nepalese Army Colours: a Short History" by an Army History Task Force (1991). The book gives a brief history of each battalion and company, but virtually no information on the significance of the colours. They seem to follow no rules, and vary wildly in size, shape, and colours. In fact, these variations seem to be the distinctions between units. (Two units have flags in the same shape as the national flag.) Most of the Army units date from the late 18th and early 19th century, and their flags do not appear to have been altered in any way since then. The devices on the national flag occur frequently on Army colours. Other common devices are a dagger, and a pair of footprints.
Todd Mills, 21 June 1997

According to Smith (1975b), the footprints of Buddha point to Buddha's birthplace in what is now Nepal.
Ole Andersen, 13 October 1999

All 46 flags and colours of the Royal Nepalese Army can be seen on the RNA website.
Gerald Noeske, 1 July 2005

[Click on flag for larger image.]
This one is paraded on the right of all the battalions and companies, is believed to pre-date the modern Army (1762), and is considered the main flag of the whole army.

Colours of Shree Devidutta Battalion

[Click on flag for larger image.]
Awarded by the King in 1785 for gallantry in battle. These Colours are considered "divinely consecrated" and every officer in the Army takes his oath while touching these Colours. The Colours are also considered the protector of the Capital and never leave Kathmandu.

Colours of Shree Bhairavnath Battalion

[Click on flag for larger image.]
Raised in 1810, and now a parachute battalion.

Colours of Shree Ganeshdal Battalion

[Click on flag for larger image.]
Raised in 1846, and now responsible for all the signals and communications of the Army.

Colours of Shree King's Household Cavalry

[Click on flag for larger image.]
Raised in 1849, and has acted as Household Cavalry ceremonial unit since 1952.

Colours of Shree Vajradal Company

[Click on flag for larger image.]
Raised 1806.

Colours of Shree Bhagvati Prasad Company

[Click on flag for larger image.]
Raised in 1927.

Colours of Shree Parshwavarti Company

[Click on flag for larger image.]
Raised 1936 and disbanded 1952. Was the Prime Minister's bodyguard.

Gorkha Soldiers Organization

by Roman Kogovsek

Gorkhas are professional soldiers, who have been and still are serving in Nepalese and foreign armies (India, Great Britain, Brunei). This organization mainly advocates for their social rights.
Roman Kogovsek, 30 June 2005