Now this is a rather interesting but very complicated story !!!
Has anyone ever known or met one of those gurkhas?
(sorry if something about the gurkhas has been posted already, I haven't seen anything though)
the-big-question-who-are-the-gurkhas-and-what-is-their-contribution-to-military-history-
Yes I have met several Gurkhas in Nepal..... it's fun talking to them, they easy to get friendly with. My best mate in Nepal was a Gurkha with a special long knife.
Being from India, I know and have met many Gurkhas, primarily from the North, North-Eastern region.
From my personal experience, I can say that they are just people like us. Although, they do have a strong sense of patriotism and courage.
More information can be found here: Gurkhas and Gorkha Regiment)
Any British person who doesn't know the answer to this question should be ashamed of themselves.
How tough are they?
Around 28,000 Gurkha youths compete for just 200 places in the British Army each year. To qualify they must be able to do 75 bench jumps in one minute and 70 sit-ups in two minutes. Then they participate in the world's most arduous military selection test, the doko - running 5km up a steep track in the foothills of the Himalayas, carrying 25kg of rocks on their back, in less than 55 minutes. No wonder the Gurkhas are famed for their resilience, self-restraint and courage.
Whoa, I am so impressed !!! ...
I wish, I were a Gurkha too
ok then, down on the floor with you and do them 70 set-ups in two minutes, allez, et un et deux ...
In the 2 World Wars, they won over 5000 gallantry medals.
List of Gurkha VC holders
The Gurkhas.....
Do they have anything to do with pickles?
Well if know, that I will get a pritty incentive , then I will not just only do the 70 sit-ups I will do more then expected....
For all their superhuman strength and endurance whilst training and fighting alongside the British army, the skinflint government won't allow them to reside in the UK, though.
Wouldn't their equivalent be the mercenaries in the French Foreign Legion for example?
They are also the preferred bodyguards in some former british colonies still. There is also a saying among street thugs in Singapore, is that you don't want to mess around with the Gurkha police contingent. There has been a known case of 3 gurkhas beating the daylights out of 20 street gangsters with poles.
Wow, is there any video available for this fight scene?
Yeah, the government would rather spend the money on residents who pretend to be unemployable and live off social benefits for their whole lives long on hardworking taxpayers' moolah.
These Gurkhas have served well. Give them a break and a new home country if they so wish.
Hear, hear!
Actually I have met quite a lot of Gurkhas. I lived in North Hampshire for a while near the Gurkhas' main barracks and all the security guards of my apartment building in Hong Kong were ex Gurkhas. Their record for bravery and loyalty in combat speaks for itself. Off the battlefield all I can say is they are gentle, quiet, polite and dignified men which is quite at odds with their fearsome reputation. The love to socialize with each other and smile lot - though as with many Asian people their smiles can be misinterpreted and can mean many things. The nearest comparison I can make is with the Thai people.
In context this is much more demanding than the simple entrance physical requirements for joining the rest of the army. Many potential recruits walk for days to make it to the selection process, many are suffer malnourishment, have respiratory problems and do the tests barefooted. Yet they all still set about and fulfilling the dream of trying to be a Gurkha. This is about prestige as an individual and for families/communities, even if they get stabbed in the back at the end of 15 years service.
The immense competition for places is against a backdrop of falling number of applications for recruitment to other corps/battalions.
Their loyalty and courage under fire has been mentioned already, but it would be very foolish to damage a relationship that dates back to the 17th century, so the British Government can save a few quid elsewhere (to spend on asylum seekers).
Anecdotally, the Argentinians fought the Paras, Scots & Welsh Guards and Royal Marines as the sought to stop the British recapturing the Falkland Islands. However... many (especially the conscripted soldiers) deserted or surrender when they heard that the Gurkhas were attacking and the Gurkhas reclaimed Mount William almost unopposed.
A ferocious reputation , especially if you know the lore of the kukri
Those that have been fortunate enough to serve with them would probably say that their greatest contribution is also the famed "Gurkha Curry".