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Old 06-07-21, 09:17 AM
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gurkharifles gurkharifles is offline
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Default Mystery Gurkha badges

I've had these a number of years - collected at different times from different sources - and I don't know what they are. The Gurkha Museum shows a photograph of the Kings Crown version and the left over right crossed kukri badge both with George V's (?) cypher - and on this basis alone gives them a "possible" attribution to the 1st Gurkha Rifles - although there's no photographic evidence of them having been worn. I've corresponded with Ashok Nath on the subject and he doesn't know either. Any thoughts would be welcome.
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Old 06-07-21, 10:23 AM
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Default Mystery Gurkha badges

Hi,

I too had the left over right kukri version and also was keen to determine exactly what it was. In the end I also put it down to the 1st Gurkha Rifles as I took the initials as GRJ, Gurkha Rifles Jat. The 1st Gurkha Rifles had Jat as a battle honour and as being the senior Gurkha regiment would not have needed a numeral to determine it, as in later years.
Just a theory, no doubt waiting to be dispelled.
Regards,
Andy
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Old 06-07-21, 10:41 AM
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I would have said GRI (not GRJ) is the Imperial cypher for Georgius Rex Imperator, used by George V, and possibly George VI.

Graham
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Old 06-07-21, 11:06 AM
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Hi Graham - I agree with your interpretation of the Cypher - which can be found on other Indian badges. Tim
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Old 06-07-21, 11:17 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chacal View Post
I would have said GRI (not GRJ) is the Imperial cypher for Georgius Rex Imperator, used by George V, and possibly George VI.
From Wiki regarding "Emperor of India" :

Quote:
When signing off Indian business, the British king-emperors or queen-empress used the initials R I (Rex/Regina Imperator/Imperatrix) or the abbreviation Ind. Imp. (Indiae Imperator/Imperatrix) after their name
The title "Emperor of India" did not disappear when India became the Dominion of India (1947–1950) after independence in 1947. George VI retained the title until 22 June 1948. Thereafter he remained monarch of India until it became the Republic of India in 1950.


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