American Reacts to Simple Histories: Gurkha (World War 2)

[@albin2232]

They are as tough as hell, but when you meet them they are perfect gentlemen. Modest and unassuming. Great people.

[@markarmour1898]

There are lots of Gurkha restaurants in the UK now, definitely recommend. Exactly as you said, such lovely people.

[@fullenglishbreakfast3289]

@@markarmour1898 love a hot goat curry lovely

[@darrallc]

Indeed. They are not only renowned for their fighting prowess, grit and bravery, but also for their humour, courtesy and charm. They are wonderful people.

[@Tom-bs1em]

Gurkhas still fighting with the British Army to this day! We have a couple of Gurkha Regiments and most people in Britain think very highly of them.

[@georgebuller1914]

I'm one of the British people who think highly of these people. They are so honourable, that it makes you want to weep when you see how the British Government treats them after they have served our country!

[@richardraymond878]

They do now recieve a full English army pension now thanks to the lovely Joanna Lumley

[@glastonbury4304]

@@richardraymond878 👍👍

[@AhsokaTanoTheWhite]

You mean most knowledgeable people in Britain think highly of them, the ignorant morons who hurl racial abuse at them for being immigrants really annoy me.

[@glastonbury4304]

@@AhsokaTanoTheWhite ...I'm sure there maybe a few toothless council estate dwellers called Gary or Wayne that do, but I've never seen or heard anything ever bad said about the Gurkhas , but then again we tend to put swamp life out of any meaningful towns and cites to learn survival skills on UC 🤷🤔😄

[@God-ck5yo]

I grew up in Hong Kong and my first "proper" girlfriend was Nepalese and her father was, honestly, the only man who I've ever met personally who legitimately terrified me. He was Major in the Gurkha Rifles.

[@ngdarkboy7698]

Oh

[@Jamhael1]

Dude! I hope you both departed in good terms...

[@williebauld1007]

Still to this day around 10,000 Nepalese apply to join the British Army, it is seen as a great honour to serve in the Gurkhas and it allows them to support their families back in Nepal, most Brits are both glad and proud that they choose to serve our country

[@TheGarryq]

but those 10,000 apply knowing that only 300 a year will be accepted

[@williebauld1007]

@@TheGarryq exactly but they still give their all

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

@@williebauld1007 The fact that only 300 get in just shows how tough and arduous the training must be

[@stevenbowers4164]

Another set of troops enlisted by the British empire that are worth looking at are the Sikhs, the Battle of Saragarhi is one of the legendary last stands

[@richardraymond878]

Yes the Sikhs deserve respect. This sort of thing should be taught in schools.

[@KernowekTim]

Aye. The Sikhs are wonderful Human Beings. Their fighting record testifies a legacy of outstanding loyalty, bravery and professionalism under intensely fierce fighting situations. They give 'no quarter' once roused, yet like all true warriors, the Sikh is a humble, very polite, generous and warm-natured person. Britain is graced by our Sikh brothers and sisters.

[@JR-iw8du]

Absolutely 👏👏👏

[@theinsideouter6371]

I am a person of the world I might be old and getting to my end but have three boys that are in stilled with what I think love and peace old man jeff

[@EdDueim]

About 30 years ago I was working in Bangkok and brought my mum over for a holiday, took her to an Embassy garden party where security was Ghurkas. Mum drove an ambulance through the blitz, she snatched my infant daughter from my arms and thrust her at a Ghurka NCO, took a photo and said "Now you have been held by a real man." I'm like, "Mum, I'm standing right here."

[@Boppa1260]

MASSIVE RESPECT TO THE GURKHA REGIMENT 🇬🇧💯

[@1889jonny]

I worked with the Gurkha's in Belize, training the Belize defence forces. The easiest people to get along with and so easy to teach, they are eager to learn anything new but also very patient when they were training the Belize, perfectly willing to explain things again and again. The most polite gentlemen you could ever meet and the most horrible little b**tards to fight against. Be very pleased that they're on our side

[@arloodonnell3332]

Check out the ghurkas who won the Victoria Cross, unbelievable heroism. We are truly blessed to have them on our side.

[@albin2232]

👍

[@marvinc9994]

The Gurkhas are - and have always been - the ONLY 'foreigners' we don't take the mickey out of (unless it's to illustrate their SUPERHUMAN courage). EVERYONE loves them over here in the UK !

[@OneNoteRiff]

I worked with an ex gurkha, he told me about them having to do 5 year deployments with no leave. (At least for the first 2 deployments or something). Told the story that he married and went on his first deployment when his wife was pregent, he didn't get to meet the child until they were 5 years old. He then went back out for another 5 years, his wife had their second child so the next time he got to see his first child they were 10 years old and another he didn't meet until they were 5. Broke my heart, can't imagine the mentality it takes to be a gurkha. Ultimate respect for them.

[@sophiegeorge2816]

My grandad had a Gurkha Batman who would shave him with a cut throat razor while he was still asleep, he never went to bed on an argument with him

[@alimar0604]

Gurkha troops are hugely respected in UK. My father served with them in WW2 and was proud to fight alongside 🇬🇧

[@captainadams8565]

1982 the Gurkhas took part in the Falklands conflict. The young Argentina's constipated soldiers were told that they were cannibals. The Gurkhas found lots of rifles, never been fired only dropped once.

[@zetectic7968]

The Argies weren't constipated when they heard the Ghurkas were coming😀

[@captainadams8565]

Bloody auto correct spelling. I meant 'Conscripted.'

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

@@captainadams8565 Constipated hahah bloody spell check

[@davidsimmonds1284]

I served with a Gurhka regiment when deployed to Afghanistan. A very interesting tour

[@margaretnicol3423]

... and? You must have some interesting stories to tell.

[@richardraymond878]

@@margaretnicol3423 Bit of a tease !

[@margaretnicol3423]

@@richardraymond878 Or genuinely interested and a bit disappointed no stories were forthcoming. Now I'm wondering ... !!!

[@andrewdoubtfire4700]

Imagine being an enemy soldier seeing an advancing Gurkha with his knife drawn. You instantly know that blood is going to drawn one way or another. No wonder Argentinian conscripts in the Falklands surrendered as soon as they know the Gurkhas were on the battlefield.

[@neilgayleard3842]

My uncle served with them in Burma in WW2. They gave him a 3 piece set of the knives different sizes for different uses. I keep them to remember him at the people who helped keep him alive.

[@billbarton9046]

My uncle was in No5 Army Commando in Burma during WW2 and as a kid I remember him showing me the two knives he'd kept after the war, one was his Commando fighting knife,the other was a bartered khukri,many of his unit had them because they where great utility knives for use in the jungle, better than the army issue machete.I being a twelve year old kid, asked him if I could have one and he told me that both knives had been used in combat and my mum would kill him if she'd found out he'd given me one.

[@alanmccartney3922]

I remember my father in law fought in Italy during WW2. He was a communications corporal. One night he was out at the front line repairing telephone lines when someone grabbed his foot. He nearly crapped himself. He looked down and there was a smiling gurkha. He put his fingers to his lips whispered Sssh! and then crawled off towards the enemy lines.

[@jackmac2874]

I met at a Legion ceremony a WWII Canadian Army soldier in a 20mm cannon unit who told me a similar tale. When posted on the front line in Italy, he was on sentry duty the first night during a new moon. He felt a tap on his boot,heard “OK,Canada” but never saw anything. The Ghurkas check the lace pattern of the boots to tell friend from foe!

[@davesy6969]

They went out hunting Japanese soldiers at night with their kukris, they could tell by the lace patterns which army a soldier was in at night and the Australians had brass collar badges they would also feel for in the dark, there are many stories of soldiers who had the same experience.

[@davidshattock9522]

I was toldthat a Gurkha soldier can walk through a bakery kitchen Inthe dark and not leave a footprint in the flour ,

[@jemmajames6719]

We have the greatest respect for the Gurkhas, my dad always commented on how brave they were every time they were on tv when I was young.A few years ago a regiment of the Gurkhas was disbanded, Prince Philip was their head a clip was shown on tv with Prince Philip in tears at the ceremony.

[@menty6633]

It was a genius move. We Brits got our asses handed to us and we're like wait a minute... this could be useful.

[@davidgriffith8292]

The Kukri legend of having to draw blood has been dispelled by the Gurkhas themselves. As soldiers they’re still hugely respected and relied upon by the British Army.

[@fossy4321]

My Father worked with a Gurkha soldier and when people asked him if he would bring his kukri into work for them to see, he would always say that once drawn it had to draw blood, so yes he would but he would have to cut their finger! He told my Dad this wasn't true but was to stop people constantly pestering him, It apparently worked.

[@christianbuczko1481]

They are awesome in night combat and jungle warfare. They could move and patrol silently, and would crawl up behind enemies and allies, and gently feel the shoelaces of the person to determine friend of foe. They would kill anyone who had the wrong shoelace pattern. They would tell the friendly allies to tie laces in a particular way different to the enemy in advance btw.

[@nosacredcows1810]

A story from the Anglo Nepalese war. Which started when the kingdom of Gorkha invaded British India. The British were besieging a Nepalese Hillfort when one of the Gurkha defenders was shot in the jaw. So he walked down the hill to the British forces and requested medical treatment for his shattered jaw. The British thinking he was surrendering treated his wound. Now imagine their shock when he informed them that no he wasn't surrendering but was going back to the fort. What shows the mutual respect that is that they let him go back. It was one of the few wars in history where both sides could hardly wait for it to end simply so that they could fight side by side with eachother rather than against eachother. I'm going to butcher the name but if you want more Gurkha content check out the story of Lakshmi Gurung who single handedly held of 200 Japanese in WW2.

[@ninajaiherm4315]

My dad was in the Devon and Dorset quick march He spent 8 years in India before the war started and 4 years in Burma he fought with the Gurkhas and has great respect for them he was awarded The Burma Star medal when he returned home.

[@Glund117]

We still recruit ghurkas to this day into the British army, many people in Nepal train all their life to join but to get passed the initial training is near impossible due to its difficulty and limited places, due to continuous cuts to the size of the British army. Nepal is a poor country with most of its inhabitants living in poverty so joining the British army is life changing for them and their families. To this day the Ghurkas retain their reputation and I'd say show greater loyalty to the crown than the average British soldier, willing to do their duty no matter what. Additionally due to the Nepalese living in high altitude up on the mountains, they have more red blood cells which carries more oxygen and therefore gives greater stamina, so their is actual science behind how they perform so much better in combat

[@azzybaby]

thats as Equally SAVAGE as it is BEAUTIFUL . . long live the ghurka

[@danydash316]

Well Indians have an advantage over you when it comes to gurkhas. Indian army has about 40 battalions of gurkhas that's about 32,000 soldiers serving in 7 regiments.

[@thenepalidevils8906]

@@danydash316 indian gurkha selection Is not that hard compared to British. The British actually take the cream of the crop. Best of the best join British army if they can't then thry try Indian army.

[@garyprice2771]

You may wish to take look at the selection process these young men go through to join the British Army. They carry insanely heavy weights while running up hill when they are already at altitude and the air is reduced in oxygen. You really wouldn't want to come up against these guys in a battle.Their reputation is well deserved. Just like to say I admire Joanna Lumley for her support of these superb soldiers.

[@coltsfoot9926]

The Gurkhas are still part of the British Army, and there are some great stories about them, not all true! One true story is of the Gurkha battalion that was sent to the Falkland Islands to help recapture the islands from the Argentinians. The battalion was landed on the beachhead a few days after the original landings, and the logistics officer told them to go to a particular part of the beach and wait for orders. A short while afterwards their orders arrived, but the Gurkhas were nowhere to be seen. Apparently they had heard some gunfire in the distance and had set off towards it because they were afraid of missing the fighting. The Argentinian high command told their troops that the Gurkhas were cannibals and ate their prisoners - this was to try to get the Argentinian troops to fight more fiercely. It backfired and really annoyed the Gurkhas who advanced on the enemy positions and found no one there, because the enemy ran away and surrendered to other British units when they heard the Gurkhas were coming. Fortunately, the Gurkhas did eventually get some fighting, so they were happy that they had something to write home about!

[@bottle676]

Love from Nepal🇳🇵 (Land of Gurkhas)

[@alimar0604]

Thank you all for your service 🇬🇧

[@jay71512]

Met some of these guys when we stopped a few days in whitby 2012 I think it was. Very nice humble guys and highly respected by us British!

[@freetipuk]

My home town of Nuneaton was the home to a Gurka regiment for many many years ( they are freemen of the town). They love badminton and I've played with them many times. We have a monument to them in our town centre ( Joanna Lumley "opened" it), a Gurkha shop, and a fantastic Gurkha restaurant. We love them here.

[@SimonJM]

Myths, tales and legends abound about these marvellous people. The must draw blood is, sadly?, just that, a myth. A recent-ish myth is that in the Serbian/Bosnian mess it was 'let slip' that the Gurkhas were being brought up to take the van in the advance the next day. The frontlines were strangely empty that day. Another is, just after WW2, with the threat of communism in Burma, a Gurkha unit was tasked to do a low-level jump behind enemy lines (from 600'). After a bit of a chat amongst themselves they asked their English officer if they could go at 300' instead. When told no, they could not do that as that would not give time for their parachutes to open their response was, "oh, you're giving us parachutes?" The

[@richieb7692]

@Tim A Given how awful the MRE's were back then, cannibalism may be the preferred option.

[@fossy4321]

My Father worked with a Gurkha soldier and when people asked him if he would bring his kukri into work for them to see, he would always say that once drawn it had to draw blood, so yes he would but he would have to cut their finger! He told my Dad this wasn't true but was to stop people constantly pestering him, It apparently worked.

[@andrewparry1008]

I love you are reacting to gurkha British forces. They can't get enough recognition

[@ukwildmaninvestigator7353]

You should do the storey of 1 gurkha that fought off 200 enemy soldiers

[@canihavesome2591]

I mentioned in the last Gurkha video you did, I mentioned that my grandfather served with them in WWII. One of the few things he told us about that time was how they all changed the way their boots were laced.... Instead of crossing laces up the eyes of a boot in an X fashon, they passed one lace from the top eye on one side of the boot, down to the bottom eye on the other side - with the lace coming out of the eye at the bottom. They then would take the lace at the bottom and loop it over to the corresponding eye on the other side, and back into the boot, bringing the lace out of the boot via the next eye up on the other side - then loop it over and repeat so the laces sat horizontal and flat across the eyes like this o--o (as opposed to oxo). The reason for this....when the Gurkhas went out on recons at night, and they came across camps....how boots were laced determined how those that were there were dealt with. Whether or not that is true, i don't know....but as kids we were in awe...like i said, gramps didn't talk much about what he did/saw out there... but he always spoke with reverence of the Gurkha.

[@catherinewilkins2760]

12 VC awarded, to them, only 181 recipients of that medal, during WW2. The Victoria Cross is the most difficult medal to be awarded . You should look it up.

[@slainesaxon3809]

Gurkhas are so respected in the UK, thank you for showing their amazing culture and history, Skol!

[@AnglOsAxOn2]

It was at the treaty of Segauli in 1816 that both sides decided it was better to be allies. On discharge after 4 years of service the Gurkha is allowed to apply for Britsish Citizenship clearance, but this only happened after years of campaigning and led by Joanna Lumley, an English Actor/Comedian.

[@andrewmstancombe1401]

Joanna lumleys Dad was a British officer in the Gurkhas. More to do yet for our Gurkha comrades. Is there a British Soldier that doesn't like and respect them? I've never met one.

[@TheGarryq]

They are entitled to settled status, not citizenship

[@vaudevillian7]

Pretty much everyone I know that’s been in the British Army has great Gurkha stories, Gurkha sigs were based where I used to live as well, in day to day life they’re genuinely lovely chaps. Had Gurkha curry as well made by Gurkha veterans at a charity event for them I was involved with, it was incredible

[@ncage2621]

The gurkhas are a fantastic hard fighting force, Great Britain is lucky to have the gurkhas. 👍🇬🇧.

[@ToTaLePiCpEaNuT]

If you read George Fraser macdonald’s memoir (he was author of rhr flash man novels) on his time fighting in Burma campaign he writes a lot about the Gurkhas who fought alongside him. He called them “very disciplined children” they were always childlike laughing and joking around and completely unaffected by harsh conditions, but he saw them as ruthless killers in battle. During in one assault on Japanese positions on a hillside his regiment was in reserve and watched the Gurkhas charge up the hill and when the battle was finished his regiment found all the Gurkhas rifles had been thrown on the floor at the bottom of the hill and they realised when they got to the top of the hill the Gurkhas had charged up with just their Kukri knives and had fought the Japanese hand to hand (many Japanese were butchered like lambs) when they asked why they’d do this because it meant they suffered more casualties a Gurkha responded with “For regimental glory” After the war had finished he talked of a Gurkha who was going to decapitated a Indian Sikh officer who had insulted the Gurkha regiment and not even warnings if he would executed if he did bothered him, it was only when a British officer said “you’ll bring shame on the Gurkha regiment if you kill him” that he calmed down. Fine soldiers and men and still highly respected today in Britain. The Gurkhas were surrounding the Argentinians at Port Stanley in the Falklands when the Argentinians surrendered, there is a video of the Gurkhas getting told the war was over and they couldn’t attack port Stanley and the disappointment is so noticeable. They are built different in Nepal.

[@speleokeir]

I love Flashman, the best anti hero ever! I've not read George MacDonald Fraser's memoir though so may have to look that up. Another of his books 'The Black Ajax' about a victorian black boxer is an interesting read too. GMF also wrote a number of movie screen plays such as Octopussy (James Bond), the Three muskateer films, etc.

[@alimar0604]

@@speleokeir I didn't know that! Thank you 🙂

[@ToTaLePiCpEaNuT]

@@speleokeir very interesting man, his memoir is one of the best war memoirs ever written. You almost feel like you’re with him as he describes the war, including hand to hand combat. He certainly enjoyed the pure adrenaline of combat and found it utterly terrifying at the same time. He has a fantastic passage on the nuclear attack on Japan from a perspective of someone fighting in burma when they were dropped. There’s a desert island disc interview with him on KZbin that you should check out, where he speaks from a very stoic point of view on the war and he certainly felt honoured to have served with the men he did in that campaign.

[@RyanKeane9]

They are simply just the best people. My personal heros❤️

[@markwilkie3677]

My grandfather was an RSM in the Black Watch, and fought alongside the Gurkha rifles in Burma, behind Japanese lines as a Chindit. Check them out.

[@robertsnare1411]

You should look at the videos that show the modern day selection procedure for recruitment of new Gurkhas, awesome stamina, strength and determination. These guys are on a different level, but absolutely delightful people.

[@itsnotrightyouknow]

Former Indian army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw once stated. "If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a Ghurka.

[@ericdonnelly5824]

We attended a wedding reception in Nuneaton’s Gurkha Club, met a few retired Gurkhas there, they’ve earned my respect even I don’t don’t their first names.

[@markarmour1898]

There are lots of Gurkha restaurants in the UK and I totally recommend finding your local, the food and hospitality is fantastic.

[@anielloschiavone2154]

You should either react to the recruiting of the Ghurkas on the Forces TV channel on KZbin and also their actions in the Falkland war in the 80s

[@Thenerdywalrus]

One of these stories of Gurkha heroism comes from Lachhiman Gurung in Burma after he was taken by surprise when Japanese troops opened up on him and his men and lobbed some grenades into their trench. Gurung picked up two of the grenades and threw them back to the 200 Japanese soldiers waiting in the darkness.” “The third grenade blew up in Gurung’s hand.” “He lost a few fingers, most of his right arm, and took shrapnel in his face and leg. Partially blind, bleeding profusely, and struggling to move, Gurung did something only a Gurkha would do: he pulled his Kukri knife with his good hand, stabbed the ground, and told the Japanese in a booming voice that none of them would make it past that knife.” “He then picked up his rifle - a bolt-action Lee-Enfield Mk. III - chambered a round, and invited the enemy to “come fight a Gurkha.” “With his friends dead or dying, Gurung fought for hours, firing his bolt-action Lee-Enfield with one hand and killing anyone who entered his trench. He would lie down until the Japanese were on top of his position, kill the closest one at point-blank range, chamber a new round with his left hand, and then kill the enemy’s battle buddy.” “Gurung killed 31 Japanese soldiers this way, fighting until morning the next day.” “At the end of the battle, he was shouting “Come and fight. Come and fight. I will kill you!” “Gurung was hospitalized through the end of the war, losing partial vision in his right eye and the use of his right arm. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, Great Britain’s highest military honor, and was the only recipient still alive when his command presented medals for the battle.

[@theinsideouter6371]

When the Gurkas left the army they were not get the Army pension. Joanna Lumley , a well respected personality in the UK , led a protest about this, now they have been respected by the British government, I dont know how far it has gone , but look into it

[@davidsweeney4021]

You should look up some of the individual VC stories of the Gurkhas. They are truly awesome!

[@peterbrown1012]

What the commentator didn't make clear was that Napal was never part of the British Empire or the commonwealth, although officially mercenaries they are exempt under clauses 47 (e) and (f) of the Geneva convention.

[@alexhumphreys5243]

@Heather Stephens they have fort in every war Britain has ever waged and only loyal to the Queen

[@peterbrown1012]

@Heather Stephens read it properly, by the Geneva convention they are classed as mercenaries but are exempt as are the French foriegn Legion.

[@matthewshepherd5390]

Didnt axtually know that i assumee they were colonials

[@alexhumphreys5243]

@@matthewshepherd5390 yep we invaded them 200 years ago and they give us such a hard time of it that when we won we made a deal with them that they can fight for us since then they fight with us in every single conflict around the world they even do there 3 part of there training in the uk

[@matthewshepherd5390]

@@alexhumphreys5243 learn something every day :)

[@vikingraider1961]

One thing that you *MUST* remember about the Gurkhas - make certain they're on your side!

[@DavidLee-vi8ds]

7:15 It's believed that the Gurkhas made up that tradition as a polite lie. They were fed up with people asking to see their knives all the time and a straight "no" was a little rude. So they made up the story about having to draw blood every time they unsheathed it.

[@rc9037]

The tradition of cutting the thumb slightly to get a little blood onto a sword or knife to sheath it even if unsheathed by mistake was a common practice among martial cultures in Asia. Now days many families keep ceremonial swords or daggers in their homes and still practice this. The belief is that a sword must only be unsheathed to fight and draw blood (of the enemy). To sheath a sword without blood on it is considered bad luck as the sword is considered to have a life of its own (spirit) that seeks blood. That's the logic behind this practice.

[@johngray9371]

I had an uncle who served alongside Gurhas in WWII -- He used to say, 'They scared the sh*t out of me, so I have no idea what they did to the Japanese'.

[@markbuckle2222]

Nicest of people ferocious of fighters massive RESPECT

[@TheAlmostace]

That talked about their full frontal attacks but the Gurkhas were more known for their stealth. Able to infultrate an enemy camp and kill every second person in their sleep while writing an X in the boots to let them know they could have killed them if they wanted to. They became known as phantoms and were almost mythical.

[@markarmour1898]

The most gentle, kind and lovely people you would ever want to meet. As long as you aren't on the wrong side. EVERYONE please Google your local Gurkha restaurant, there'll be one near you and you'll enjoy the best food and hospitality you have ever experienced. If EBR gets to the UK I'm going to treat him to a meal + beers in my local Gurkha place.

[@SimonJM]

A friend and I will be having take-away from a Nepalese restaurant tomorrow night :)

[@grahamstubbs4962]

You absolutely, positively do not want to be on a battle field versus these guys.

[@terryblake9531]

Check out Mad Jack Churchill mate you'll love him

[@jamess6961]

Gurkhas are a fighting force you really don’t fk with.! Other than special units, I doubt anyone will say otherwise.

[@Gissersj]

India ,Singapore and Malaysia and Bruneit have also employed them for their own armies and police forces.

[@thegeneralmitch]

my first meeting with Gurkhas came when i was 10 climbing mount snowdon in Wales. We were taking a break halfway up when a group of small men ran past along a narrow ledge with a 30 foot drop down one side while carrying packs as large as they were, utter madmen and its a terrible stain on the nations honour what the government done to them in recent decades.

[@andyhowe7640]

I've met a couple who go to work in security once they're finished in the army, genuinely some of the nicest and softly spoken people i've ever met. My dad was in the Army and would always speak incredibly highly of them, little things like how they used to learn how the germans tied their shoes so they could identify them at night before killing them. Fascinated me.

[@jackmac2874]

I posted this a month ago... I met at a Legion ceremony a WWII Canadian Army soldier in a 20mm cannon unit who told me a similar tale. When posted on the front line in Italy, he was on sentry duty the first night during a new moon. He felt a tap on his boot,heard “OK,Canada” but never saw anything. The Ghurkas check the lace pattern of the boots to tell friend from foe!

[@rubikclockweights]

Lovely video....my Grandad..( now passed ) fought in Burma with the Gurkhas...against the Japanese. The stories he told me.......wow..He said they wee so nice and friendly I've got his Burma Cross medal.....

[@TheEclecticBeard]

That's pretty freaking cool.

[@nedeast6845]

As far as i know, the Goorka battalions are still commanded by a British officer....but the officer has to know the Nepalese language, and if the Ghurkas don't like him, they can have him replaced

[@paznewis107]

Gurkha's and Scotts. Frontline every conflict for two centuries.

[@RyanKeane9]

Respect ☺️

[@mikedignum1868]

There are YT videos on how they are recruited today. A famous story of them landing in the Falkland Islands, they disappeared for three days and when they returned to base no one had the nerve to ask them what they had been up to "hunting the enemy" was all they would say.

[@jeffstevens7921]

My father fought in Burma in WW2 in the artillery. He was so proud to have served with the Gurkhas. He reckoned they saved the artillery pieces from the Japanese on so many occasions. He also said about drawing blood if the Kukri was unsheathed. When the Gurkhas went out at night on patrol they would cut off an ear of the enemy killed and string them on to their belts to prove their worth.

[@GenialHarryGrout]

Full respect to Gurkha's

[@albin2232]

👍

[@speleokeir]

A lot of Gurkhas are born and live at altitude which is why they often have great stamina and part of the reason they're so tough, along with their mental attitude.

[@deegeetee]

Considering the massive contribution the Gurkhas made to the British armed forces & the protection of the UK, they were extremely poorly treated by the UK Government, until relatively recently. There has been a long campaign to have the Government grant Gurkha veterans the rights they truly deserved, especially in terms of settlement right. This article (it's a bit long winded), about the Gurkha Justice Campaign, from an online encyclopaedia explains it better than I can............... The Gurkha Justice Campaign was a campaign group in the United Kingdom fighting for the rights of the Gurkhas. It wanted the Gurkhas who fought for the UK to gain the same rights as their British and Commonwealth counterparts. Essentially the group wanted the law to be changed so that all Gurkhas who fought for the UK will gain a right of abode, whereas under previous legislation they only had a right of abode if they retired after 1997. They took their case to the high court, and had the support of a number of celebrities including perhaps most famously Joanna Lumley.[1] The campaign eventually succeeded. Until 2004 Gurkhas were not allowed to settle in the United Kingdom. However, the Labour government under Tony Blair changed the rules so that Gurkhas who retired after 1997 would be allowed to settle in the UK, 1997 being the date when the Gurkha Brigade headquarters moved from Hong Kong to Britain. Soldiers who retired before this date, however, were only allowed the same settlement rights in exceptional circumstance The Gurkha Justice Campaign wanted the same settlement rights for all Gurkha soldiers. In 2008, the high court ruled that the policy had been illegal since the process used to determine pre-1997 applications was deemed arbitrary. The Government of Gordon Brown agreed to produce new rules. However, when these were unveiled on 24 April 2009, the Gurkhas were furious because there was no automatic right to settle in the UK for all veterans. Indeed, Gurkhas who wanted to settle in the UK would have to meet one or more of five requirements. These were; Gurkha Justice Campaigners, 2008 A Justice For Gurkhas rally, 2009 Three years continuous residence in the UK during or after service Close family in the UK A bravery award of level one to three Service of 20 years or more in the Gurkha brigade Chronic or long-term medical condition caused or aggravated by service Campaigners claimed that under the rules, only around 100 Gurkhas would qualify for residence, although the government figures suggested that as many as 4,300 would be eligible to settle. The rules would disqualify many from being able to settle in the United Kingdom, as indicated by an article which appeared in The Economist: Veterans would be allowed to settle only if they met one or more conditions based on length of service, gallantry or related illness. Many of the requirements seemed designed to frustrate: for example, one way to qualify automatically was by soldiering for at least 20 years, though most rank-and-file Gurkhas serve for only 15. Another was to prove that a long-term medical condition was caused or worsened by active service-a tall order for those whose injuries were sustained decades ago. In 2008 the actress Joanna Lumley, whose father served in the 6th Gurkha Rifles, became the public face of the campaign to provide all Gurkha veterans who served in the British Army before 1997 the right to settle in Britain, and ran a highly publicised and successful campaign. Those serving after 1997 had already been granted permission but the UK Government has not extended the offer to all of the Gurkhas, who are natives of Nepal. They have served Britain for almost 200 years with over 50,000 dying in service, and 13 have been awarded the Victoria Cross. On 20 November 2008, Lumley led a large all party group including Gurkhas starting from Parliament Square to 10 Downing Street with a petition signed by 250,000 people. She supports the Gurkha Justice Campaign. On 24 April 2009 she stated that she was "ashamed" of the UK administration's decision to affix five criteria to the Gurkhas' right to settle in the UK. With the support of both Opposition parties and Labour rebel MPs on 29 April 2009 a Liberal Democrat motion that all Gurkhas be offered an equal right of residence was passed, allowing Gurkhas who served before 1997 residence in the UK. Following the Government defeat, the Minister for Immigration Phil Woolas announced that a further review would be completed by the middle of July. Nick Clegg being presented with a Gurkha hat by a Gurkha veteran during his visit to Maidstone, to celebrate the success of their joint campaign for the right to live in Britain, 2009. On 5 May Joanna Lumley said that she had received private assurances of support from a senior member of the Royal Family, and attended a meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street the following day. Afterwards she described the meeting as "extremely positive", and praised Brown, saying, "I trust him. I rely on him. And I know that he has now taken this matter into his own hands and so today is a very good day". However, on the day following the meeting with Brown, five Gurkha veterans who had applied for residency in the United Kingdom received letters telling them that their appeals had been rejected. Lumley confronted Phil Woolas at the BBC Westminster studios about the issue and, after pursuing him around the studio, the pair held an impromptu press conference in which she pressured him into agreeing to further talks over the issue. Following a Commons Home Affairs Committee meeting in which talks were held between campaigners, the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office on 19 May 2009, Gordon Brown announced to the House of Commons on 20 May that the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith would make a statement on the issue the following day. Smith subsequently announced that all Gurkha veterans who had served four years or more in the British Army before 1997 would be allowed to settle in Britain.

[@Chris_GY1]

The Japanese were scared of The Ghurkas, the Kukri is on their badge two Kukris crossed.

[@oliabid-price4517]

The Khukri is the perfect design for a slashing knife as it has the ideal mass of the blade at the ideal point of contact with the target. It makes it very efficient at chopping practically anything and the Nepalese use them as an everyday tool. Civilian made ones are far better made than military issue ones, and many serving Gurkhas will have their own, with the issued item only used for dress purposes. The Royal Navy even had a Destroyer named HMS Gurkha. They are super fit because they are used to breathing rarified air in their homeland at high altitude.

[@recce8619]

An English teacher at school was an ex-Gurkha Regiment officer. The shape of the knife is a "standard", but the size isn't I remember seeing a photo (prob taken in the 50s) in his study of a goat being decapitated with a single swing of one of the large knives. The selection process for the Gurkhas is extremely tough, as so many wish to join. Basically everyone selected has the potential to become an NCO. It's the selection process that made the modern Gurkha regiments elite troops.

[@garyjordan4735]

Take a look at the story of Lacchiman Gurung, WW2 amazingly brave man.

[@theaces3697]

Gurkhas are amazing, I loved my time working with them, they are tough fuckers and i have massive respect for them

[@hadrianbuiltawall9531]

The Ghurkas are one of several ferocious warrior societies the British ran into during their empire (Sikhs, Maoris, etc). All were terrifying to whoever had to fight them.

[@Rabmac1UK]

Gurkha Soldiers still serve in the British Army, and every year there is a selection process for new recruits. Please search Gurkha recruit, it is VERY hard to get into the British Army, but those that do are wonderful. It's nice to know that when they retire, they and their families can live in the UK. Joanna Lumley had a lot to do with that campaign. Got to Love the Gurkhas . Gurkhas are known as some of the fiercest warriors ever to take up arms. These soldiers from Nepal regularly receive high valour awards from both Britain and India because of their bravery, and they are skilled, in one case defeating Taliban ambushes while outnumbered over 30 to 1

[@essexhoop9652]

They based in kent,use to be in Colchester once.

[@malcolmsleight9334]

Don't know if it's a myth or not, but I have always heard that in WWII the Japanese would double the guards if they thought there was a Gurkha unit in the area.

[@Geordun]

In 1982 while preparing to assault Wireless Ridge, A Gurkha decided to service his Kukri, When cleaning the blade he though to play a trick on the defenders and flash sunlight at them. Other Gurkha near though this was funny and joined in on the "Fun" which soon spread. This did not go down well with the defenders who has been told a lot of horror stories about how "BAD" the Gurkhas were ! When the night assault when in , The Gurkha were somewhat upset by the lack of a single defender !

[@stevencrouch6036]

My dad was in the British Army & he always said the Gurkha's were some of the best troops he saw & had, you tell them to do something & they just get on with it, unlike some of the British & other commonwealth soldier who might of questioned or moaned about it. Not sure if its true or not but I believe the Gurkhas were the only force that the Japanese really feared.

[@martinsear5470]

My dad served in the British Army. He never talked about his military career, but, he had a Kukri in a box with his demob papers. The Gurkas don't give those out to just anybody, wish COVID hadn't taken him so I could find out what he did to earn it.

[@scottythedawg]

I saw a report on youtube somewhere about selection...it was interesting. Running at altitude with a basket of rocks strapped to you was part of it.

[@scottythedawg]

here is a link to a video of that. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWnTen2dodiMi6c

[@Noonelikesvanilla]

They're a different breed to most. A former Gurkha by the name of Nirmal Purja climbed the 14 highest mountains on the planet in a combined 6 months and 6 days. The previous record stood at 7 years and 10 months. Mr Purja is believed to have been a former SBS soldier and with typical Gurkha understatement, declared his reasoning for taking on such an arduous task was to foreground the work of the Nepalese sherpas and honour his family. www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/adventure/2020/12/the-nepalese-mountaineer-who-is-taking-a-spiritual-view-to-new-heights

[@TheMijman]

Good lord

[@Bothandle70]

Him and his team also hold record for first ever winter summit of K2.

[@RichDoes..]

the Gurkhas have a tremndous amount of pride and rightly so.

[@ashleywetherall]

A few years ago the British government was thinking about disbanding the Gurkhas.. There was public outcry in the UK. They one of Britain's greatest assets. Perfect soldiers , perfect gentlemen..

[@stingray4real]

Next to the SAS, Gurkhas kick ass.

[@chrism7969]

The British built a monument to honour the courage of the Gurkhas who fought against them in the Nepalese war.

[@nickachief]

gurkha recruitment videos are a must react to. they show what it takes to get into the british army. its no mean feat at all.

[@claregale9011]

They're as tough as old boots , great video 🙂❤

[@DanPyjamas]

It's surprising that there's not a lot in the way of movies about this.

[@mimikurtz4061]

No, not really surprising. You can't show America winning the war on their own if you include Gurkhas in the British army.

[@reggriffiths5769]

@@mimikurtz4061 Beautiful answer! Thumbs up on that one!

[@wollsmeth]

I've been to where the Gurkha come from. Wonderful people!

[@nicksimpson9680]

I once lived near a Gurkha family in the UK. They were a large Gurkha family living with a very old English man. The English man had been a British Army Officer during WW2 and I was told that a Gurkha had saved his life by decapitating a Japanese soldier that was about to kill him. The Gurkha may have died shortly afterwards. On this bit I am unclear. However, I was told that the British Army officer adopted the Gurkha's entire family in gratitude. I was invited to visit their home after a couple of chats on the street in the local neighbourhood in the UK. They fed me with poppadums and chutneys and were very warm and hospitable. I saw the old English man briefly. I like to think that in the same way as the Gurkha soldier had saved the English man, and he had in turn adopted his family, that the Gurkha family would now look after him in his old age. I also grew up In Hong Kong so had come across Gurkhas there. I have always felt safe and calm around them. Any issues to do with recognising their status in the UK, I will immediately act and write to my MP or sign the necessary petition. There was a big campaign a number of years ago to recognise Gurkha rights that an actress called Joanna Lumley got involved in. The eventual outcomes for Gurkhas were not what everyone was hoping for but it was considered a victory. I am reminded by your video that I need to find out more about their situation now. Relevant article: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13372026

[@ashleywetherall]

Gurkha high ranking officers are nearly always British. The Gurkha regiments are fanatically proud of there officers and will do anything to keep them alive during battle. This how many of those VC's were won during WW2. Away from the war an officer entered a drinking contest against an officer from another British regiment. The Gurkha officer was losing so as he staggered to the toilet 2 of his men grabbed him , made him sick, walked round for a bit to sobered him up, and sent him for more drinks.. He won, But said afterwards, I won the contest but was forced to put the two men on a charge, because if I didn't the 2 men in question and the rest of the regiment would see me as weak..

[@theinsideouter6371]

It makes you think, if we were so bad, why did they all fight with us?

[@SirHilaryManfat]

As a Brit I've learned that like the USA, the UK has only won wars with help from others. In our case we had help from Canada, Indians and Nepalese Ghurka's fighting under the British Commonwealth. While the British were recognised as having the superior combat training and tacticians, the Canadians, Indians and Nepal Ghurka's were seriously badass as troops, and greatly feared by the Nazis. Not in anyway dismissing British, American and Russian soldiers, but the troops that fought for the commonwealth have generally been forgotten amongst all the flag waving propaganda that surrounds war. Unsung heroes and greatly respected!

[@alansmithee8831]

Hello Alan. I grew up on tales about my uncle in Burma in WW2 and the respect for the Gurkha troops fighting along with the Chindits. My uncle had shire horses in UK that were used in a town so he had to control them. He could punch and knock them out if they got unruly. He was sent to Burma as a muleteer as machines were no good in jungle. A friend asked if the mule got stubborn he chinned it?

[@michaeltaylor8835]

Joanna Lumley the actress was born in Nepal and is patron of the Gurkhas

[@alexnicole7431]

There is a video on KZbin about the Gurkha selection process which show what they go through, how many try to join the British Army very few get in. They can walk for a week just to get to the selection center. Also not really mentioned here but the Gurkha are quite short and stocky but their stamina and strength is off the chart.