Kukri used in Lushai Expedition and by whom

sirupate · 26th December 2012, 12:36 PM

(please note I have used the spellings as they were written)
In 1862 the 43rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry (not Goorkha until 1886) comprised of the following ethnic mix, in compliance with ‘Official Instructions’;
A. Mainly of Gurkhas (referring to the Magar and Gurung tribes).
B. Nepalese (other than Magar and Gurung) & Garhwali’s.
C. Hillmen (Assamese).
D. Brahmans.
E. Hindustanis (not to exceed a quarter of the strength).
F. Mussulmans.
G. Rajputs.
A Hindustani Mussulman Subadar Major of the 44th (Sylhet) Regiment of Bengal Native (Light) Infantry circa 1870;

The picture below (post Lushai) shows the ethnic makeup of the 43rd and the 44th in the Dufla Hills 1874-5, which clearly shows they are not of wholly of Gurkha make up, and this is reflected in their titles;

1. 43rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry (But not a Goorkha regiment until 1886)
2. 44th (Sylhet) Regiment of Bengal Native (Light) Infantry (But not a Goorkha regiment until 1886)

The book 'The Lushai Expedition 1871-1872' written by R.G. Woodthorpe and published 1873, has a couple of interesting passages;
1. ‘The Government issued kukri were a result of Mr Baker, who ‘recommended that every man in the force should be supplied with a kookrie, a (or?) dao, a water bottle, etc’.’
2. ‘All the Sepoys (of all units, clarification by me) had been supplied with kookries, a peculiar kind of native knife, most effective in cutting jungle when successfully used.
3. ‘Arrived at the halting place, all the troops went to work cutting down branches of trees and bamboos, collecting leaves, grass etc. In this work the active work of the little Gurkhas of the 44th ([Sylhet] Regiment of Bengal Native [Light] Infantry) were much more at home than their up-country brethren in arms (the non Nepalese in the 44th?), who at first used to look helplessly on, while the former, springing into trees like monkeys, lopped of branches, collected bamboos, etc. and had quickly arranged comfortable ranges of cantos, with a low raised bamboo floor as a sleeping place, before the other had made up their mind what to do.’
4. ‘The Goorkha Infantry as a rule were possessed of their own, but those supplied by the Government were soon useless, often breaking after the first few blows, efficiency having being sacrificed to economy.’ What Woodthorpe is referring to here is the armourer made kukri that the Goorkhas carried as opposed to the kukri that Mr. Baker had recommended, and were made for all the sepoys of the Lushai expedition.
A great picture from the Lushai expedition;

In the Lushai Expedition of 1871 the 44th (Sylhet) Regiment of Bengal Native (Light) Infantry were in the Cachar Column which consisted of;
1. The 42nd (Assam) Regiment of Bengal Native (Light) Infantry (But not a Goorkha regiment until 1886).
2. The 22nd Punjaub Native Infantry (who who would have been given either Dao or the kukri recommended by Mr. Baker)
3. Half a battery of artillery (who who would have been given either Dao or the kukri recommended by Mr. Baker)
4. A company of sappers and miners making a force of around 2,000 men.
5. Along with the fighting force were an almost equal number of coolies and several Elephants.

The Chittagong Column of Lushai expedition was of a similar set up and the infantry in that were involved were;
1. The 2nd Goorkhas (title given in 1861, formally Sirmoor). We know from 1823 ‘General Orders’ that they along with the Nuseree (1st Goorkhas in1861) were supplied kukri direct from their forges.
These orders applied as soon as any unit was given the title ‘Goorkha’. However, according to the Gurkha Historian Lt. Col. JP Cross, “the kukri would have been issued once the regiment had a ‘Goorkha’ feel”.
2. The 4th Goorkhas (title given in 1861)
3. The 27th Punjaub Native Infantry (who who would have been given either Dao or the kukri recommended by Mr. Baker)

According to Huxford the Assam regiments were not issued kukri until 1881, some five years before receiving the title ‘Goorkha’. On that score I would refer you back to the Gurkha Historian Lt. Col. JP Cross; “the kukri would have been issued once the regiment had a ‘Goorkha’ feel.”

However there is a picture circa 1880 of Magar and Gurung of the 43rd Assam, with issued Sirupate which potentially contradicts Huxford

Books used;
8th Gurkha Rifles (Huxford)
The Tradition Book of the Gurkhas
The 1st GR Official History volume 1 (1815-1921)
The Lushai Expedition (Woodthorpe)

26th December 2012, 12:36 PM	#1
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	Kukri used in Lushai Expedition and by whom (please note I have used the spellings as they were written) In 1862 the 43rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry (not Goorkha until 1886) comprised of the following ethnic mix, in compliance with ‘Official Instructions’; A. Mainly of Gurkhas (referring to the Magar and Gurung tribes). B. Nepalese (other than Magar and Gurung) & Garhwali’s. C. Hillmen (Assamese). D. Brahmans. E. Hindustanis (not to exceed a quarter of the strength). F. Mussulmans. G. Rajputs. A Hindustani Mussulman Subadar Major of the 44th (Sylhet) Regiment of Bengal Native (Light) Infantry circa 1870; The picture below (post Lushai) shows the ethnic makeup of the 43rd and the 44th in the Dufla Hills 1874-5, which clearly shows they are not of wholly of Gurkha make up, and this is reflected in their titles; 1. 43rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry (But not a Goorkha regiment until 1886) 2. 44th (Sylhet) Regiment of Bengal Native (Light) Infantry (But not a Goorkha regiment until 1886) The book 'The Lushai Expedition 1871-1872' written by R.G. Woodthorpe and published 1873, has a couple of interesting passages; 1. ‘The Government issued kukri were a result of Mr Baker, who ‘recommended that every man in the force should be supplied with a kookrie, a (or?) dao, a water bottle, etc’.’ 2. ‘All the Sepoys (of all units, clarification by me) had been supplied with kookries, a peculiar kind of native knife, most effective in cutting jungle when successfully used. 3. ‘Arrived at the halting place, all the troops went to work cutting down branches of trees and bamboos, collecting leaves, grass etc. In this work the active work of the little Gurkhas of the 44th ([Sylhet] Regiment of Bengal Native [Light] Infantry) were much more at home than their up-country brethren in arms (the non Nepalese in the 44th?), who at first used to look helplessly on, while the former, springing into trees like monkeys, lopped of branches, collected bamboos, etc. and had quickly arranged comfortable ranges of cantos, with a low raised bamboo floor as a sleeping place, before the other had made up their mind what to do.’ 4. ‘The Goorkha Infantry as a rule were possessed of their own, but those supplied by the Government were soon useless, often breaking after the first few blows, efficiency having being sacrificed to economy.’ What Woodthorpe is referring to here is the armourer made kukri that the Goorkhas carried as opposed to the kukri that Mr. Baker had recommended, and were made for all the sepoys of the Lushai expedition. A great picture from the Lushai expedition; In the Lushai Expedition of 1871 the 44th (Sylhet) Regiment of Bengal Native (Light) Infantry were in the Cachar Column which consisted of; 1. The 42nd (Assam) Regiment of Bengal Native (Light) Infantry (But not a Goorkha regiment until 1886). 2. The 22nd Punjaub Native Infantry (who who would have been given either Dao or the kukri recommended by Mr. Baker) 3. Half a battery of artillery (who who would have been given either Dao or the kukri recommended by Mr. Baker) 4. A company of sappers and miners making a force of around 2,000 men. 5. Along with the fighting force were an almost equal number of coolies and several Elephants. The Chittagong Column of Lushai expedition was of a similar set up and the infantry in that were involved were; 1. The 2nd Goorkhas (title given in 1861, formally Sirmoor). We know from 1823 ‘General Orders’ that they along with the Nuseree (1st Goorkhas in1861) were supplied kukri direct from their forges. These orders applied as soon as any unit was given the title ‘Goorkha’. However, according to the Gurkha Historian Lt. Col. JP Cross, “the kukri would have been issued once the regiment had a ‘Goorkha’ feel”. 2. The 4th Goorkhas (title given in 1861) 3. The 27th Punjaub Native Infantry (who who would have been given either Dao or the kukri recommended by Mr. Baker) According to Huxford the Assam regiments were not issued kukri until 1881, some five years before receiving the title ‘Goorkha’. On that score I would refer you back to the Gurkha Historian Lt. Col. JP Cross; “the kukri would have been issued once the regiment had a ‘Goorkha’ feel.” However there is a picture circa 1880 of Magar and Gurung of the 43rd Assam, with issued Sirupate which potentially contradicts Huxford Books used; 8th Gurkha Rifles (Huxford) The Tradition Book of the Gurkhas The 1st GR Official History volume 1 (1815-1921) The Lushai Expedition (Woodthorpe)