The Gurkhas are the best of the best. They have served Britain for over 200 years. Their loyalty, courage and fighting skills are legendary. Everyone in the UK has enormous respect and affection for them.
@@reactingtomyrootsMy Dad fought with the British army in Burma during WW2. Being a Major he commanded quite a few of them and said that Gurkhas were the most phenomenal soldiers and he had immense respect for their skill and loyalty
Why then has the UK treated them so badly by making it hard to get UK citizenship? The Gurkhas have had to fight for their rights. They deserve to be respected and treated equally as the other British veterans.
I saw a couple of Gurkhas in a pub in Basingstoke a few years ago. They were on free beer all evening because no-one would let them pay for a pint. Respect.
@@reactingtomyrootsthat isn't even a solitary incident. I've seen this in a few places on my tours. I went to 1 pub where there is a whole table on reserve for their local Gurkhas from the moment the pub opens, to it closing. If these gents walk in, whoever is sat at Their table will happily up & move to another table. Also buying the Gurkhas a round in respect. True Heroes!
I trained as an RAF nurse in the early 80’s , and nursed a Ghurka at a joint Army / RAF hospital in Wiltshire ….. he was terribly shy with us nurses , very polite and hugely respected by us all …his English wasn’t great and we used sign language through his admission proccess …kind of !!! He was a sweet guy and should be living here in happy retirement, with some grandchildren by now .!! Bless Dame Joanna Lumley ( actress ) for kicking our governments up the jacksy for years and getting them all WELL EARNED RETIREMENT PACKAGES HERE …… long after the time they SHOULD have been getting it .!!!!👋👋
I paraded with Gurkha's in the army and shared barracks with them, everyone knew how hard they had worked to get there and had a lot of respect for them, but they are an extremely respectful group of individuals, it was an honour.
The Taliban are out in the desert when a voice shouts "one Gurkha is better than three Taliban, the leader sends three fighters to engage with the Gurkha, after a few minutes a voice shouts "one Gurkha is better than ten Taliban", the leader sends ten fighters and about 30 minutes a voice shouts "one Gurkha is better than a thousand Taliban", the leader now enraged sends in one thousand Taliban fighters, after about an hour a lone Taliban fighter crawls over the hill into the leaders arms and says "don't send anymore fighters, it's a trap, THERE'S TWO OF THEM", politest of men, mightiest of warriors, we in the UK are as proud as punch of the Gurkhas.
In the 70s I went to Beaconsfield for a course. They used to teach the Gurkhas English there, and we were told not to be surprised if some Gurkhas joined you at a table and started talking to you, to practice the language. Of course I had to ask about the legend that if the kukri was taken out of it's sheaf, it had to draw blood. They laughed at me and said if that was true they would all bleed to death. It was propaganda put about in the war to frighten the Japanese.
There's a memorial to the Gurkha's in London. The inscription reads : THE GURKHA SOLDIER Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous, never had country more faithful friends than you. Professor Sir Ralph Lilley Turner MC
I've served alongside Gurkhas, they are extremely competent, infallibly polite, some of the nicest people you could wish to meet, and someone you are always glad are on your side.
Probably the best quote that describes these soldiers is “if a man says he is not afraid of death, he is either lying or a Ghurka”. Thankfully, these polite, well mannered, but ruthless warriors are on our side.
My son has recently been working with Gurkhas in the British army and said they're incredible. British soldiers train on the Brecon Beacons, a range of hills in Wales which are a very tough challenge. The Gurkhas he was with just ran up the steepest with ease. Pretty incredible!
There is no finer light infantry anywhere. 200+ years of loyal service to the crown! They’re fearless and physically tough like most mountain people. Many come from families with generations of service. They grow up with the stories of their fathers and grandfathers. To be accepted is considered to be of the highest honour for one’s family. Competition for the few spots each year is fierce. Ayo Gurkhali!
I have an ex Gurkha friend, Bindraman. He was out in the Falklands conflict and dessert storm Kuwait, he has told me a few story's from both. But during the Falklands conflict he told me that the Argentinian conscript soldiers were trying to surrendering to British soldiers because they were told if the Gurkhas caught them they would kill and eat them lol. That is probably the only tale my friend Bindraman told me that I could repeat lol. I have Gurkha engineer regiment in my town so you see the lads around a fair bit. Some of the politest most respectful people you could ever meet. They do my country proud
Ive recommended "what it takes to win the Victoria cross" presented by Jeremy Clarkson and in the programme a Gurkha was awarded the VC, watch it, its amazing what some of the VC winners had to go through to be deemed worthy of the "highest award for bravery"
The first thing you notice, was when the recruits were talking to the reporter, how polite and respectful these young lads are. A friend of mine served alongside them in Afghan, he said they were always smiling no matter the situation and that most of them were very small in stature but as tough as they come. We are so lucky to have these Brave Men along side us, their Military prowess speaks for itself and Their Motto just about says it all about them. Better to Die than live to live like a Coward.
You should check out some videos with Joanna Lumley, famous Brit actress (Absolutely Fabulous). Her father served with the Gurkha regiment and she has been a tireless voice for their right to reside in the UK after service.
While I appreciate Ms Lumley's motives, I feel she is misguided. The problem with extending the right to remain in the UK after completion of service is that it threatens the very existence of Gurkha recruitment. The recruitment is governed by the Tripartite Agreement, a treaty between Britain, India (who also recruit Gurkhas) and Nepal. The Agreeement states explicitly that recruits must remain Nepalese citizens during their service and be returned to Nepal on completion. Without this condition, there is little incentive for Nepal to continue to allow hundreds of their brightest and best young men to be taken every year to fight for a foreign power. As it stands, Nepal benefits economically through remissions back to the families of serving Gurkha soldiers and their pensions when they return home. It is also expected that the former soldiers will return to become leading citizens, bringing their experiences of the wider world back to their communities. The law of unintended consequences suggests that attempting to improve the prospects for ex-Gurkhas could very well lead to their extinction. What *was* unacceptable was the traditional pay differential between Gurkhas and their locally recruited comrades. This, again, was historically defined in the Tripartite Agreement but its revision was uncontentious and long overdue. During my time in the RAF, I had the privilege of working alongside a detachmenbt of Gurkhas who had come to show we amateurs how to construct some proper defensive positions. I've never met any, either in service or civilian life, who were harder working or better disciplined yet unfailingly polite and friendly. In a time when fewer and fewer here want to join the Armed Forces, we are lucky indeed to have the honour of accepting the contribution of these fine young men.
Hi Steve and Lindsey, I live in Folkestone (near the White Cliffs of Dover). I live right next to the Gurkha training barracks and there's a lot of military housing in our area. The population of Gurkha/Nepalese residents in my area is quite high. My daughter's school has lots of Nepalese children there. The Gurkhas/Nepalese are the most gentle, friendly, friendly, kind and community driven people I've met. They make wonderful food and I love spending time with them. It's really cute seeing the kids on the school run walking to school whilst their solder Dad's in military camo clothes and burgundy caps carry little pink and purple lunch boxes and umbrellas. It's brilliant knowing the juxtaposition of the friendly, kind person you're chatting to, with the absolute beast-mode warrior that they are underneath.
I live in an Army town too and Echo everything you have said! There is an older guy a few houses down from me, his son his in the Ghurkas, I walk our dogs about the same time every morning and often he will come out and walk with us and chat, such a lovely guy!
In the end the Argentinians surrendered the islands before the Gurkhas could attack. They were very disappointed about that (the Gurkhas I mean, not the Argentinians)
@@lloydcollins6337the Argentines were worried they were cannibals, however they didn’t surrender because of the Gurkhas, they surrendered after being totally defeated by the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Marine Commandos.
Part of the selection process is to select for which part of the brigade of Gurkhas they will serve in. Exactly the same as any recruit. They have oportunities for Infantry, Signals, Engineers, Transport and logistics. It is not unusual for them to branch out into Commando and Para, moving on ultimately to special forces. Worked with lots of them when i was an engineer. As a polite gesture i asked for a message to be typed out in thier language. I stuck said message up on the doors to the block and asked the first bloke to arrive if it made sense and was understandable. He looked, grinned with a massive smile........and turned his head upside down to read it telling me it was very understandable.................I put it up the right way and walked off with donkey ears!!! Really good blokes, cant fault them.
when we done army cadets at school we were told to lace up our boots in a certain fashion, this is because the gurkha's would sneak up behind an enemy guards postition and feel the laces on the boots, if they wernt laced up properly the gukha's would despatch the guards. we made sure we laced up our boots as instructed. to this day all my shoes, boots are laced up as we were taught when we were kids in cadets.
Basically we fought them, and we were like "dam, they go hard hard" so we said "y'all want to squad up with us?" they said yes, and we've been best friends with Nepal ever since.
When I visited Nepal back in the summer, locals would occasionally ask me where I was from. They were always so excited to hear me say that I'm from the UK, and would talk excitedly about the special bond our two nations have! Of course, the Gurkhas would get an honourable mention, too. 😊
An Indian Gurkha, retired and on his way home was on a train that was attacked by bandits. He sat quietly until they attempted to race a young girl. Using only his kukri he drove off 40 bandits.
We have a large community of Gurkhas not far from where I live. They are extremely family orientated, they respect their elders and are well respected in our community and country. ❤
Oh come on they are way better than the Paras when the Gurkhas are sent in you know the job will be done no matter what the Paras on the other hand will endeavour to do the job to the best of their abilities but don't always finish what they started. Ex RCT so slightly bias sorry 😂😅😊
Gurkha's have a genetic mutation from living at such high altitude for generations that makes their blood more efficient at carrying oxygen. It makes them some of the toughest people on earth. Add to this a brutally competitive selection process and you can understand the respect they are given by the entire military community. Some of the most dangerous people in the world but the nicest happiest most polite and respectful I've ever met. I've never seen an angry Gurkha and I never want too. " If a man claim's he's not afraid of death he's either a liar or a Gurkha." Maj Gen. Sam Mackinaw
I have been lucky enough in life to have experienced a few exciting things, had more than my fair share of adventures, met Prime ministers, ministers, Royalty and Hollywood royalty, but the proudest moment was being invited to a Gurkha 'messing' having the opportunity to sit,chat and watch as they prepared and then shared a curry.
Some years ago, my Son did the Oxfam charity walk....62 miles across country, to be completed in 30 hours or less....It was organised that year by the Gurkhas, and they took part as well, completing the course in 10 hours....at a jog......
We have such affection for these men. My gas boiler was replaced by an ex Gurkha, I noticed the name Gurung on the side of his van and so asked if he had served. After he finished the installation, we talked for about 3 hours. I wanted to hug him when he left, but settled for a hand shake!
The most professional soldiers I have ever worked with. They are the kindest most respectful people but you would never want to be on the wrong side when these guys come to a fight.
Hi from Scotland I am so proud of these elite young soldiers they’re reputation is legendary and heaven help any army who come up against them it will be over for you so proud that they fight for the UK 👏🏻👌🏻🙏🏻
Theres a British actress, Joanna Lumley, she has an strong family history in the military, in particular in India, going back near 200 years. Her father was in the Gurkha rifle regiment if I recall and he was saved by Tul Bahadur Pun, who was a famous highly decorated Gurkha. She has become famous for her work with the Gurkhas and doing a lot of campaigning for them. I believe that they get a better military pension from the UK now thanks to her campaigning
The Gurkhas always received a pension but it was on par with the Indian army Gurkhas. This was at the request of the Indian government so there was no disparity between the two Gurkha regiments (British and Indian). This has now changed so ex British Gurkhas now receive a pension comparable to other British army units and now have the right to permanently reside in the UK.
@tgcrowson And the right to live on in the UK was a sticking point, because of the terms of the treaty with Nepal which allows their recruitment. Citizenship Gurkha soldiers must be recruited, serve, and resettle as Nepali citizens. Basically Nepal didn't want it's citizens being permanently siphoned off to another country. I'm assuming there must have been some re-negotiations going on before the right of UK residence was able to be given..
My boy joined up at seventeen, and I know how proud he was , and went on after 12 years to become sergeant. These lads are really something else. Their family might well depend on this
The 'KUKRI' is the national weapon of Nepal, traditionally serving the role of a basic utility knife for the Nepali-speaking Gurkhas. The 'kukri' is the most recognisible symbol of all Gurkha military regiments and units throughout the world...
The Gurkha rifles are held in high esteem by the British public and revered in British society, shame our politicians had to have their arms twisted to treat them as equals. God bless the Gurkhas❤
Wasn’t that partly because the Nepalese wanted their bravest to be returned to them after service and agreed to this initially … surely not because the Uk did not want them to stay? Honest question
@@NeckasFBIAgent The pay difference was there because of the Indian government. A large number of Gurkha battalions had been stationed in what was British India. After partition, the Indian government didn't want to lose them, but could only pay them the same as Indian soldiers, so they managed to screw an arrangement whereby none of the Gurkhas could get full British Army pay. Whoever let the Indian government dictate such a thing must have been mad. Luckily, that particular agreement was done away with a long time ago. The 'no automatic UK citizenship' was more of a Nepali requirement, these guys are some of the best educated and disciplined men in their country after they have served, and the Nepali's didn't want to see them all staying abroad instead of coming home. They are also a bit of an elite section of Nepali society, in many families there may have been three or more generations following each other into the Gurkhas.
The average salary for Nepal is (in Pounds) just over £5,000. The starting salary in the British Army is just over £25, 000. Imagine the difference that makes to you and your family.
I support the Gurkha Welfare Trust who work in Nepal providing housing, water supply, etc to veterans and their widows in often inhospitable terrain. They are the bravest of the brave with their distinctive fast marching style. Recent legislation has made it possible for veterans to settle in Britain, many in Aldershot, a town with strong military history.
It has been my pleasure to meet some of these amazing young men in the medical facility I worked in. They were always immaculately dressed and very respectful. My ex-father-in-law was a sergeant major in the Green Howards and he was based with the Ghurkas at one stage. The Ghurkas are the most feared soldiers in the world. They follow orders without question. Only recently were they recognised for all they have done for this country and can now stay in this country if they wish when their period of service is over. It is a great honour for them to be chosen to serve by everyone in Nepal. They are an incredible fighting force we are lucky to have in our army.❤❤
I spent a few years attached to a Gurkha squadron, these guys are the most hard working and amazing people I've ever met. Their work ethic is second to none, we are so lucky to have them in our Armed Forces.
Ex RAF, We were on a detachment to Malaya mid 60's. Camp split between Brit's and Gurkhas. On night patrol protecting aircraft, there would be a Brit, and a Gurkha on each location, moving independently. After a days work, I was feeling exhausted on night patrol, so I sat down on the tow hitch on a cockpit cooing rig.. Then I became aware the Gurkha had entered the area. I was too bloody scared, to pop up from behind a cooling rig until he left. They have THAT reputation.
My nephew is a bugler with the Rifles and is often on parade with them. I'm an ex Royal British Legion womens standard bearer and have had the absolute pleasure of being on parade with them in the past. They are so dedicated and amazing and many Brits are proud of them
The comments I have read so far say it all. The Gurkhas are very highly thought of by military personnel and civilians alike, and we in the UK are proud to have them in our army. As well as seeing action alongside the British soldiers in every "altercation", they have also served on ceremonial duties and got a special cheer at the coronation parade of Charles III. P.S. As a Scot, I have to say that the Gurkhas have a phenomenal pipe band.
Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Former Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army once said " If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a Gurkha". They are rightly regarded as some of the fiercest warriors and command great respect wherever they go.
The Gukhas have four regiments in the British army, and seven regiments in the Indian army. If they fail the British test, they can join the Indian army, and undergo the same training as British Gurkhas, in India they are called Gorkha not Gurkha. This is where it gets a tad strange Gurkha units have fought in the Indian army since independence in 1947, though they were in the British army, and British Indian army for over 200 years. the Indian recruits do the British tests, and they train at ITC catterick, then they do secondary training here in the UK, then they join their units in India, being the Elite forces of the Indian Army. This here is specifically for the British army, they don't test for both at the same time, The British Army does the Indian Army Gurka (Gorkha) recruitment as well as our own. There is a British Army base in Nepal as well.
The thing there is that India had it's own "independent" Army since the 1850s - when the East India Company was dissolved and the British Government took over ruling India directly, the former East India Company units were either disbanded (if they had been involved in the previous rebellion) or were formed into the Army of the three Indian Raj's, thence to be unified in 1895 into the British Indian Army. It was officered by British men, often on loan or on suspended/reserve service in the British Army, but it was an independent force from the British Army. Thus in 1947 the Indian state inherited the Army (and the separate Indian Air Force by this time) directly from the Raj, rather than units being split off from the British Army.
@@lloydcollins6337 It wasn't an independent army at all, until 1947, It was the British Indian army. You are possibly thinking of this bit. The Crown took over the rule of India from the east india company after the 1857 mutinies, so in 1858 the British the British started to amalgamate the indian armys that they and previously the east India company had controlled, there were three of these : The Madras Army, the Bombay Army, and the Bengal army, of the British presidencies. This was informally called the British army of India by everyone in the country especially after the muitinies in 1857. Then in 1879 the Presidency armies were integrated into 4 commands with a British commander in chief, then on the first of April 1859 the presidency armies were disolved and the British Indian Army was born with for commands, and a single British command, and commander in chief. The official first use of the Term "Indian Army" was in 1903. This effectively was how the system operated until independence in 1947, when the British Indian army became the Army of the Independent Republic of India, al;so the Pakistan Army was born in 1847. "The force is also sometimes referred to as the Army of the Indian Empire, or Imperial Indian Army, The Indian Army should not be confused with the Army of India, which was the Indian Army plus the British Army in India (British units sent to India)." From Wikipedia.
These young men are very proud to join the British army, and I will tell you, as an old Royal Green Jacket, I am honoured and extreamley proud to shake the hand of a Gurkha. These guys are loved by civilians and us who have served. Immense respect for these humble elite soldiers.
Carrying with the forehead actually is a very clever way to do it to balance the load, Canadian soldiers in WW1 used to do it based on First Nations practices - it’s called a tumpline
19:48 the emotion at being rejected is so raw that the British Army had to install nets on a bridge near the recruiting centre to stop failed applicants from jumping off it into the river.
It all started with a war against them in 1814, that they so impressed us with their courage, skill, and tenacity, that we have been recruiting them ever since.
My granda fought alongside the gurkhas. He was a boy soldier and was in the SAS before it was called the SAS. I have pictures of him with them. Thank you for covering this. I'm so proud of him, may he rest in peace. Robert Gore B.E.M❤
There have been Gurkha regiments posted close to my home town for many years. They are polite, friendly, disciplined, astonishingly fit. They are often running in squads or small groups along the coastal paths for miles at a time. Their families & many former Gurkhas stay locally and open Nepalese restaurants which serve delicious food and the people in them are absolutely lovely, kind folks. They are very well regarded by the local people.
This Gurkha is legendary. He fought off 30 Taliban on his own. He even used his tripod against them. They don’t give up. They don’t quit. Nothing by the highest regard for the Gurkhas. Truly an amazing people. There is a popular saying that goes: if a man says he’s not afraid, he is either lying or a Gurkha. ruclips.net/video/a8-LRxSl9aw/видео.htmlfeature=shared
Each Ghurka is armed with a special knife called a kukri, which they can use either as a melee weapon or a cutting tool. Traditionally, if the specific kukri is only used as a weapon, the Ghurka isn't allowed to draw it unless it draws blood before re-sheathing, although I don't think that tradition is upheald much these days. My father was given an officers kukri during world war 2 by a Ghurka friend, which I still have. It's a beautiful knife with mother of pearl inset in the handle and is still as sharp as a razor blade.
The forehead strap is not meant as an extra torture device. It is commonly used by the Himalayan Sherpas etc. Since you are going uphill, the aim is to get the centre of gravity of your body & load forwards of your feet. As someone mentions in the video, if you look up, the load on your back will tend to topple you over backwards.
The head strap is used by people all over the world from Africa, South America & Asia. In extremely mountainous regions, such as Nepal, all ages and sexes will use this technique.
My brother in law's father was a high ranking Gurkha who served for over 40 years - a career soldier. A very proud and correct man, whose values were unshakable and whose love for country and family was unsurpassed. I met another, young ex-Gurkha when I lived in Holland in the early 90's. He had arrived and didn't have all the provisions he needed, and was living in the lower portion of the town house we were renting. He asked if I could please help him prepare to find work, by doing his laundry! I didn't mind and did it happily, knowing that his response would show gratitu e. I wasn't wrong. When he came to collect the now clean and dry garments (some also carefully ironed and on hangers!) he brought me an armful of fresh flowers and a bottle of something strong! (we don't drink so it got put in the cupboard and left there when we went home again!) He was a lovely neighbour, very quiet and respectful, and yes, he got the job! His experiences in the forces instilled discipline and punctuality, so he was valued and got a really good position with local law enforcement!
Gurkha soldiers are hugely respected for their strength, skill and bravery in the UK. There is a story that during the Falklands war the Argentine soldiers did not want to be captured by the Gurkha regiment because they would be killed and eaten by them! Thank you to all our armed forces for your service - UK, USA and all our allies.
My friend was taking part in an Army excercise, one of those long distance runs. His group were struggling up a hill in the heat when they were overtaken by the Gurkhas who had started off behind them. They were laughing and chatting, and all said "Hello!" as they passed.
We love the Gurkha's they always get a special cheer when they are on Parade. During the Falklands War they played a major role. They have a reputation Worldwide for being stealthy and fearless warriors, the enemy never sees them coming but they certainly know where they have been. When they retire from the Army, even if they choose to return home, they still receive a pension just like any British soldier. We Brits are just as proud of them as if they were home grown.
@LeeXRV They were there in tjs Falklands during that conflict but when Argentinian conscripts got word that they'd be facing off against the Gurkhas, they fled and decided to surrender to the British troops rather than face off against the Gurkhas. The Argentinians heard and believed a rumour that was spreading through their ranks saying that the Gurkhas don't take prisoners they kill everyone and even eat them too. So the Argies fled and opted for surrender rather than fight Gurkhas.
@@chadUCSD The Argentines were convinced that the Gurkhas were cannibals, but they did not surrender because of the threat of them. When they surrendered, the Parachute Regiment and Royal Marine Commandos had already totally and completely defeated them, and they were not in a position to continue fighting; this had nothing to do with the Ghurkhas. I'm ex-British military and personally have a few friends who are Ghurkhas and have nothing but respect and admiration for them. Still, there's no question the two most capable and most feared British infantry fighting units are the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Marine Commandos. This is why the paras and commandos are deployed first into any conflict; they are the tip of the spear. As much as I think the Ghurkas are incredible, their reputation is more than a little overblown these days.
They are classed as Light Infantry as part of the British Army. Just to add, the green colour is called Rifleman Green and used by mosy light infantry regiments. A private soldier on the light infantry are called rilemen. it comes from the time of the Duke of Wellington (think of Richard Sharpe).
My sister regiment was 6th Gurkha Rifles, and have met the Gurkhas a few times, Great people. We wore their Gurkha Kukri badge on our uniform. I am extremely proud to have them as my sister regiment.
The Gurkha are wonderful people. They are so respectful, there are a small community near where I live. I’ve dealt with the community for work purposes. Lovely loyal people.
So in a lot of languages around India and that part of the globe "wala" (also spelled wallah) means man, and their role goes in front, so a dhobiwala washes (dhobi) clothes, a chaiwala sells tea (chai), and a man who delivers your packed lunch from home to work is a dabbawala etc. There are a lot of Indian-language derived words in English vernacular these days - we used to call a woman who came into a house to clean up and serve tea etc (when people couldn't afford a live-in maid) a "char" or "charwoman" from the idea of a "tea lady" because people who had lived or served in India brought the term back with them for char = tea. Similarly in the British Army you'd have "mufti" for civilian clothes, "bunduk" for rifle, "char" for tea etc etc.
Nepal is not a Commonwealth country but there is a long history of friendship and co-operation between Britain and Nepal, with soldiers from both countries fighting alongside each other. Such an emotional process to see, with all their hopes in the balance! In Britain people use the term 'mufti' to describe any casual non-uniform outfit- for example if your school has a 'non-uniform day' (often to raise money for charity) or there is a 'dress down day' at work, it is sometimes described as a 'mufti' day. Not everyone uses the term- but it is used by some.
My Uncle Aubrey was a tank driver in the desert during WW2 and served alongside the Gurkas. I won't repeat some of his stories but apparently Marines used to get out of their way
I think their motto is (better to die than be a Coward). PS: I have nothing but respect for these boys and what they bring to the British military, they are the most respectful kindest people you can meet , but the fiercest of fighters.
The Gurkha's are proud to fight in the British Army. We, the British, are honoured to have them. I live in a military city and I see plenty of them and their families. Extremely polite people. They become light infantry and engineers. These are the guys that are porters on Everest climbs. The Japanese were scared stiff of the Gurkha in WWII.
Ghurkas are so proud to serve my country the Uk , and we the people of the UK are more proud still that they are part of our armed forces , cracking soldiers and lovely lovely people .
When my Great grandad arrived in the trenches in 1915, it was the Ghurka's that taught his battalion "Trench craft" and where the exposed danger points were in the forward fire trench
The British people have huge respect and admiration for the Gurkha’s. Since your in the Himalayan region of world you should look up the Sherpa, more men who display superhuman levels of fitness courage and bravery
They ARE light infantry, after all. Their foot-drill differs substantially from the other parts of the Army. Take a look at the RUclips movie about their time in Guard at Buckingham Palace, especially the preparations at Wellington Barracks.
So much respect for the Gurkhas as with every service man and woman, but these lads have extra pressures the least being language barrier So much respect and gratitude for their dedication and service
For just one regiment of the British Army they have won a number of the most difficult medals to win ,the Victoria Cross .Perhaps one of the smartest things the Army has done to recruit these warriors.
The Gurkhas are the best of the best. They have served Britain for over 200 years. Their loyalty, courage and fighting skills are legendary. Everyone in the UK has enormous respect and affection for them.
Love to hear it!
@@reactingtomyrootsMy Dad fought with the British army in Burma during WW2. Being a Major he commanded quite a few of them and said that Gurkhas were the most phenomenal soldiers and he had immense respect for their skill and loyalty
@@clivemason-ms8ju Definitely!
Why then has the UK treated them so badly by making it hard to get UK citizenship? The Gurkhas have had to fight for their rights. They deserve to be respected and treated equally as the other British veterans.
Love Wales UK
Brit here, I salute all Gurkas, they are a legendary fighting force, never to be messed with.
Absolutely 💯% they are badass warriors
The nicest, politest, friendliest human buzzsaws you could ever hope to meet.
stricly,speaking,(I'm.sure,no,one,really,minds,-for,a,civilian)
In,the,British,Armed,Forces,one,should,not,salute,anyone,not,fit,to,return,the,salute
for,a,private,soldier-only,officers.in,full,uniform.
For,example-the.officer,must,be,wearing,his,hat
@@brucebartup6161 whats with all the commas?
@@harbl99I know five purchases from my place of work ,they are retired and work in security and I agree,the nicest guys you can meet
I saw a couple of Gurkhas in a pub in Basingstoke a few years ago. They were on free beer all evening because no-one would let them pay for a pint. Respect.
Love that! :)
@@reactingtomyrootsthat isn't even a solitary incident. I've seen this in a few places on my tours. I went to 1 pub where there is a whole table on reserve for their local Gurkhas from the moment the pub opens, to it closing. If these gents walk in, whoever is sat at Their table will happily up & move to another table. Also buying the Gurkhas a round in respect. True Heroes!
I trained as an RAF nurse in the early 80’s , and nursed a Ghurka at a joint Army / RAF hospital in Wiltshire ….. he was terribly shy with us nurses , very polite and hugely respected by us all …his English wasn’t great and we used sign language through his admission proccess …kind of !!!
He was a sweet guy and should be living here in happy retirement, with some grandchildren by now .!! Bless Dame Joanna Lumley ( actress ) for kicking our governments up the jacksy for years and getting them all WELL EARNED RETIREMENT PACKAGES HERE …… long after the time they SHOULD have been getting it .!!!!👋👋
Please stop talking over the commentary and constant pausing.
I paraded with Gurkha's in the army and shared barracks with them, everyone knew how hard they had worked to get there and had a lot of respect for them, but they are an extremely respectful group of individuals, it was an honour.
Gamecock?
That's awesome. It's always nice to hear from someone with firsthand experience on the topic. :)
The Taliban are out in the desert when a voice shouts "one Gurkha is better than three Taliban, the leader sends three fighters to engage with the Gurkha, after a few minutes a voice shouts "one Gurkha is better than ten Taliban", the leader sends ten fighters and about 30 minutes a voice shouts "one Gurkha is better than a thousand Taliban", the leader now enraged sends in one thousand Taliban fighters, after about an hour a lone Taliban fighter crawls over the hill into the leaders arms and says "don't send anymore fighters, it's a trap, THERE'S TWO OF THEM", politest of men, mightiest of warriors, we in the UK are as proud as punch of the Gurkhas.
😂
Brilliant😆 They have a legendary prowess.
That's an excellent dit. 😂
nice :)
Heard the same dit about the Falklands war still brilliant though
We are INCREDIBLY proud of the Gurkhas. All the best from England.
Absolutely, love the Gurkhas…
They are given a huge amount of respect from military and civilians alike.
Just a pity the it was left to Joanna Lumley to make sure they got their pensions...
@@NiallBradley-pg6ge I agree.
Our Brothers in arms for 200 years long may it continue
They have an exemplary reputation in the UK, polite and hard working, and definitely have an amazing military reputation.
I'm a retired British army soldier and I have nothing but the highest respect for the Gurkha soldiers
In the 70s I went to Beaconsfield for a course. They used to teach the Gurkhas English there, and we were told not to be surprised if some Gurkhas joined you at a table and started talking to you, to practice the language. Of course I had to ask about the legend that if the kukri was taken out of it's sheaf, it had to draw blood. They laughed at me and said if that was true they would all bleed to death. It was propaganda put about in the war to frighten the Japanese.
Thank you for your service
There's a memorial to the Gurkha's in London. The inscription reads :
THE GURKHA
SOLDIER
Bravest of the brave,
most generous of the generous,
never had country
more faithful friends
than you.
Professor Sir Ralph Lilley Turner MC
I've served alongside Gurkhas, they are extremely competent, infallibly polite, some of the nicest people you could wish to meet, and someone you are always glad are on your side.
I came to say exactly that ^
notice the scars on the thumbs? (if you know ,you know)
Probably the best quote that describes these soldiers is “if a man says he is not afraid of death, he is either lying or a Ghurka”. Thankfully, these polite, well mannered, but ruthless warriors are on our side.
We trust no other more than the Gurkhas, no other words are needed
My son has recently been working with Gurkhas in the British army and said they're incredible. British soldiers train on the Brecon Beacons, a range of hills in Wales which are a very tough challenge. The Gurkhas he was with just ran up the steepest with ease. Pretty incredible!
The Gurkha regiment is one of the best .They have a fearsome reputation and we are lucky to have them .
There is no finer light infantry anywhere. 200+ years of loyal service to the crown! They’re fearless and physically tough like most mountain people. Many come from families with generations of service. They grow up with the stories of their fathers and grandfathers. To be accepted is considered to be of the highest honour for one’s family. Competition for the few spots each year is fierce. Ayo Gurkhali!
I have an ex Gurkha friend, Bindraman.
He was out in the Falklands conflict and dessert storm Kuwait, he has told me a few story's from both. But during the Falklands conflict he told me that the Argentinian conscript soldiers were trying to surrendering to British soldiers because they were told if the Gurkhas caught them they would kill and eat them lol.
That is probably the only tale my friend Bindraman told me that I could repeat lol.
I have Gurkha engineer regiment in my town so you see the lads around a fair bit. Some of the politest most respectful people you could ever meet. They do my country proud
Ive recommended "what it takes to win the Victoria cross" presented by Jeremy Clarkson and in the programme a Gurkha was awarded the VC, watch it, its amazing what some of the VC winners had to go through to be deemed worthy of the "highest award for bravery"
Definitely.
More still alive when presented with the VC than any other Regiment. Many posthumous ones also awarded.
100% definitely
The first thing you notice, was when the recruits were talking to the reporter, how polite and respectful these young lads are. A friend of mine served alongside them in Afghan, he said they were always smiling no matter the situation and that most of them were very small in stature but as tough as they come. We are so lucky to have these Brave Men along side us, their Military prowess speaks for itself and Their Motto just about says it all about them. Better to Die than live to live like a Coward.
You should check out some videos with Joanna Lumley, famous Brit actress (Absolutely Fabulous). Her father served with the Gurkha regiment and she has been a tireless voice for their right to reside in the UK after service.
It's shameful that they didn't automatically have the right to stay in the UK
@@michellejones5541it was but with Joanna Lumley at the helm and public pressure it was sorted.
While I appreciate Ms Lumley's motives, I feel she is misguided. The problem with extending the right to remain in the UK after completion of service is that it threatens the very existence of Gurkha recruitment. The recruitment is governed by the Tripartite Agreement, a treaty between Britain, India (who also recruit Gurkhas) and Nepal. The Agreeement states explicitly that recruits must remain Nepalese citizens during their service and be returned to Nepal on completion. Without this condition, there is little incentive for Nepal to continue to allow hundreds of their brightest and best young men to be taken every year to fight for a foreign power. As it stands, Nepal benefits economically through remissions back to the families of serving Gurkha soldiers and their pensions when they return home. It is also expected that the former soldiers will return to become leading citizens, bringing their experiences of the wider world back to their communities.
The law of unintended consequences suggests that attempting to improve the prospects for ex-Gurkhas could very well lead to their extinction. What *was* unacceptable was the traditional pay differential between Gurkhas and their locally recruited comrades. This, again, was historically defined in the Tripartite Agreement but its revision was uncontentious and long overdue.
During my time in the RAF, I had the privilege of working alongside a detachmenbt of Gurkhas who had come to show we amateurs how to construct some proper defensive positions. I've never met any, either in service or civilian life, who were harder working or better disciplined yet unfailingly polite and friendly. In a time when fewer and fewer here want to join the Armed Forces, we are lucky indeed to have the honour of accepting the contribution of these fine young men.
@@MrPaulMorris Never thought about your point there. Thanks.
Hi Steve and Lindsey, I live in Folkestone (near the White Cliffs of Dover). I live right next to the Gurkha training barracks and there's a lot of military housing in our area. The population of Gurkha/Nepalese residents in my area is quite high. My daughter's school has lots of Nepalese children there.
The Gurkhas/Nepalese are the most gentle, friendly, friendly, kind and community driven people I've met. They make wonderful food and I love spending time with them. It's really cute seeing the kids on the school run walking to school whilst their solder Dad's in military camo clothes and burgundy caps carry little pink and purple lunch boxes and umbrellas.
It's brilliant knowing the juxtaposition of the friendly, kind person you're chatting to, with the absolute beast-mode warrior that they are underneath.
I live in an Army town too and Echo everything you have said!
There is an older guy a few houses down from me, his son his in the Ghurkas, I walk our dogs about the same time every morning and often he will come out and walk with us and chat, such a lovely guy!
That's awesome! Thank you for sharing your firsthand experience on the topic. Sounds like they make great neighbors :)
I believe that during the Falklands war in 1982 Agentinian morale took a dive when they found out that they were likely to be up against the Gurkas.
In the end the Argentinians surrendered the islands before the Gurkhas could attack. They were very disappointed about that (the Gurkhas I mean, not the Argentinians)
They thought the Gurkhas were possible cannibals and that rumour wasn't quashed 😂
@@lloydcollins6337the Argentines were worried they were cannibals, however they didn’t surrender because of the Gurkhas, they surrendered after being totally defeated by the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Marine Commandos.
Part of the selection process is to select for which part of the brigade of Gurkhas they will serve in. Exactly the same as any recruit. They have oportunities for Infantry, Signals, Engineers, Transport and logistics. It is not unusual for them to branch out into Commando and Para, moving on ultimately to special forces. Worked with lots of them when i was an engineer. As a polite gesture i asked for a message to be typed out in thier language. I stuck said message up on the doors to the block and asked the first bloke to arrive if it made sense and was understandable. He looked, grinned with a massive smile........and turned his head upside down to read it telling me it was very understandable.................I put it up the right way and walked off with donkey ears!!! Really good blokes, cant fault them.
when we done army cadets at school we were told to lace up our boots in a certain fashion, this is because the gurkha's would sneak up behind an enemy guards postition and feel the laces on the boots, if they wernt laced up properly the gukha's would despatch the guards. we made sure we laced up our boots as instructed. to this day all my shoes, boots are laced up as we were taught when we were kids in cadets.
Basically we fought them, and we were like "dam, they go hard hard" so we said "y'all want to squad up with us?" they said yes, and we've been best friends with Nepal ever since.
When I visited Nepal back in the summer, locals would occasionally ask me where I was from. They were always so excited to hear me say that I'm from the UK, and would talk excitedly about the special bond our two nations have! Of course, the Gurkhas would get an honourable mention, too. 😊
The bravery of the Gurkhas is legendary in the UK and we are so proud to have them.
An Indian Gurkha, retired and on his way home was on a train that was attacked by bandits. He sat quietly until they attempted to race a young girl. Using only his kukri he drove off 40 bandits.
"I said, leave the ladies alone."
[ _shink_ of kukri being drawn, Nepali boss music starts playing]
Thats only half the story....go look it up
We have a large community of Gurkhas not far from where I live. They are extremely family orientated, they respect their elders and are well respected in our community and country. ❤
@@karencauser120 catterick?,
The Gurkhas hold a very special place in the British Army. Their status ranks up there with the SAS, Commandos, and Paras....
Oh come on they are way better than the Paras when the Gurkhas are sent in you know the job will be done no matter what the Paras on the other hand will endeavour to do the job to the best of their abilities but don't always finish what they started.
Ex RCT so slightly bias sorry 😂😅😊
Gurkha's have a genetic mutation from living at such high altitude for generations that makes their blood more efficient at carrying oxygen. It makes them some of the toughest people on earth. Add to this a brutally competitive selection process and you can understand the respect they are given by the entire military community. Some of the most dangerous people in the world but the nicest happiest most polite and respectful I've ever met. I've never seen an angry Gurkha and I never want too.
" If a man claim's he's not afraid of death he's either a liar or a Gurkha."
Maj Gen. Sam Mackinaw
i,dunno,about,genetics,but,high,altitude,training,will,thicken,anyones,blood-see,'erythropoietin'
There is another episode where they go out and visit shops, and see castles. They also see the ocean for the first time. It’s so lovely!
I have been lucky enough in life to have experienced a few exciting things, had more than my fair share of adventures, met Prime ministers, ministers, Royalty and Hollywood royalty, but the proudest moment was being invited to a Gurkha 'messing' having the opportunity to sit,chat and watch as they prepared and then shared a curry.
Some years ago, my Son did the Oxfam charity walk....62 miles across country, to be completed in 30 hours or less....It was organised that year by the Gurkhas, and they took part as well, completing the course in 10 hours....at a jog......
We have such affection for these men. My gas boiler was replaced by an ex Gurkha, I noticed the name Gurung on the side of his van and so asked if he had served. After he finished the installation, we talked for about 3 hours. I wanted to hug him when he left, but settled for a hand shake!
There's a cry that has rung out many, many times in various languages throughout history: Oh f**k it's the Gurkhas!
Though you have to be running away fast to have time to say all that. Standing still, you get less time…
The most professional soldiers I have ever worked with. They are the kindest most respectful people but you would never want to be on the wrong side when these guys come to a fight.
Hi from Scotland I am so proud of these elite young soldiers they’re reputation is legendary and heaven help any army who come up against them it will be over for you so proud that they fight for the UK 👏🏻👌🏻🙏🏻
My father worked alongside Gurkhas in Malaya during the '50s. He had nothing but admiration for them.
Theres a British actress, Joanna Lumley, she has an strong family history in the military, in particular in India, going back near 200 years. Her father was in the Gurkha rifle regiment if I recall and he was saved by Tul Bahadur Pun, who was a famous highly decorated Gurkha. She has become famous for her work with the Gurkhas and doing a lot of campaigning for them. I believe that they get a better military pension from the UK now thanks to her campaigning
The clip of her "helping" the gov't minister with a statement on their pensions is an entertaining watch.
The Gurkhas always received a pension but it was on par with the Indian army Gurkhas. This was at the request of the Indian government so there was no disparity between the two Gurkha regiments (British and Indian). This has now changed so ex British Gurkhas now receive a pension comparable to other British army units and now have the right to permanently reside in the UK.
@tgcrowson And the right to live on in the UK was a sticking point, because of the terms of the treaty with Nepal which allows their recruitment.
Citizenship
Gurkha soldiers must be recruited, serve, and resettle as Nepali citizens. Basically Nepal didn't want it's citizens being permanently siphoned off to another country. I'm assuming there must have been some re-negotiations going on before the right of UK residence was able to be given..
The Gurkhas are like living terminators. The story's of them in war is flabbergasting. They need way more respect and love ❤
My boy joined up at seventeen, and I know how proud he was , and went on after 12 years to become sergeant. These lads are really something else. Their family might well depend on this
The 'KUKRI' is the national weapon of Nepal, traditionally serving the role of a basic utility knife for the Nepali-speaking Gurkhas. The 'kukri' is the most recognisible symbol of all Gurkha military regiments and units throughout the world...
Gurjas are hard as nails and are incredibly respected by the Brits, no idea why they want to be here but god love them
The Gurkha regiment is the most decorated regimen with 19 Victoria crosses to their name!
"Most decorated"? Not even close. 😂
@@HO-bndk I thought they were the regiment with the most Vicotria Cross medals at 26... i was thinking 19 before.
The Gurkha rifles are held in high esteem by the British public and revered in British society, shame our politicians had to have their arms twisted to treat them as equals. God bless the Gurkhas❤
Wasn’t that partly because the Nepalese wanted their bravest to be returned to them after service and agreed to this initially … surely not because the Uk did not want them to stay? Honest question
@@NeckasFBIAgent The pay difference was there because of the Indian government. A large number of Gurkha battalions had been stationed in what was British India. After partition, the Indian government didn't want to lose them, but could only pay them the same as Indian soldiers, so they managed to screw an arrangement whereby none of the Gurkhas could get full British Army pay. Whoever let the Indian government dictate such a thing must have been mad. Luckily, that particular agreement was done away with a long time ago. The 'no automatic UK citizenship' was more of a Nepali requirement, these guys are some of the best educated and disciplined men in their country after they have served, and the Nepali's didn't want to see them all staying abroad instead of coming home. They are also a bit of an elite section of Nepali society, in many families there may have been three or more generations following each other into the Gurkhas.
The average salary for Nepal is (in Pounds) just over £5,000. The starting salary in the British Army is just over £25, 000. Imagine the difference that makes to you and your family.
I support the Gurkha Welfare Trust who work in Nepal providing housing, water supply, etc to veterans and their widows in often inhospitable terrain. They are the bravest of the brave with their distinctive fast marching style. Recent legislation has made it possible for veterans to settle in Britain, many in Aldershot, a town with strong military history.
It has been my pleasure to meet some of these amazing young men in the medical facility I worked in. They were always immaculately dressed and very respectful. My ex-father-in-law was a sergeant major in the Green Howards and he was based with the Ghurkas at one stage. The Ghurkas are the most feared soldiers in the world. They follow orders without question. Only recently were they recognised for all they have done for this country and can now stay in this country if they wish when their period of service is over. It is a great honour for them to be chosen to serve by everyone in Nepal. They are an incredible fighting force we are lucky to have in our army.❤❤
I spent a few years attached to a Gurkha squadron, these guys are the most hard working and amazing people I've ever met. Their work ethic is second to none, we are so lucky to have them in our Armed Forces.
Thay run a great field kitchen too.
@@Shoomer1988 their goat curry is amazing.
Ex RAF, We were on a detachment to Malaya mid 60's. Camp split between Brit's and Gurkhas. On night patrol protecting aircraft, there would be a Brit, and a Gurkha on each location, moving independently. After a days work, I was feeling exhausted on night patrol, so I sat down on the tow hitch on a cockpit cooing rig.. Then I became aware the Gurkha had entered the area. I was too bloody scared, to pop up from behind a cooling rig until he left. They have THAT reputation.
Met a few of them in training in 1980, never spoke to them nor did they speak to us regulars.
Totally ruthless and so glad they on our side.
When I was in the army I spent a lot of time with the Gurkhas and became good friends with some of them they're a great bunch
My nephew is a bugler with the Rifles and is often on parade with them. I'm an ex Royal British Legion womens standard bearer and have had the absolute pleasure of being on parade with them in the past. They are so dedicated and amazing and many Brits are proud of them
The comments I have read so far say it all. The Gurkhas are very highly thought of by military personnel and civilians alike, and we in the UK are proud to have them in our army. As well as seeing action alongside the British soldiers in every "altercation", they have also served on ceremonial duties and got a special cheer at the coronation parade of Charles III.
P.S. As a Scot, I have to say that the Gurkhas have a phenomenal pipe band.
Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Former Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army once said " If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a Gurkha". They are rightly regarded as some of the fiercest warriors and command great respect wherever they go.
The Gukhas have four regiments in the British army, and seven regiments in the Indian army. If they fail the British test, they can join the Indian army, and undergo the same training as British Gurkhas, in India they are called Gorkha not Gurkha. This is where it gets a tad strange Gurkha units have fought in the Indian army since independence in 1947, though they were in the British army, and British Indian army for over 200 years. the Indian recruits do the British tests, and they train at ITC catterick, then they do secondary training here in the UK, then they join their units in India, being the Elite forces of the Indian Army. This here is specifically for the British army, they don't test for both at the same time, The British Army does the Indian Army Gurka (Gorkha) recruitment as well as our own. There is a British Army base in Nepal as well.
The thing there is that India had it's own "independent" Army since the 1850s - when the East India Company was dissolved and the British Government took over ruling India directly, the former East India Company units were either disbanded (if they had been involved in the previous rebellion) or were formed into the Army of the three Indian Raj's, thence to be unified in 1895 into the British Indian Army. It was officered by British men, often on loan or on suspended/reserve service in the British Army, but it was an independent force from the British Army. Thus in 1947 the Indian state inherited the Army (and the separate Indian Air Force by this time) directly from the Raj, rather than units being split off from the British Army.
@@lloydcollins6337 It wasn't an independent army at all, until 1947, It was the British Indian army. You are possibly thinking of this bit. The Crown took over the rule of India from the east india company after the 1857 mutinies, so in 1858 the British the British started to amalgamate the indian armys that they and previously the east India company had controlled, there were three of these : The Madras Army, the Bombay Army, and the Bengal army, of the British presidencies. This was informally called the British army of India by everyone in the country especially after the muitinies in 1857. Then in 1879 the Presidency armies were integrated into 4 commands with a British commander in chief, then on the first of April 1859 the presidency armies were disolved and the British Indian Army was born with for commands, and a single British command, and commander in chief. The official first use of the Term "Indian Army" was in 1903. This effectively was how the system operated until independence in 1947, when the British Indian army became the Army of the Independent Republic of India, al;so the Pakistan Army was born in 1847.
"The force is also sometimes referred to as the Army of the Indian Empire, or Imperial Indian Army, The Indian Army should not be confused with the Army of India, which was the Indian Army plus the British Army in India (British units sent to India)." From Wikipedia.
I used to know a Gurka called Naboo and hes was one of the kindest sweetest polite funny people you could want to meet. Total diamond.
These young men are very proud to join the British army, and I will tell you, as an old Royal Green Jacket, I am honoured and extreamley proud to shake the hand of a Gurkha. These guys are loved by civilians and us who have served. Immense respect for these humble elite soldiers.
Carrying with the forehead actually is a very clever way to do it to balance the load, Canadian soldiers in WW1 used to do it based on First Nations practices - it’s called a tumpline
Humans have used tumplines since we lived in caves 40,000 years ago
These Gurkha’s are a war machine by themselves.
The world’s most feared soldiers.
19:48 the emotion at being rejected is so raw that the British Army had to install nets on a bridge near the recruiting centre to stop failed applicants from jumping off it into the river.
It all started with a war against them in 1814, that they so impressed us with their courage, skill, and tenacity, that we have been recruiting them ever since.
My granda fought alongside the gurkhas. He was a boy soldier and was in the SAS before it was called the SAS. I have pictures of him with them. Thank you for covering this. I'm so proud of him, may he rest in peace.
Robert Gore B.E.M❤
There have been Gurkha regiments posted close to my home town for many years. They are polite, friendly, disciplined, astonishingly fit. They are often running in squads or small groups along the coastal paths for miles at a time. Their families & many former Gurkhas stay locally and open Nepalese restaurants which serve delicious food and the people in them are absolutely lovely, kind folks. They are very well regarded by the local people.
These are the guys you want on your side . 😊. Much respect to the Gurkhas.
This Gurkha is legendary. He fought off 30 Taliban on his own. He even used his tripod against them. They don’t give up. They don’t quit. Nothing by the highest regard for the Gurkhas. Truly an amazing people. There is a popular saying that goes: if a man says he’s not afraid, he is either lying or a Gurkha.
ruclips.net/video/a8-LRxSl9aw/видео.htmlfeature=shared
These young men come into our local town...they are SO SO respectful!!! And SERIOUSLY smart!!
I went to Nepal this summer. Nepalis are wonderful people!
Each Ghurka is armed with a special knife called a kukri, which they can use either as a melee weapon or a cutting tool. Traditionally, if the specific kukri is only used as a weapon, the Ghurka isn't allowed to draw it unless it draws blood before re-sheathing, although I don't think that tradition is upheald much these days. My father was given an officers kukri during world war 2 by a Ghurka friend, which I still have. It's a beautiful knife with mother of pearl inset in the handle and is still as sharp as a razor blade.
The forehead strap is not meant as an extra torture device. It is commonly used by the Himalayan Sherpas etc. Since you are going uphill, the aim is to get the centre of gravity of your body & load forwards of your feet. As someone mentions in the video, if you look up, the load on your back will tend to topple you over backwards.
The head strap is used by people all over the world from Africa, South America & Asia. In extremely mountainous regions, such as Nepal, all ages and sexes will use this technique.
@@richardwest6358and North America traditionally
My grandad fought alongside the Gurkhas in WW2 and had nothing but praise for them.
My brother in law's father was a high ranking Gurkha who served for over 40 years - a career soldier. A very proud and correct man, whose values were unshakable and whose love for country and family was unsurpassed.
I met another, young ex-Gurkha when I lived in Holland in the early 90's. He had arrived and didn't have all the provisions he needed, and was living in the lower portion of the town house we were renting. He asked if I could please help him prepare to find work, by doing his laundry! I didn't mind and did it happily, knowing that his response would show gratitu e. I wasn't wrong. When he came to collect the now clean and dry garments (some also carefully ironed and on hangers!) he brought me an armful of fresh flowers and a bottle of something strong! (we don't drink so it got put in the cupboard and left there when we went home again!) He was a lovely neighbour, very quiet and respectful, and yes, he got the job! His experiences in the forces instilled discipline and punctuality, so he was valued and got a really good position with local law enforcement!
Gurkha soldiers are hugely respected for their strength, skill and bravery in the UK. There is a story that during the Falklands war the Argentine soldiers did not want to be captured by the Gurkha regiment because they would be killed and eaten by them! Thank you to all our armed forces for your service - UK, USA and all our allies.
My friend was taking part in an Army excercise, one of those long distance runs. His group were struggling up a hill in the heat when they were overtaken by the Gurkhas who had started off behind them. They were laughing and chatting, and all said "Hello!" as they passed.
😂
We love the Gurkha's they always get a special cheer when they are on Parade. During the Falklands War they played a major role. They have a reputation Worldwide for being stealthy and fearless warriors, the enemy never sees them coming but they certainly know where they have been. When they retire from the Army, even if they choose to return home, they still receive a pension just like any British soldier. We Brits are just as proud of them as if they were home grown.
The Gurkhas didn’t actually play a role in the Falklands war, they never saw action.
@LeeXRV They were there in tjs Falklands during that conflict but when Argentinian conscripts got word that they'd be facing off against the Gurkhas, they fled and decided to surrender to the British troops rather than face off against the Gurkhas. The Argentinians heard and believed a rumour that was spreading through their ranks saying that the Gurkhas don't take prisoners they kill everyone and even eat them too. So the Argies fled and opted for surrender rather than fight Gurkhas.
@@chadUCSD The Argentines were convinced that the Gurkhas were cannibals, but they did not surrender because of the threat of them.
When they surrendered, the Parachute Regiment and Royal Marine Commandos had already totally and completely defeated them, and they were not in a position to continue fighting; this had nothing to do with the Ghurkhas.
I'm ex-British military and personally have a few friends who are Ghurkhas and have nothing but respect and admiration for them. Still, there's no question the two most capable and most feared British infantry fighting units are the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Marine Commandos.
This is why the paras and commandos are deployed first into any conflict; they are the tip of the spear.
As much as I think the Ghurkas are incredible, their reputation is more than a little overblown these days.
My dad was a Gurkha.
Then your dad is tough and he has my respect and thanks, as all gurkhas have 💪
@ thank you xx
Lovely family men. My hubby is a wonderful father and a fabulous husband. He retired 1998.
They are classed as Light Infantry as part of the British Army. Just to add, the green colour is called Rifleman Green and used by mosy light infantry regiments. A private soldier on the light infantry are called rilemen. it comes from the time of the Duke of Wellington (think of Richard Sharpe).
Proud of them serving my country 🇬🇧
My sister regiment was 6th Gurkha Rifles, and have met the Gurkhas a few times, Great people. We wore their Gurkha Kukri badge on our uniform. I am extremely proud to have them as my sister regiment.
HUSSAR !!
The Gurkha are wonderful people. They are so respectful, there are a small community near where I live. I’ve dealt with the community for work purposes. Lovely loyal people.
Catterick?
So in a lot of languages around India and that part of the globe "wala" (also spelled wallah) means man, and their role goes in front, so a dhobiwala washes (dhobi) clothes, a chaiwala sells tea (chai), and a man who delivers your packed lunch from home to work is a dabbawala etc.
There are a lot of Indian-language derived words in English vernacular these days - we used to call a woman who came into a house to clean up and serve tea etc (when people couldn't afford a live-in maid) a "char" or "charwoman" from the idea of a "tea lady" because people who had lived or served in India brought the term back with them for char = tea. Similarly in the British Army you'd have "mufti" for civilian clothes, "bunduk" for rifle, "char" for tea etc etc.
Nepal is not a Commonwealth country but there is a long history of friendship and co-operation between Britain and Nepal, with soldiers from both countries fighting alongside each other.
Such an emotional process to see, with all their hopes in the balance!
In Britain people use the term 'mufti' to describe any casual non-uniform outfit- for example if your school has a 'non-uniform day' (often to raise money for charity) or there is a 'dress down day' at work, it is sometimes described as a 'mufti' day. Not everyone uses the term- but it is used by some.
That's cool! We had never heard that term before. Definitely won't forget it 😅 Thanks for explaining, Caroline
We have a `Ghurka' restaurant here in Derby, UK.....Sometimes the Ghurkas are more revered than our own military.
There's 2 only 5 miles away from me in NE derbyshire
I was recently in hospital in England where a number of the nursing and support staff were from Nepal. All were friendly, polite and competent.
My Uncle Aubrey was a tank driver in the desert during WW2 and served alongside the Gurkas. I won't repeat some of his stories but apparently Marines used to get out of their way
I think their motto is (better to die than be a Coward).
PS: I have nothing but respect for these boys and what they bring to the British military, they are the most respectful kindest people you can meet , but the fiercest of fighters.
The Gurkha's are proud to fight in the British Army. We, the British, are honoured to have them. I live in a military city and I see plenty of them and their families. Extremely polite people. They become light infantry and engineers. These are the guys that are porters on Everest climbs. The Japanese were scared stiff of the Gurkha in WWII.
Ghurkas are so proud to serve my country the Uk , and we the people of the UK are more proud still that they are part of our armed forces , cracking soldiers and lovely lovely people .
Massive RESPECT to the Gurkas! Shame our government don't RESPECT them as much!
There's a second part to this which follows the recruits as they integrate into UK life and culture, well worth checking out
Thanks for the tip! :)
My dad was stationed in Burma during ww2, he never said much but he did say how invaluable the Gurkhas were xx
The baskets are the standard way that Sherpas carry supplies up the mountains.
When my Great grandad arrived in the trenches in 1915, it was the Ghurka's that taught his battalion "Trench craft" and where the exposed danger points were in the forward fire trench
The British people have huge respect and admiration for the Gurkha’s. Since your in the Himalayan region of world you should look up the Sherpa, more men who display superhuman levels of fitness courage and bravery
You ought to see them March, they. Have a marching pace of 140 paces per minute. The standard marching pace is around 116 to 120.
They ARE light infantry, after all. Their foot-drill differs substantially from the other parts of the Army. Take a look at the RUclips movie about their time in Guard at Buckingham Palace, especially the preparations at Wellington Barracks.
So much respect for the Gurkhas as with every service man and woman, but these lads have extra pressures the least being language barrier
So much respect and gratitude for their dedication and service
For just one regiment of the British Army they have won a number of the most difficult medals to win ,the Victoria Cross .Perhaps one of the smartest things the Army has done to recruit these warriors.
Loved the accent of the Lance Corporal at the airport near the end - obviously been here a few years, slight touch of a Yorkshire accent there.