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→Gurkha jaats or tribes
Gurkha jaat or tribe names may be seen on medals. Common names include Gurung, Limbu, Pun, Rai, Tamang and Thapa.
The Gurungs were the largest tribe recruited by the British and Indian Armies for their Gurkha regiments, particularly if more so if it was recruited for recruitment in the West of Nepal. Rais and Limbus were Eastern Nepal - 7th and 10th Gurkhas. The Gurungs, along with the Magars were considered the ''beau ideal'' of what a Gurkha soldier should be.
In the Army most men were known by their 4 digit numbers rather than their names as the number of surnames was extremely limited. One might have 30 Gurungs on parade and young Officers who knew their men knew their numbers. The men also referred to each other by their numbers and each cohort regarded their intake as "number-ies" - men of the same intake and therefore seniority. <ref> QGE, (previously Martin G). [http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=235254&p=2351576 whats a GURUNG and a THAPA] ''Great War Forum'' 10 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.</ref>
