Background and development:
The Queens Gurkha Engineers originated through enlistment in 1948 into the Corps of Royal engineers. In that year a training squadron was raised (in Malaya) and across the following three years (to 1951) field squadrons and a regiment HQ were created. In September 1955 this regiment (based near to Kuala Lumpur from this year until 1961) became part of the Brigade of Gurkhas, with on the 28th of that month a Royal Warrant being assigned for its name the ‘Gurkha Engineers.’
On 21st April 1977 Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth bestowed the title ‘The Queen’s Gurkha Engineers’ and from 1981 the newly created 69 Gurkha Field Squadron became based at the Kitchener Barracks in Medway, Kent; 69 Squadron and the 70 Field Support Squadron were reformed in 2000, and based (continuing to the present/2020) at Invicta Park Barracks, Maidstone, Kent in 1994. The UK Government/MOD have scheduled the closure of the barracks for 2027: if this decision proceeds, then it is hoped a new headquarters will be found for the Queens Gurkha Engineers.
The Queens Gurkha Engineers (QGE) background has through the Royal Engineers (‘sappers’) section of the British Army roots from as early as the Norman Conquest of Anglo-Saxon England by William the Conqueror in 1066: military engineers played a key role in the success of the conquest, including doubtless the fear and courage engendering device of the drilling of holes in the invaders ships to enable conquer or perish focus in the Norman Army. Later, parallel to the creation of the Royal Artillery a Board of Ordinance was established in the 15th Century, from which time the Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery corps were born, continuing to this day.
Of equal, perhaps greater importance regarding the QGE and its unique attributes, the historical context is crucial to understand why the QGE was created, and why it continues in a (at this time) greatly pared down British Army / UK armed forces, age. The sappers repertoire of skills and crucial activities clearly played a major background support part in the success of the Nepal / Gorkha Kingdom’s forces at war with the British’ East India Company and British military forces in the 1814 – 1815 conflict.
It cannot be doubted that some 40 years later, the Nepal [Gurkha] component of the British Army forces sappers played exceptional roles in support to the Gurkha frontline (Sirmoor Rifles in particular: the regiment also had a particular association, as the ultimate genesis of the of the QGE itself, with mining and sapper work) soldiery and broader British Army side in regard to the Siege of Delhi and the Relief of Lucknow.
Of course strategic decision bodies and related meetings, of the kinds that second, secure, experts such as those of the early 19th Century Nepali-Gurkha sappers, and certainly some hundred+ years later, the decision within the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall to continue to have and recruit Gurkha sappers within the Royal Engineers, and subsequently to see the QGE itself be created, do not make such decisions by chance, especially where – unique in the British Army – overseas nationals are concerned.
The reasons for this are indicated above and are considered in the Gurkha community as more than credible, with no other explanation for the presence within the British Army of the Gurkha sappers, and ultimately QGE, being able to hold up to scrutiny. This is a significant phenomenon, and does not appear explicitly in British Armed Forces history, but remains clear enough as credible and compelling; the Gurkhas have in this instance, as well as much better known & recorded ones (RGR), the honour of in fact/deed, being a major presence in the story of British military history and overseas power from the colonial age through to the more wholesome 21st Century context of honourable important presence of the modern British Army in international peacekeeping [UN]. And by extension a unique and yet, to date, little highlighted role in the age mentioned and presence referred to at British national history level.
The Royal Engineers are one of four Combat Support Arms of the British Army. The other three are: the Royal Artillery, the Royal Corps of Signals (which includes the Queens Gurkha Signals [QGS]), and the Intelligence Corps.
The RGE played in terms of number, a small, in terms of impact, substantial role in the Falklands War (2 Apr – 14 Jun 1982) and in the much more recent Afghanistan conflict, itself famous for a further deepening of the direct British Royal Family connection to and special relationship with the Gurkhas (in this case with HRH Prince Harry seeing active service alongside the Gurkhas). We conclude below with excerpts from the army.mod website concerning the Royal engineers themselves; this provides valuable detail on their functions and importance, and by extension the skills and activities of the soldiery and officers of the QGE:
Enabling Defence to Live, Move & Fight: Royal Engineer soldiers are called Sappers! We are unique, motivated and intelligent. We are multi-skilled soldiers, combat engineers and tradesmen. We provide essential support to all areas of Defence in peacetime and on operations.
As a potential Sapper, you will complete basic training. You will learn the skills required to become a robust and confident soldier. You will complete combat engineer training, which will give you the engineering knowledge required to use speed boats, handle explosives, build bridges, purify water, build fortifications and many other exciting tasks. As a Sapper you will gain a trade, with the opportunity to gain civilian recognised qualifications.
Source: https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/corps-of-royal-engineers/