2015 is a special year for the Gurkhas as it is the 200th Anniversary of Gurkha service to the British Crown.
We wanted to mark this in Brunei too, given the significant Gurkha links that have existed here for more than 50 years. We were greatly honoured therefore that His Majesty The Sultan agreed to take the salute at a Commemoration Parade on 12th October. It was a great spectacle. Bandar Seri Begawan’s main ceremonial parade ground was filled with more than 800 soldiers, drawn equally from the Gurkhas – largely, the 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles stationed at the Brunei Garrison – and from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces – the 3rd Battalion Land Forces, based close to the Garrison. The last time a similar Joint Parade was held was in Brunei was in 1998, during Her Majesty The Queen’s State Visit to Brunei.
The visiting Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas significantly added to the military spectacle. I was honoured too that the Band found time to perform a Sunset Ceremony at my house. The backdrop of the Brunei River, with palm trees swaying and occasional flash of lightning across the distant Brunei Bay, made a memorable setting for this time-honoured tradition.
I was interested to hear from the Director of Music just how busy the Gurkha Band had been this year. It had performed throughout the UK, including at the Gurkha Pageant in June, at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, which His Majesty The Sultan had attended. The Band had also enjoyed the honour of playing at the FA Cup Final at Wembley in front of a crowd of 90,000. Upcoming events include performing at the Houses of Parliament and the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.
Congratulations to all Gurkhas in their special anniversary year. Many thanks for including Brunei in your programme of commemorative events.