The Gurkhas Nepal's Legendary Warrior class! | REACTION!
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- Опубліковано 16 чер 2024
- Well well well if it isnt our good friend Simon Whistler! But this time he brings very good insight as to who the Gurkhas were and where they came from, filling in some of the back story of our previous video.
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Respect for the Gurkhas is immense. When the late Queen died every recipient of the VC was invited to her funeral. When a Gurkha recipient replied saying he couldn't make it due to health reasons a member of his majesties government travelled out to him with a book of remembrance for him to sign.
However we should be recruiting far more than 200 p.a. whilst we have a huge manpower shortage , why not double or triple that ??
@@stephenhickman304 I am not sure but there is a treaty for how many gurkhas can be sent
@sanirashrestha8194 However that doesn't seem to be detering the Russians from contracting them
@@stephenhickman304 those are not sent by gov. They are mercenaries going personally. Nepal has signed treaty with only 3 countries(UK, India, singapore) where the gurkhas can be sent. The people going to Russia are not under the gurkha regiment but a mercenary probably joining for money.
Something that really doesn't get mentioned enough, is that not only are they some of the fiercest, most accomplished warriors in the world, but they are, to a man, some of the most polite, respectful and gentlemanly people you will ever meet.
They are deeply honourable men with a strong sense of justice and morality.
Back in 2010, a single Gurkha soldier was travelling on a train in India when 30-40 bandits came aboard to rob the passengers. He was woken up by the bandits and initially chose to comply and give up whatever he was carrying, but then he saw that a young woman was being dragged away to be r*ped. He immediately drew his Khukri knife and attacked the bandits, striking many of them down, but was eventually overpowered and severely wounded.
The young woman was saved from her fate and when her family tried to give the Gurkha a sizeable cash reward for saving her, he refused it, saying, "Fighting the enemy in battle is my duty as a soldier. Taking on those thugs on the train was my duty as a human being."
We, in the UK love and respect our brave Gurkha warriors. That our government hasn't done enough for them, is deeply shameful to so many of us.
When I think of what it means to be an honorable soldier, I’ll now think of this man.
Absolutely. I don't understand how they are fully appreciated for their dedicated service
The Gurkhas are extremely well respected in the British Army, if you want to know why they are so good you MUST watch: The Life-Changing Journey Of Being Selected As A Gurkha | Forces TV
I was about to suggest the same.
Whilst serving in the Royal Engineers I worked with Gurkha Engineers a lot. they were excellent, simple as that. brilliant people to work alongside and hang out with.
During ww2 a British officer asked for volunteers to jump behind enemy lines explaining that it was a dangerous mission because they'd have to jump from 500ft. He was surprised when he only got 2 volunteers. The Gurkha Sergeant major was asked why there wasn't more volunteers, the sergeant major said if they could jump from 200 ft they will all volunteer they think they'll survive the jump. The British officer said it wasn't high enough for the parachutes to deploy properly. The sergeant major said " oh they didn't realise we get parachutes?
Good story!!
As an ex Aussie Soldier, i actually did a training course with some Ghurkahs - some of the nicest, politest, caring and deadliest soldiers i a have ever met.
I have always maintained that Australia should recruit from Nepal to make up our military (Army) short fall
There is nothing scarier than a small man with a big smile and an even bigger knife. Aka a Gurkha
I had the pleasure of serving a couple of times with Gurkha units, the most polite, gentle and humble people I have EVER met. And, I've seen them fight... and I thank god they are on our side.
I'm half Nepali and yeah... I'll just say we're proud.
You will not ever find a single negative comment about the Gurkhas from a British person. We owe them a great deal and they are truly honourable and respectful people.
Occasionally some English criminal mugger will attempt to Rob a small looking Asian person only to find out he was an off duty Gurkha. The outcome is glorious.
The Gurkers are truly beloved in the UK, super human and amazing during the Falklands, amazing guys.
A lot of them have retired in my area, West Berkshire. Lovely people.
Yes, good that they've finally been given what they've deserved for a long time.
They actually didn't face combat on the Falklands, it was over before they deployed.
My Dad loved working with them, he always said that being guarded by Gurkhas ensured the best nights sleep in his tank!
They demonstrate the archetypal "True Warrior" ideal. From a mountainous area so they're super fit from birth, and only use violence at specific times against specific people for as short time as possible. At other times, so gentle and polite that you'd never guess what they're capable of if they have to.
@@jimb9063 I have known 2 English people who got to work as a Brit Gurka, they loved it.
@@jimb9063 a few were attached to the paras, so some were in the middle of it, I worked with some who were, great guys scared of nothing.
@@colinmckay8336 Heh, so a few individuals did manage to get involved! There seemed general disappointment that it was all over before the Regiment disembarked.
The Gurkhas are highly respected warriors that the British Army were so impressed with instead of killing them, or taking them prisoner a deal was made for The Gurkhas to be a unit of the British Army.
I had the pleasure of serving with the Gurkas twice, in total of 5 yrs. Wtihin the British Army. A better battle bother, you could never wish for.
Me too, hard we guys that you know have your back .
My Dad was a Sniper in the P.P.C.L.I. for Canada in WWII, and he was a fierce man. He always got me to do the most outrageously funny things in my formative years growing up, with his mind-set and hilariously out of context teachings, lol. He would tell stories of sitting down at a fire with a group of Gurkhas sitting cross legged and throwing a ball of dough back and forth, eventually becoming a flat pita-like bread product cooked on heated rocks. They gave my Dad and his buddy some, and then rolled on the ground laughing until they cried, when whatever deathly hot spices kicked in and had the two hapless Canucks racing for buckets of water, hahaha. Or: why I shouldn't tie my boot laces a certain way, because that's how the Germans did theirs, and: "The Gurkhas would sneak into camps at night and feel for that lace pattern of the sleeping men's boots, and [fill in possible censored act here] if they were not done up our way" Or: "Never put your socks inside your boots after taking them off, because Scorpions like the warmth and will go in them." We were in the far North of British Columbia and it was near 50 below zero, when he would teach me these things to live by LOL. Loved Pops.
The Gurkha's are legendary for a very good reason.
The East India Company troops were literally mercenaries but were regarded as unofficial semi regular troops. They wore the same uniforms as the British Army. I have met a few serving British Army Gurkhas. Back in the day I was what is known in official British Army parlance as an " Airsoft Mong" and once I played at the CQC urban training village at Catterick base. Near an entrance to Catterick was a pub where (coming or going, I don't remember) a bunch of us met up for drinks. While we were there multiple off duty Gurkha squaddies came in. They impressed me with the perfection of their civilian attire. (slacks pressed with perfect creases, impeccable blazers and ties.) They are so well regarded by the wider community, who literally clap and cheer when they appear in public. A few years ago actress Joanna Lumley (whose Dad had served in the Gurkha Rifles) led a tough fight that eventually allowed retired British Army Gurkha soldiers the right to remain in the UK.
Cheers. They had a similar effect on my old man, he loved and respected them.
The EIC was started on the Dutch model, predominantly trade based, but soon built up their own forces to protect the trading stations, routes, and "find" more of each.
They had a semi official Foreign Policy role, and not unlike modern PMC's were kind of deniable by the Government.
After the Indian Mutiny, the EIC was disbanded and became the British army of India.
My dad fought alongside them in Burma during WW2. He had nothing but good things to say about them.
Many years ago I read an article on a book about verified actions by the Gurkhas in WW2. One was a Gurkha patrol that found a barn containing sleeping Germans. When the Germans woke up they found every other man had been decapitated and had his head on his chest. The sentries guarding the barn had seen and heard nothing. The Gurkhas could have killed them all but knew that the way they played it would be devastating to enemy morale.
Where I live in the UK we have a lot of Gurkhas and ex Gukhas families in fact one family lives 3 houses along from myself and another just around the corner. Some of the ex Gurkhas work in the same company my husband works for, they are the company security people. There are 2 who are local Bus Drivers as well. You always know a Gurkhas, smart dress, very polite, helpful and extremely fit you don't mess with the Gurkhas.
i live in farnborough and exactly same here... also my best buddy at work is ex Gurkha
@@stugurr09 small world :)
They're legendary mountain runners, when I was 6 I was spending the summer with an Aunty at the foot of the highest mountain in Wales and England, there was a race up and down the mountain so I went to watch and there was a group of Gurkhas running, I was instantly in awe of them as they did the race and didn't even look like they were out of breath, that made me want to do the race myself and now I've been back and done it several times. There's a great documentary about the selection process for the Gurkhas and what they have to do just to get in, and the process is insanely difficult, some of the mountain running they have to do carrying a lot of weight is mind-blowing.
Gosh, this chap really does strip it down to the least favourable bootstrap. My street has largely been 'colonised' by Nepalese in my home of Little Place UK, and they have no complaints about that, and neither do I. Good neighbours, all fronted by ex-Gurkha men, all very aware of their casts and clans. Not a victim amongst them. Cracking reaction, and all power to you.
I don't know about our cousins across the pond, but in the UK, the name Gurkha is held in high regard. It is something, not in school, but certainly, as a person that has never served, if you have family in the armed forces, you will hear stories about them. Certainly, a few years ago, there was much interest in the news, with Joanna Lumley, I think it was, who was fighting for the cause of these soldiers to be given UK citizenship, as anybody should fighting for us
She wasn't just fighting for them to receive citizenship of the UK for who they'd fought for and risked life amd limb to help in battle but also for them to get better pensions too as Ghurkas didn't receive the full pension that a British veteran soldier received. Her father was a lieutenant (I think) in the Gurka regiment. She was the voice they needed to allow their stories to be heard by the public and help shame the tory government into taking action to right these wrongs done to those brave men. Good on her and those Ghurkas.
@@chadUCSD not just the Tory Government but Tony Blair and Gordon Brown did nothing. Why do you always blame the Tories. Tony Blair set the middle east on fire with his invasion of Iraq
Short term memories as usual. Do you think Starmer did the right thing releasing the Pakistani grooming gangs out of prison after only a short part of their sentence was completed? Do you think he's campaigning for the Muslim vote?
And the governments from around the world needs to treat the Gurkha's with more respect
The Gurkhas in Singapore have no rights and although families can live and be educated in Singapore once the contract is finished (many 22 years service) they are kicked out of the country
@@donxz2555 damn
Joanna Lumley ('Absolutely Fabulous' fame, etc) Is a huge Gurkha Supporter and campaigner btw
Her father was an officer in a Gurkha regiment.
Gurkhas are very well respected in the uk. Lots go into security work when they leave the forces. They maybe small guys but not to be messed with.
In the Second World War my grandpa served with a gurka in North Africa and he said he was the strongest and most devoted soldier. I just wish our country Britain 🇬🇧 would give them what they deserve after serving
When I was a young apprentice I worked alongside a carpenter who used to tell us stories of his national service in Korea and that within his troop would be two ghurkas and that they would wander off during the night quite often and return with the left ears of their Chinese victims, amazing warriors
Read a story about British troops training with them. The troops had 1/2 hour to hide and then the Gurkhas would try to find them. One soldier found a depression by a tree and covered himself with debris figuring to blend in. Everyone else was found and then the horn blew signaling the end of the test. He stood up celebrating that he had won, took a step and fell on his face. His one foot had been tied to the tree. Real story or not, it is very plausible.
I served with them in Hong Kong and if they accepted you into their coterie you could guarantee to be the butt of their practical jokes.
Love them ❤️🇬🇧
My grandads most treasured possession was a kukri a Ghurkha sergeant gifted him for helping to stretcher some Ghurkha’s to a first aid station in WWII. When my grandad died in 2016 we decided to return it and gave it to the Ghurkha museum in Winchester with a letter telling them how my grandad was given it. They sent a really nice letter back saying anytime we wanted to visit we would be extremely welcome and their guests.
No matter where they are, the Gurkhas are the pinnacle of the British army. If you’re up against a Gurkha then just give up, its easier to just die than be carved up. Believe me you WILL be carved up. Makes me proud to be British, just for the fact that they are are the proudest warriors on the planet. I’m glad they chose the UK to serve, they have all our respect and love
During the Falklands War, the Gurkhas never really managed to get into a proper fire-fight. The problem was that the Argentinians knew that there were Gurkhas there (which frightened them) but worse, to try to instil some backbone into their demoralised troops, the Argentinian officers told their men that the Gurkhas ate their prisoners. The result was that, most of the time, the only view that the Gurkhas got of the Argentinian troops was their backs - at a distance - and at high speed. On Mount Tumbledown, for instance, the Scots Guards had to take one side of the mountain and the Gurkhas the other - the Scots Guards had a famously hard fight - the Gurkhas... not so much - as they approached the well prepared Argentinian defences, the Argentinian troops abandoned their position and ran off to Stanley.
There is a well documented story of a landing craft full of Ghurkas arriving at Goose Green, the ramp came down and the Ghurkas stormed out shouting "Where the Argies?" and waving their kukri knives, a young Royal Marine Leiutnant pointed up the track and the Ghurkas left at speed up the track. The Leiutnant turned to a journalist who had witnessed this and said "Well, I don't know what they'll do to the Argentinians, but they scare the sh1t out of me!"
@@davidclarke7122 Same book ('Don't Cry For Me Sgt Major' Jeremy Hands) relates the one about a column of 'Blues & Royals' (Household Cavalry outside Buckingham Palace, that lot) in their Scimitar Scout vehicles were stopped in their tracks by a lone Ghurka standing in middle of a track, when asked to Move, he very politely declined stating that his officer had told him to stand here and not move Sir. The Junior Officer (I/C of the lead squadron) got rather irate at this and started to remonstrate with the Lone Ghurka until the Ghurka got a little bit rattled himself and Stated FIRMLY (With Kukhri moved to a prominant position on his battledress) Stated 'My Officer say Stay here, I STAY HERE' at this point the NCO of the Sqadron took the Junior Officer to one side and had a quiet 'word' Shortly after this a Battalion of Gurkhas carrying Bergens (Rucksacks) BIGGER THAN THE TROOPS WERE, piled over the rise at the side, crossed the track and 'buggered off to who knows where and to do who knows what' To the foe. The Lone Sentry Saluted the Column said 'Thank you very Much' to the NCO and took off after them at the Double.
😢@@davidclarke7122
The ghurkas are still an integral part of the British army .I believe the ghurkas logistics regiment is currently guarding Windsor castle .
East India trading company to my knowledge is the British counterpart of the dutch V.O.C. , the largest and most powerfull "company" ever. The first stock exchanges were founded for these companies, spreading (lowering) the risk for individual investors . They were allowed to establish footholds, trading posts but also to have an army and navy to protect their trade and settlements. You could argue the men they drew from regular troops were mercinaries, but i doubt they saw it this way. Altho i may be wrong , i think these men still felt as if they were serving Britain or The Dutch Republic indirectly.
These men, the bravest of the brave, deserve much better treatment and care by the British than they actually receive. A STAIN, in my opinion on the reputation of Britain.
If you fight for Britain you deserve the right t live in Britain after your service - a campaign that is slowly (too slowly) being won by those fighting for those rights of every single Gurkha - RESPECT!!
They are formidable, they really are
If you're playing for the opposition and you discover that Gurkhas are moving into the line you might well find an excuse to be elsewhere.
Ghukass like many African nations are part of the UK forces i say African becuease you would not believe how many Africans are in our armed forces willing to fight for the UK
Do not f**k with the Gurkhas.
Never mess with the Gurkhas.Thank God they are on our 🇬🇧 side.
In WW11 my Dad was in Burma. He was tasked to build a camp deep in the jungle, as they drove into a jungle clearing
they found, what they thought,. was about 50 Japanese asleep, imagine the shock that they thought they were about to be killed. None of the Japanese moved.
On closer inspection all their throats had been cut, the Gurkhas had been there before them.
My father fought in WW2, he told me a story about the Gurkhas being able to sneak up close enough to check the laces on mens boots unnoticed..I was only young so he didn't elaborate whether he actually fought alongside a Gurkhas regiment but he had the ultimate respect and always spoke highly of the Gurkhas and rightly so.
You deffo want these fellas along side you than against you. Hard as nails is a bit of an understatement.
I hope you do so more videos on the Gurkha's and on any other military factions
My grandad told me a story when I was a kid. He was stationed in India during WW2 and some Gurkhas came in during the night and removed most of the firing pins from the weapons as a joke. That’s how stealthy they were
while in Germany a friend on an army base told a story of a Gurkha he met having over 12 ears of the people he killed
Amazing soldiers
I think it was after some ruckus during WW2 between GIs and the locals, that the Gurkhas sneaked into the US army camp and put red paint on the throats of all the sleeping GIs.
See, up here for thinking, down there for dancing! They make really great foes, let's make them really great allies! The East India Trading Company basically was a 'trading' company, cotton, spices etc., but set up armies to 'protect' their business interests, and was basically the start of the British Empire in Asia.
There’s a video you might like on UA-cam. “the life changing journey of being selected as a gurkha”
Hard as nails, and yet beautiful people. Namaste xx
My dad was in the British Airforce and he had a good friend he was a Gurkha and he would baby sit us.
Gurkhas ? Just hope they are on your side.Near-fearless fighters,intensely loyal & honourable troops.Gurkhas see it as an honour to join a regiment & gives them the ability to help their families. For many years now Gurkhas have served the British crown without reservation.The sad thing is this loyal service hasn't always been fairly rewarded. Wonderful troops.Elite.
There is a British Forces Video about the Gurkhas. Its called 'Britain's Nepali Warriors - The Life Changing Journey Of Being Selected as a Gurkha'. We are very proud of our Gurkha troops. This video is a really great watch. You saw a bit of the story of a VC winning Gurkha in Jeremy Clarkson's 'What it takes to win a Victory Cross' video last year. The Forces video I am now recommending is about how the story of becoming a Gurkha begins. Love from the UK
Nepal has never been under British rule. The Gurkha’s fight for Britain under an Agreement. They are the most respected of all the British regiments.
Loved this Daniel I knew about them but this was loads more context
An old ww2 vet once told me that a ghurka could sneak up behind you, feel your boot laces and make sure you a friendly before slitting your throat!
Expression used about them to me was that they could cross a bakers floor without even leaving a footprint in the flour.
gurkha selection documentary is your next vid “the life changing journey of being selected as a gurkha”, "Gurkha Selection! Britain’s Nepali Warriors", "Witness Gurkha School", "Nepal's Mighty Gurkhas | 101 East" there are others also. good luck choosing 1 without pissing someone else off :)
Britain came to India as traders and established East India company which basically was British govt in India
The Gurkhas are amazing, and the UK should be proud that they are pleased to fight alongside our soldiers. Keep Reacting!
Great reaction Dan, I knew most of this, but not as in depth as the video went! 👍
Also its great to have stories told from different sources
I think if you do research, you will find that a Gurkha who received a VC in Afghanistan is the grandson of a Gurkha who received a VC in WWII. They are amazing warriors, and yet to meet them you would not think so. Also, they have done guard duty at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. If you watch a video of Maegan Markle and Prince Harry's marriage, you will see Gurkha troops in attendance.
Fighting at those altitudes, creates huge problems for people raised at sea-level.
While the Nepalese have no such issue.
Loved it . 👏🏻👏🏻👍
East India company was rather a shadow military unit of the British royal. They were given all the facilities and support as they brought in wealth and prosperity to the empire.
Since the East India Trade Company was, well, a company the best way you can describe their army in modern terms is a private military contractor.
Great video,thanks 👍🙂
You should also check out the documentary on Gurkha recruitment and final selection. Then you’ll understand how tough these men really are.
Dude! I'm all for Gurkha Day 17 June
Thanks
Gurkhas are totally based. I've known this for years, but it's even more impressive when you learn the details.
Also he said 700 miles, or 11000 kilometers, but it's actually 1100 km. It's roughly 1.6 km to 1 mi.
Also also, yeah, Bhanubhakta Gurung was basically a people blender.
Gorkhas Nepal🇳🇵🇳🇵🇳🇵🇳🇵🇳🇵🇳🇵❤❤❤❤❤❤
Simon the head of Pudding putting the E in Gobshit"E" but over the reactors love him
over the pond ....me bad tat tingers small keypad sorry
The East India Company was a private company that had the permission of the monarch to trade in the East Indies (as opposed to the West Indies - a confusion caused by early explorers). Although a private company, they had their own large private army to protect their interests, and paid taxes to the British government. Later they were supplemented by government troops.
Incredibly brave and loyal
Here Within the minute, how's that for a response time 😂, almost freaky 😮. (Tbh , was looking for watchalong channel of euros 2024 😂, when you posted)
As a Brit myself, I am embarrassed how we treat those Gurkha’s who have served my country.
@timglennon6814
Things have changed now. A few years back, Joanna Lumley won her battle to allow tjese amazing soldiers to stay here and claim their full pension. With all the scroungers coming across the channel and expecting handouts, we will need the Gurkas.
The Gorkhas are tops in the Indian armed forces. India also has The Marathas, The Sikhs, The Rajputs, The Kumoans and many others. They were lead by weak governments but not today.
Simon touched on it but in 2008/09 there was a huge controversy over whether Gurkhas who'd served in the British Army would be allowed the settle in Britain.
There was mass outrage from the British public over the way the Gurkhas were being treated.
The British public holds the Gurkhas in very high regard and so do all former servicemen and women I know.
Joanna Lumlwy spearheaded that particular thing herself with the Gurkas and brought it to public attention and wouldn't shut up about it and stop going on TV to embarrass the government until the laws changed for them. She also wanted them to get full military pensions too like other 'British' troops do after their service. She did an amazing job for those guys helping them get both demands seen to and with great public support too. I'm pretty sure her father served as a Luitenant in a Gurkha division. Those 2 things are the very least that our country and government deserve to give these brave men.
We have a family of Gurkhas here in Ackworth, they eat for free at all pubs, they are true warriors possibly the most feared
This is one of Simon's better channels IMHO. He has The Situation Room where he covers some of the biggest current events . Historic battles from ancient times to WWII and everything in between.
It was not crazy it was good sense. The Brits always admire bravery.
I will not countenance that Ghurkhas are in any way mercenaries! Their status in the UK are as well respected troops. I don't know how long ago that Simon Whistler video was made but the Ghurkha community in UK has now got the same benefits as any other British soldier, as it should be! 💯
Our Gurkhas 🫡🫡🫶
Brilliant ❤
Great reaction my man, i really enjoyed that one.
There are a couple of videos doing the rounds on youtube about one of the Gurkhas who passed selection for the S.A.S. and then served in Afghanistan but who then also went on to summit mount Everest.
So i guess that makes him a double hard b@st@rd.
Also at 9:52 the same thing pretty much happened with regards to the Scots becoming part of the British army.
With the term The Thin Red Line...
( as in the 1998 film about the Pacific conflict durimg World War Two )
coming from an action in the 1854 Crimean war.
Where roughly 500 men of the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders formed up into a line two deep and were told by their commanding officer...
" There is no retreat here men.
You must die where you stand "
To which they replied
" Aye "
And then halted a Russian Cavalry charge.
Looking into the East India Company can become a rabbit hole expanding to a black hole. I’ll try and give some simple details and hopefully help out. The EIC was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was originally an English, later British, joint stock company formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region (the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, adding East Asia later). I know a lot of people forget that the British Empire grew out of our maritime trading network.
At its peak, the EIC was the largest company in the world. It had its own armed forces totalling 260,000 soldiers, twice the size of the British Army at the time. These forces were maintained by the three EIC “presidencies” - Bengal, Bombay, and Madras. British Army units were sometimes attached. These were “lent” to the EIC in times of need, as long as the EIC underwrote the cost of the deployment. Technically, in a legal sense, this might obviate those units being classed as mercenaries, because they were soldiers on official attachment and the armies were not hired. You’d need a British military lawyer aware of the rules at the time to get a more professional opinion in that one 😮
The British Government did not directly administer the British Raj until the passing of the Government of India Act in 1858. This was a year after the Indian Rebellion (Sepoy Mutiny or 1st War of Independence, all have been used) of 1857. Prior to that, the EIC functioned as a sovereign country on behalf of the British Crown. I know a few historians gloss over it, but the EIC was heavily criticised for its practices back in Britain at the time. Several leading figures were denounced as corrupt using the Company’s political and military power to amass vast personal fortunes. However, the State, was happy to keep EIC matters at arms length as long as the goods and money kept rolling in.
At one point, a tenth of the British Exchequer’s expenditure came from Customs Duties on EIC imports alone.
I hope that helped clarify some details. Keep up the good work.
Sadly, for an overall sense of The East India Company, you only need to imagine any massive multinational you don't care for, and then think what would happen if they were a licensed subcontractor to the US Army, with their own massive mercenary force and unanswerable to the UN or The Hague.
The East India Company, although it was instituted by Queen Elizabeth 1st in the 16th century, was not run by the British Government, but by private stock holders.
It raised it's own army, as mercenaries, which grew larger with the company as it expanded & became rich on the profits of it's dealings in India & nearby regions.
Gradually it negotiated deals with some of the states & rulers of part of India, aiding one side or another to win local wars among them, the cost of success, or failure, was a takeover of the area by the Company. This resulted in the Company gaining control of a large part of the sub continent. After provoking a major mutiny among it's native Indian troops it was closed down & the British Government then took control of it's forces, & of it's land holdings. This was in about 1860, when the British 'Raj' was set up in India.
There was nothing new in an Empire employing it's enemies as useful allies. This is exactly what the Romans did numerous times during in ancient days.
They made up the main part of the Roman Army of occupation in Britain, & elsewhere, as Auxiliary Cohorts of Gauls, Germans, Spaniards & many other units, often of specialists troops, such as cavalry & Archers. I was in Edinburgh Castle in 1990, doing archaeology on the site, when the Gurkhas were given a turn at guarding the Castle, which is still military HQ for Scotland. It also contains the military bagpipe school, & I remember hearing the Gurkhas practicing on those instruments.
As far as I understand, the British East India Company's army became larger than the regular British Army, at which point, the British Parliament at Westminster became concerned and consequently nationalized the BEIC.
The British Army were as described. The East India Company’s military were basically mercenaries. Their own private army to protect their own interests.
Each recruitment cycle there are 200 spaces up for grab ,20,000 plus apply, there is a really good video out the made in the last couple of years following a group of young lads going through the selection process. Remember your boot camp and rejoice 😂😂😂 Jamesons travels did an excellent reaction too uks finest brigade of purchase he is an ex us marine . I think you would appreciate the video.
In the Falklands war, the rumour got around the Argentinians, that the Gurkhas used their knives to cut up the enemy and eat them.
Strangely, many Argentinian conscripts ran when the Gurkhas came.
A saying.
" Better to have them on the inside pissing out ... Than on the outside pissing in"
The east India trading company had a private army as big as the British national army at the time. It had a Royal Sanction to effectively operate independently, so strictly speaking it was a private company not the British military...
It's similar to how large oil companies took over the middle east. If it was profitable the leadership turned a blind eye. Only when they lose control or fail to make their "taxes" would the state take a look at what they were doing... Governors had almost absolute power in remote areas... A lack of speedy reliable communication made that necessary. A war could start and end before you're even aware of a problem otherwise...
Just as with the Romans superior warriors were embraced into the empire. No sane leadership fails to see superior skill, ability or experience, and who rejects or destroys such a valuable resource? Alliance is far more profitable, and one thing the British Empire was, was a trading empire, it valued trade over conquest or colonisation.
Hugely respected in the UK
During the Falklands war in 1983, a rumour went around the Argetine troops when they learned that a Gurkha regiment were deployed by the British. The rumour went " The British will kill you, the Gurkha,s will eat you " It must have frightened those poor conscipts to death !
When goose green was liberated they had a large amount of prisoners,so they put them in a field and placed Gurkhas around them every twenty yards or so. The Gurkhas were told to just smile and lick their lips. The poor prisoners were so terrified that they never moved!
The East India Company represented the commercial expansion of the British Empire in India. The military units were British troops whose ranks were swelled by local regiments made up of Indian troops with British Army officers.
On the eve of the 1st Gulf war I was heading back to Unversity and driving past London on the M25 and the radio was broadcasting interviews with politicians denying we were planning to launch an invasion. I was driving past a long column of Ghurkas heading up towards the main military airfield north of London.
@petereastwood1
Blair and Campbell kept denying the invasion would happen, even though we could see the troop movements all around London and the m25. Bloody liars.
No, the East India Company was a megacorp, it was richer tban most countries, it's flag inspired the US flag, and it had more troops tand warships than the British Empire
I remembered u said yesterday though there is 2 gurkha videos going out today
My father served in General Orde Wingate Chindit force in Burma alongside Ghurkas, he had the greatest respect for them, as soldiers and comrades. BTW, you should look at the Chindit operations sometime.
My grandfather served under Wingate in the Special Night Squads in Palestine before the war. He said he could never quite work out if Wingate was just gung ho or a complete psychopath but either way was a brilliant soldier.
If you watch The Life Changing Journey of Being Selected as a Gurkha, you will see that the numbers have gone up not down, as in it it says that the 400 picked for 2019 is the largest intake for 30 years. Possibly the original video was done before this. I enjoyed the video though.
TFE also has a video on them.
Simon Whistler, he has multiple channels.
Biographics, geographics Warographics, megaprojects, Sideprojects today, I found out, brain blaze.
Just to name a few of his channels. I personally just watch megaprojects biographics or today I found out channels.
Although this channel is liable to become one of my regulars too.
Gotta admit, kinda handy the Māori and Ghurkhas being on the opposite side of the planet.. In terms of 'Empire kryptonite' I mean.
5.00 should be pointed out the East India Company used Indian soldiers too so home advantage wouldn't be a thing