REGIMENTAL
Gavin Edgerley-Harris passes the baton to Daren Bowyer, the new Director of the Gurkha Museum
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GURKHA MUSEUM
rom the moment Gavin Edgerley-Harris announced his decision that, after 27 years of exceptional service (from volunteer to Director) he would retire in 2020, it was never going to be a normal year for the Gurkha Museum. But no-one could have predicted then the impact of a global pandemic. For a start, it delayed Gavin’s retirement and he generously soldiered on for a further, challenging, six months. Interviews scheduled for April had to be delayed until mid-July and my appointment suggests that some much better candidates must have dropped out because of the delay! As I had a three-month notice period, even with some manipulation of untaken leave, meant we could not effect a handover until the very end of September. Gavin’s accumulated knowledge of all things Gurkha is not something I can replicate but I have started climbing the huge learning curve. The Museum’s library seems to be migrating to my study and bedside table! Although I never served in a Gurkha unit, I did serve alongside QGE on a couple of occasions. As a troop commander in the mid-1980s
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my Squadron undertook a construction project in Kenya and were augmented by a troop of 69 (then) Independent Gurkha Field Squadron. (We were also augmented by a young SSLC/Gap Year Commission 2nd Lieutenant by the name of Wardlaw – but that is another story!). I also commanded 20 Field Squadron – part of 36 Engineer Regiment which is also RHQ QGE – so my neighbours were the British and Gurkha Officers of 69, and later 70 Sqns QGE. (Another aside – the Colonel Commandant was a subsequent OC 20 Sqn; he’s following me around!). Since leaving the Army in 2008, I have held a range of COO/CEO level roles in education and the not-for-profit sector. It has been an unusual – and in some ways challenging – time to take over a Museum and especially this one which is so firmly embedded in the Brigade and with vital links to both the serving units and the Brigade’s veterans. There are so many people I should have met and have at best been able to communicate with by email or over Zoom. We have, for most of my tenure, been closed to the public and it is very disappointing to find this
