You will never find a group of braver, more loyal men in any army, anywhere. We love our Gurkha brothers. Their families say with pride that their son/brother is a Gurkha.
@@Goady1000 tendrian que venir a ver cuantas chapas de id tenemos de los gurtkas de las islas malvinas argentinas no faklands estudia un poco pequeño amigo
As a British solder I was one of the fortunate few to serve in a Gurkha unit. I served in Iraq with them and would not have wanted to be there with any other soldiers. You were asking about them as warriors. Look at some of the videos on Ghurkhas that have won the Victoria Cross, or other bravery medals.
@@stephensim5839 Yes Stephen, they are now fully integrated into The British Army. When they finish their service, they are eligible for British Citizenship and to remain in Britain with their Family`s if they wish.
As a young Sapper just out of training in the 70s I was lucky enough to spend time with the Gurkha Engineers working on a project in the Scottish Highlands. I learned so much from them, and still to this day am inspired by their example.
As a small child about 5 y.o. my parents took me to an open day at Bassingbourne Barracks. The Ghurkas were there with an exhibition, we spent a few minutes talking to them, they were so nice and spoke to me very kindly showing me equipment etc. Being a small boy I inevitably wandered off and separated from my parents, I went and found the Ghurkas to help find my mum and dad, they looked after me until mum and dad came to collect me. They so impressed me that almost 60 years later I can still remember this, like it was yesterday.
I've seen a few people (mainly Americans) react to Ghurka videos and some don't understand the relationship between the British army and the Ghurkas and question whether they're treated like second class soldiers, given old equipment etc, this is simply not the case in anyway. I can't reiterate enough the level of respect that the UK has for its Ghurka soldiers - they're phenomenal soldiers often winning shooting competitions and renowned for their politeness and manners. We're really are lucky to have them on our side - I'd hate to have a Ghurka as an enemy 😳
LIVING BEING IS OUR RACE, MANKIND IS OUR RELIGION, HINDU,MUSLIM,SIKH,CHRISTAIN, THERE IS NO SEPARATE RELIGION ALMIGHTY GOD KABIR is the father of all souls that JESUS, MOHAMMAD, GURU NANAK, VEDH was telling in BIBLE, QURAN, GURU GRANTHA SAHEB .. In OLD Orthodox Jewish Bible KABIR is mentioned...KABIR means (GREAT or MIGHTY GOD) in hebrew...but when translated in different languages translator removed KABIR word.....
@@bibekjung7404 Thankyou 👍 Kabir should be reinstated. It's wrong to alter scripture. This makes a lot of sense to me? I don't subscribe to any religion, too many anomalies and perversions, in what has been passed on.
Yes, I grew up a couple of hundred yards away from their Barracks when they were in Hampshire. It's funny, when they went out they always wore suits, and always went in pairs, never alone.
@@bibekjung7404 Belief is fine and I would fight to defend anyone's firght to their belief. Religion is divisive, one group telling all other groups that they are wrong and thus less. If there is a God he must despair about our use of the belief in him.
@@bibekjung7404 I agree brother but not every religion agrees with your views. For example, have you come across teachings from Sura 9 text 29? I think these teachings are not suitable for the 21st century, what do you say?
The Gurkhas are much loved and very respected here in the U.K. They are known as the fiercest of all our regiments and they have won more VC medals per man than any other regiment. We are very lucky to have them and if you meet one you will be taken by how polite they are.
They are mainly Hindu warriors with their roots going back to an 8th century Hindu warrior, Guru Gorakhnath who had inspired Hindu warriors to defeat the first calphiate muslim armies invasions into India.So it was not surprising that one Gurkha took out 30 taliban years ago when in duty in Afganistan.
I had the honour to serve with Gurkhas a couple of times. it's like serving with the arch angel Michael, the most gentle and polite people you've ever met, and when you see them fight, your only thought is.. TF they're on my side
Me too, with the addition that they're always moaning, amongst themselves. For those from high in the mountains it's always too hot, for the rest it's always too cold. My biggest mistake with them was on exercise, explaining that I was missing a big bonfire-night party back in the NAAFI. Then I went for water resupply and evening O group. This was interrupted by a large fire lighting-up the night. I then had to explain to the CO why the Gurkhas had pulled down a tree, chopped it up and set fire to it. He came with me back to our position - where we were greeted by all our pyrotechnics being set off and cries off, "You like? We make you happy". The bollocking I got wasn't much, considering ^^.
My Dad served with The Gurkhas in WW2.. he was a tank driver in the 14/20th King's Hussars. He said that they were the absolute best soldiers in the world and he would,and had, trust his life in their hands.
My Dad was in the RN in ww2, but somewhere out east encountered the Gurkhas, 'wonderful chaps, toughest troops we had'. He used to talk about them jumping 100s of feet out of planes, don't know if that's true.
My dad too. He was based in India and trained Gurkhas and African troops. He didn’t talk much about his experiences but I do remember him once telling me he was full of admiration for his brave men.
Hi Pat I served in the 14/20th KH from 1975 to 1992 when we amalgamated to become the King Royal Hussars and ended my 23 years in 1998 I only worked with the 6 Gurkha rifles who we were affiliated with on 2 occasion truly an honour to work with these soldiers
I live in Folkestone and we always have a Battalion of Gurkhas in the Barracks. We are immensely proud of these soldiers and the ex-servicemen who continue to live in the Folkestone area. They are a lovely people to live alongside and I count myself fortunate to be their neighbour. 💖
A story from the Falklands War. Some Gurkhas were detailed off to guard some Argie POWs. Generally speaking the Gurkas a really nice chaps who nearly always have a smile on their faces. Now, British soldiers have a rather 'dark' sense of humour, so they told the Argies that if a Gurkha smiled at you it meant that they were going to eat you! Best behaved Argie POWs ever!!!
When they landed in the Falklands, they couldn't wait to get going. With bergens and other kit seemingly dwarfing the men themselves, they were calling "Where the Argies? Where the Argies?" One British soldier likened them to "Heat-seeking ferrets".
The Gurkhas were tasked with the day light assault on Mt William but their reputation had gone before them so as they advanced the Argentines downed tools and walked off site quick smart. They either surrendered to the near by Scots Guards who had taken Mt Tumbledown a few hours earlier or legged it to Stanley. The Gurkhas were fckn furious, they got the battle honour but they would really like to have had the actual battle. It comes to something when you'd rather surrender to a bunch of angry jocks.
So happy that you watched this, these men deserve a lot of respect. It was a shame what the UK government did to them a few years ago can not remember what it was something to do with ex Gurkhas after serving with the Army not being allowed to stay in be the UK, Joanna Lumley fought for them to have the right to stay ? I believe she won.
Correct it is well deserved, But the reason that wasn't the case to begin with is as far as I've seen on a couple of videos on the subject is in the terms of the original agreeagreement with Nepal regarding recruitment, That said the British army could recruit in the country as long as the people who served returned once their service was over.. Because no country would want some of their best going to leave the country permanently..
Not quite right. Serving Gurkhas never stayed once their service was over - Nepal never wanted them too. It was only in recent years that some wanted to retire and live in the UK. Now they can - on a full Army pension. To the young men in Nepal it is a great honour to be chosen to serve with the British Army - and they are greatly loved by us all.
@@jillosler9353 Have a look at what point one says below... The Tripartite Agreement between the Uk, India and Nepal was a treaty signed in 1947 concerning the rights of Gurkhas recruited in military services of United Kingdom and India. The main points of the agreement are: 1/ The Gurkha soldier must be recruited as a Nepali citizen, must serve as a Nepali citizen, and must be resettled as a Nepali citizen. 2/ All religious and cultural observances must be preserved in accordance with the demands of the Hindu faith. 3/ Gurkha soldiers in both the Indian and British Armies should receive the same basic rates of pay, although allowances may be paid to reflect differences in the costs of living between countries where Gurkha soldiers might serve outside Nepal. 4/ Subject to satisfactory performance and conduct, all soldiers should be allowed to serve for sufficient time in order to qualify for a pension. 5/ All Gurkha soldiers should be allowed an extended period of leave in Nepal every three years. 6/ Gurkha soldiers recruited into the respective armies are liable for service worldwide. 7/ Gurkhas are fully integrated into the Army to which they are recruited and under no circumstances are they to be considered mercenaries.
Tim Bowden, in his book One Crowded Hour about cameraman Neil Davis, tells about an incident that happened in Borneo during the confrontation between Malaysia and Indonesia in 1964. A group of Gurkhas from Nepal were asked if they would be willing to jump from transport planes into combat against the Indonesians if the need arose. The Gurkhas had the right to turn down the request because they had never been trained as paratroopers. Bowden quotes Davis's account of the story: "Now the Gurkhas usually agreed to anything, but on this occasion the provisionally rejected the plan. But the next day one of their NCOs sought out the British officer who made the request and said they had discussed the matter further and would be prepared to jump under certain conditions. "What are they?" asked the British Officer. "The Gurkhas Told him they would jump if the land was marshy or reasonably soft with no rocky outcrops, Because they were inexperienced in falling. The British officer considered this, and said that the dropping areas auld almost certainly be over jungle, and there would not be rocky outcrops, so that seemed all right. Was there anything else? "Yes, said the Gurkhas. They wanted the plane to fly as slowly as possible and no more than one hundred feet high. The British officer pointed out the planes always did fly as slowly as possible when dropping troops, but to jump from 100 feet was impossible, because the parachutes would not open in time from that height. "Oh," said the Gurkhas, "that's all right, then. We'll jump with parachutes anywhere. You didn't mention parachutes before!"
The history of how The Gurkas became part of the British military is fascinating ...Well worth a looksee...Basically we fought them...and were so impressed we asked them if they'd like to join us...and they said ok...Obviously a lot more to it...but as a Brit...and I think I speak for most of us if not all...we're bloody proud of them!
It wasn't that friendly lol. The english simultaneously attacked through 5 directions, nepal defended 3 of the inner territories but lost the other two. The english then made a treaty where nepal were forced to give the 2 regions and recruitment of soilders into the british army.
@@Yeahagreed it was the British army get your facts right made up off England Scotland Wales Ireland .are you aware Wellington was Irish born in Dublin . Britain were impressed with there fighters so they joined from there free will you should pay more attention to British history ffs
History why they joined the British army been on exercise with the Gurkhas in Kenya and have a mate not all Naples can join in they are not born there they do join British army regiment's instead as there father's served in the Gurkhas
i freaking love our british gurkhas they are the most prideful thing about the uk and the most hard working soliders youll find you have to respect these lads for the lengths they go to provide a better life for their families is incredible
You are learning a lot about us Steve... the Ghurkas are not to be messed with my friend, they have a reputation for being fierce and are fearless fighters.
It's delightfully overwhelming to read all the comments of you foreign people conveying your love and respect for Gorkhalis. Jay Nepal, Jay Gorkha🇳🇵💪♥️
We're not the foreign people, you're the foreign people 😂 Anyway, yeah. We love our Gurkhas. Any person who is willing to fight for us with the loyalty, ferocity and fearlessness that the Gurkhas have will always hold a very special place in the hearts of the British public.
This was a fascinating video, thank you very much. I am the daughter (74 now) of a military dad who was accepted by the British army at 14 when he was orphaned, as an electrical and mechanical apprentice (REME - he passed all the exams ). He survived WWII, fighting in North Africa, Italy, Crete, France and was discerned with a Distinguished Conduct Medal presented to him by George V. When he retired, he was a Major - I'm so very proud of him.
The Gurkhas are beloved my the British people. Seem to remember tourists been held hostage in a hotel by some terrorists in Northern India Then we heard the Gurkhas were going in and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Think all tourists got out safely. I seriously doubt all the terrorists did. There isn't a fighting force anywhere on this planet that can outmatch the Gurkhas of the British army. Thank you to every one of them.
Nepal was never part of British Empire. They consider its an honour to join our Military. We hold them with the highest respect. Not always reflected in the Government treatment of them. They are not to be messed with.
@@pauls.arts.and.craft. That ended many years ago. Although increasing the pay and pension sounds good, the result is that there are far fewer of them, so fewer families benefit from the income. In my view, the previous levels were better because more people benefitted. A Pound goes a lot further in Nepal.
@@pauls.arts.and.craft. They have always had barracks. I think you mean the right to UK citizenship, if they want it. Well, they have that right after four years service. In my opinion, just because someone has a job in the UK, it is not necessary to offer citizenship, but there we are. Those who serve in the Singapore Special Contingent and in the Indian army have no such rights.
They’re farmers, not fighters but when the British Army tried to invade, they fought back. They’re lovely. At Xmas, they collect for the forces’ charities outside M&S and they can’t understand why a queue forms to shake their hands.
Actually it was Lance Corporal Blakeley from Musselburgh. He was 6'7" with ears like the Scottish Cup. He wasn't a good soldier tbf but he did draw the enemy's fire.
If there's one group of people that deserves to come here and receive everything this country has to offer, it's these young men and their families. That applies to all those that came before and after. They are more than welcome here.
It's all very well saying they should come here but surely the point is that they return to their villages and bring wealth and honour to their family and enrich their local environment with their knowledge and experience.
@@martinthompson7160 Absolutely, but what I'm saying is of all those that come here these people in particular are most welcome to be here. If they want to stay then that's fine by me. Most I would think go back home to family and friends.
@@martinthompson7160Nope, as they were promised, the point had also always been that they would earn their citizenship of the UK by fighting for her. The same goes for the tens of thousands of Sikh soldiers, who were also formidable and not fond of surrender.
@@thedigitalrealm7155NOPE?!! their alliegence is swore to India ever since 47 after the ceremonial constitutional transferring?! , the same as Indian Gorka! , India is no friend of UK?, lets get that clear now?..
My old Dad had the greatest respect for these men, he said they were able to despatch a man before he knew they were even there and many groups of soldiers were heartened to see them arrive to assist! XXX
My father worked with an ex Gurka at an army installation in the UK. This man when asked to bring his Kukri knife to work so they could see it said he would but if he unsheathed it he would have to cut their finger as a Gurka must draw blood with his kukri before he re-sheathed it. Dad asked if this was true and the Gurka quietly told him "no not really but it stops a lot of people pestering me to see it".
@Random Guy My uncle served along side the gurkas and when he asked to see the knife, thew soldier showed it to him, then before he put it back, he asked for my uncles finger. My uncle knew about the story of having to draw blood before it is resheathed and took a step back. So the gurka shrugged and then ran the blade across his own finger tip tto draw a few drops of blood, then put it back in its sheath. So yeah it was very much true for a good while.
It started in 1814 when the british were pushing north from India and encountered the Gurkhas. We fought each other for two years until a peace was settled in 1816. The Gurkhas thought the british were good fighters, almost as good as them, as they said, and ever since they have been part of the british army. They have a formidable reputation as fighting men, by any standards, and exceptional people. Gurkha units will have mostly british officers, who have to be able to speak their native language, which is Gurkhali.
Important to remember that it was the British respect for the Gurkhas which resulted in the regiment being formed. They are not unique to the British Army either. There are also Gurkha regiments in the Indian Army, Indian Frontier Force, Singaporean military, and the military of Brunei.
The Gurkhas are among the highest recipients of the Victoria Cross. The Royal Artillery has won the Victoria Cross 51 times, the Royal Engineers have won the Victoria Cross 41 times, the Royal Army Medical Corps have won the Victoria Cross 27 times and the Rifle Brigade have won the Victoria Cross 27 times. Gurkha Regiments have won the Victoria Cross 26 times. Nepalese Gurkhas have won 13 of these.
As a kid in the 70's I spent my summers in a small village in the Welsh mountains, every year there was a race up and down a local mountain, mountain runners would come from all over the world to compete, and every year a small group of Gurkhas competed, it was a very competitive and fiercely fought race, but the Gurkhas would just run as a group and stick together the whole race, finishing as a group in military formation, it was always amazing to watch and they made it look so easy, I took up mountain running myself in my 40's and now do the race myself, don't see any Gurkhas doing it anymore though, a lot of the mountain races where I live started out as military training routes.
Love this. The Gurkhas are spoken about in 'What Does it take to Earn the British Medal of Honour, the Victoria Cross' with Jeremy Clarkson. The VC is the highest military honour awarded in the British Army.
During WW1, a Gurkha was on sentry duty on the side of the Suez Canal, with orders to challenge anyone for the password. Down the canal towards him sailed the Battleship HMS Swiftsure, so he challenged it, when there was no response, he opened fire on the bridge with a bolt action rifle. Swiftsures captain suddenly remembered the password, and the ship was allowed to continue, with several hundred sailors cheering the Gurkha.
The Gurkhas are a wonderful body of men who have been wonderful allies for many years. 1200 years ago there was a saint in their religion called Guru Gorkhanath who predicted that his people would become fierce warriors. The word Gurkha is from the name of the city of Gorkha in Western Nepal.
They are mainly Hindu warriors with their roots going back to an 8th century Hindu warrior, Guru Gorakhnath who had inspired Hindu warriors to defeat the first calphiate muslim armies invasions into India.So it was not surprising that one Gurkha took out 30 taliban years ago when in duty in Afganistan.The kukri he probably used to behead some of them as claimed was probably used to sacrifise the jihadis to Goddess Kali
Nowadays after retirement they are granted British citizenship if they want. There are 2 gurkha resturants in our region: delious food and good service
Have no doubt. These guys are the finest light infantry in the world. I knew men who had fought with them in WW2 and they all said that if you were in trouble then you didn't want anyone other than a Gurkha next to you. They never showed fear and they never stopped, in battle they were remorseless and when not fighting they were utterly kind and generous. They feel that they have to live up to the actions of their relatives and ancestors. These are very hard guys to beat in a fight.
Couple of other things I remember about Gurkhas. During the Victorian period Gurkhas were the only 'native' troops that white troops would willingly share a mess with. Gurkhas were classed as 'Highland Light Infantry' which is why they wore dark green (Rifle Green) and the Gurkha regimental band has Bagpipes.
My friend was a Gurkha sponser and I had a friend who father was Gurkha British Officer, an Officer has to prove is ability to match the bravery of the Gurkha soldier. Also you might find it interesting looking up Joanna Lumley connections with the Gurkha's , Her dad was a British Army Officer with the Gurkha's.
When we first met the Gurkhas in the 1800s whilst patrolling the edges of our Empire they were our enemies. The British Army were so impressed by their fighting abilities,attitude and bravery that we decided we had better have them on our side. My Dad worked in Nepal for a while in the early 80s and brought me back one of their unique kukri machetes. I still have it down the side of my bed today.
@@kumasenlac5504 Indeed. The Seaforth Highlanders (unfortunately now amalgamated with other regiments) were originally formed from fighters of my Mum's clan the McKenzies. They wore kilts in the McKenzie tartan and maintained strong links with the clan. They were part of the 51st Highland Division that provided the rearguard in 1940 allowing the Dunkirk evacuation to take place. It seems in both cases that the British military wisely accepted that it's better to have these mountain dwelling warrior cultures onside.
@@batteredwarrior I'm just trying to give a rough idea of what it is in case people hadn't heard the word before. "Bladed weapon" or whatever you think fits best.
Gurkha… a small man with a big smile and an even bigger knife. Probably the most polite soldier on the planet. And without doubt one of the fiercest warriors. As an ex British serviceman I know that other British soldiers ( myself included) have only the highest regard and respect for them and their abilities.
Gorkha soldiers became part of British when the british actually lost to the Gorkhas and were so impressed with the warfare ability of the Gorkhas that they signed a treaty and remained friends and Gorkhas fought for the Britsh. Britian ruled over entire indian sub continent and wanted to conquer Nepal but the fierce gorkhali soilders fought till death saved the sovereignty of their nation. The name gurkha actually comes from a Nepali District "Gorkha" . Prtihivi Narayan Shah was king of Gorkha who later on united the nation by winning over other small states ruled by other Nepali kings and British rulers. And in Nepal we dont use the word "Gurkha" we say " Gorkhali" for the soilders. Its an honour really in Nepal for someone to be called a Gorkhali Soilder. And its fascinating that a country which promotes peace which is so beautiful with unbelievably kind hearted and welcoming people has people who will basically die and kill for their nation rather than living in shame. Its and honour to be Nepali . our nation is poor and under developed but we live in a land of Gorkhalis which was never conqured by any other power and thats something to be proud forever.
My brother in law's dad served in the Gurkha rifles, based in Aldershot. A fierce group by reputation, but some of the most gentle, kind and generous men you could ever meet.
Near where I live some retired Ghurka soldiers are employed to drive buses in rough areas where other drivers were being hassled by drunks and silly youths. The Ghurka drivers don't seem to have the hassle the other drivers did. Nobody wants to upset them lol.
We love the Gurkhas. As well as Nepalis, Irish citizens and citizens of any Commonwealth country can apply to join the UK military. Due to the UK legacy, the Gurkhas are also recruited by the Indian Army and the Singapore police. The Sultan of Brunei has about 2,000 ex British Army Ghurkas as his personal bodyguard.
Not ex British Army Gurkhas , they are one of the Gurkha Regiments who are posted to Brunei for a few years then return to the UK ,and another Gurkha Regiment is posted there
@@Stand663 I don't know if they are, but they are free to apply if they wish. Irish citizens have exactly the same rights and privileges as UK citizens, while they are in the UK. They can vote, they also become an MP, if they so wish.
My dad was one of the riflemen in royal gorkha ( 10GR) ….happy to see people appreciate there sacrifices…I always looked up to him n wanted to walk in his foot step but couldn’t cause of mi health problems .anyway happy to c people support for the gorkha
I live in an army garrison town in England and a lot of the retired ghurkas families have opened up nepalese restaurants in the town. They are amazing people.
Hard as nails the gurkha's, run all day, nobody better in jungle warfare...and so humble to talk to...lovely people unless you get on wrong side of them....
When I was a kid I lived not too far from Aldershot, an army garrison town. When we went into town the Gurkhas stood out. Generally smart, polite young men in a blazer and ghurka tie.
Beside the Maori's of New Zealand the Gurkha's are one of the only people we never beat. The story I heard of why the Gurkha's fight for us is that a Scottish Major got fed up with fighting them and went to see the head man they were impressed with this mans daring and agreed to fight for us. The important thing is that British officers have to learn some Nepalese. I'd say we are lower Nepal is in the Himalayas ie Mount Everest
They are mainly Hindu warriors with their roots going back to an 8th century Hindu warrior, Guru Gorakhnath who had inspired Hindu warriors to defeat the first calphiate muslim armies invasions into India.So it was not surprising that one Gurkha took out 30 taliban years ago when in duty in Afganistan.The kukri he probably used to behead some of them as claimed was probably used to sacrifise the jihadis to Goddess Kali
There are so many things that people outside of Britain do not know about our history, structure etc., and it's a shame because some of those people are those who shout the loudest about things like abolishing the monarchy. It is somewhat gratifying to see your interest and the connections felt. Great reactions videos. 👍
The British soldier at 17:39 genuinely seems emotionally invested and sounds like really cares about those candidates. He seems to respect their culture too, with how fluent his accent is when speaking their language ❤
Such an interesting watch, I agree it would have been nice to see the training further along! ‘13 hours that saved Britain’ is a great documentary to watch, Also ‘know your ally: Britain’ is another great one from the perspective of the American army teaching its soldiers about The British.
My both Grandfather were in the Burma campaign 1945 during WW2. Later my maternal Grandfather was awarded Military cross in 1946. I never got to see him .. he passed away after the retirement.. my father was a Gurkha too 1970 until 1992. And I tried my luck as well in 1999.but my slight bit of eye sight problem stopped me from progressing …
As a British person, I and I believe I can speak for most of the British people, are incredibly proud of our Gurkha regiment. They are the most incredible young men! Their bravery, strength, loyalty and stamina are second to none in the world!!! 💕💕💕💕
I love the way Americans are blown away by history timelines! It reminds you how young America still is. The Gurkha's are loved by the British people, monarchy and rest of the military
We fought them 200 years ago during our Empire expansion and recognized they were great fighting men. They have served us faithfully ever since. God bless them.
My cousin is Brigadier Patrick Reehal MBE , he is now The Colonel Of The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment. He organised the logistics of the Queens funeral. His story in the Armed forces is amazing 👏
Thank you for making this video. I come from Gurkhas. There is not a single house in my village that does not have a Gurkhas. Specially, Mongolian people such as Gurung (myself), Magar, Pun, Rai and Limbu so on joins Gurkhas because it’s kind of tradition and prides in our communities as well as better future. Since 1800 we have been serving in Indian Gurkha army, Singapore police and British Gurkha.
Glad you found the video recommendation useful. I was privileged to see some of the Gurkhas drilling at the Duke of Wellington Barracks in London only a few days before the Queen's passing.
The are part of the Kings( still doesn’t sound right) body guards. One of our “personality’s” went to recieve an medal off the Queen,stood behind her were 2 Gurkhas, on moving away he stumbled a little bit,he said the Gurkas immediately stood a step forward and put their hands on their knives,he said his blood went cold.. They are one of the most respected units of the British Army ,respected BY the British military.
Waiting for a flight i met three retired Gurkhas and their families waiting to travel back to Nepal. Such interesting guys and so polite to me asking questions into their service and lives. I was sad to part on my journey, i could have talked with them for hours. Britain can be very proud of these guys who serve our country. Respect.
A polite and always well dressed soldier. Shirt, tie and jacket when off duty in the bar. Quiet, unassuming. Proud of their heritage. In military speak.. Dangerous.
My husband was very interested in history of wars and the military. He always spoke highly of the Gurkhas. I’m glad you’re looking into them. New sub here, I love your curiosity about so many topics! Easy to learn about so much nowadays, we should be grateful.
Spent a day with the Ghurka Welfare Trust in Pokrah, Nepal in 2019 whilst on a trip there. I had known them previously throughout my life but that was the most interesting day of my trip, They are great soldiers but also amazing people as well.
They're literally the most humble, polite people you'll ever meet, and as a Brit I mean that sincerely. But they're trained by the British Army, have amazing discipline and are absolutely fierce on the battlefield. During the Falklands war, Argentinian troops shat themselves when they heard the Gurkhas were coming for them in their trenches. They're masters of trench warfare and scaring the shit out of their enemies. They're fearless, smart, well disciplined, well trained and not afraid of facing death. Not somebody you'd want to face on the battlefield.
it's after 1814-1816 anglo- nepal war, that british got impressed by neplese fighting skill that decided neples to have in their army, and they continued to recruit aven after they left India.
The Gurkhas are fierce. My Great Uncle fought along them in WWII. He said he was glad he was fighting with them not against them. I liked the story when they were asked to jump out of a plane at a certain number of feet. They came back and asked if they could first jump at half that number of feet. The officer replied no because the parachutes wouldn't open and work properly at that hight, once they found out they would have parachutes they had no problem jumping at the allotted height.
Hearing that the Gurkha's are coming is either the best possible news you can hear (if they're on your side), or the worst possible news you can hear (if you're not).
As a British veteran, I'll happily testify to the immense respect and fondness that is held for the Gurkhas. Units and services may have rivalries or banter, but the Gurkhas are disrespected by none.
The British army conquered every country they decided to invade, until they tried to conquer Nepal, we couldn’t beat them mainly because of the terrain and their ferocity. If you can’t beat them recruit them. I’ve worked with Gurkha soldiers and they are the most unassuming people you could meet until they meet an enemy, and then they become a formidable force. The Gurkhas have won 13 Victoria crosses which is almost unprecedented in a single Regiment in the British Army.
Not a bad answer, except you forgot about my neighbours, the Kiwis. The British signed the treaty of Waitangi, because they couldn’t beat them. They were good learners and fantastic sappers and soon built structures that were capable of withstanding artillery barrages.
@@mareky1234 Maoris. All Maoris are Kiwis, but not all Kiwis are Maoris. It has to be said, however, that the Kiwis are not too shabby, either - nor the Ozzies. One of my uncles, who was a Desert Rat, had enormous respect for the Anzacs - "Everyone would want a Digger by their side in a fox-hole!". Not entirely convinced he had the option of a Gurkha, though. ;)
Unfortunately, the British Army may have conquered the land by brute force but they truly failed to conquer the hearts of the people living in these invaded lands. This means this invasion carried no glory. The sun eventually set on the empire so it was all a bit temporary. Hardly seemed worth the bloodshed in my opinion.
@@rr-jp7kg I dunno, they managed to end slavery throughout the empire and stopped the European slave trade and African slave trade, with their money. You might not believe slavery was bad, if it weren't for the British telling you it was. That industrial revolution they had, kick-started the modern world we live in. Trains - invented in Britain - had to run on time and a universal time was adopted. It caught on. Then, the people of the empire (Commonwealth) managed to save Britain's arse in WWII, long before others were either willing or capable of helping out, so it came in handy... for everyone, not just the British. Was it Cruel Britannia? Yes. In Britain, children as young as 4 years-of-age were being stuck up chimneys or down mines, so the cruelty was not reserved for the colonies. The average age of an industrial worker was 25. Thank goodness that empire has disappeared! But, the sun never sets on the Commonwealth, so in the long run, it was worth it.
@@rr-jp7kg the Empire became the Commonwealth, like all nations who had an empire we did some terrible things, but look at all of them. The French, German, Portuguese, Spanish etc non of these developed into an organisation of friendly nations, in fact nations like Mozambique (Portuguese) have joined. South Sudan, Surinam, Burundi and Somaliland have applied to join all former colonies of other nations. The British empire was the most benign of any the world has known created mostly for trade. You can keep your petty bitterness and live in a world as it was 200 years ago, but have a look at how many nations of the world still bear the Union flag on their flag, even an American state (Hawaii) bears it.
Gurkhas are the very best partner, you can have fighting beside you. He will give his life to save yours. They have been used many, many times at a time of any war. They also have the greatest respect form all the British public. It is their highest honour for a Gurkha to be a part of the Kings guards. Tough as nails - very reliable with any assignment they are given. Nothing but the very best becomes a Gurkha.
We have great respect for the Gurkhas here, I had the privilege of working on their base in Maidstone, whilst running a project for young people. People I met could not be nicer.
Fantastic lads - always had massive respect for the Gurhkas. They've always been the paragon of professional soldiers - tough, loyal and committed soldiers, in peace and in their garrison towns and adopted country, decent, upstanding and perfect gentlemen. Put a lot of home grown soldiers to shame to be honest. Thanks fellas.
My grandad fought against the Japanese in WWII alongside the Gurkhas and he has always said that those warriors pulled them out of the fire several times. Utmost respect for the Gurkhas.
You will never find a group of braver, more loyal men in any army, anywhere. We love our Gurkha brothers. Their families say with pride that their son/brother is a Gurkha.
Pues ven a conocer el ejercito argentino como peleamos y despues hablas
@@viking1977 Argentines wave a white flag #falklands
@@Goady1000 tendrian que venir a ver cuantas chapas de id tenemos de los gurtkas de las islas malvinas argentinas no faklands estudia un poco pequeño amigo
@@viking1977 your alright, we know south Americans can't fight wars
@@viking1977 Lmao. You lost. Deal with it.
As a British solder I was one of the fortunate few to serve in a Gurkha unit. I served in Iraq with them and would not have wanted to be there with any other soldiers. You were asking about them as warriors. Look at some of the videos on Ghurkhas that have won the Victoria Cross, or other bravery medals.
In their History Mal they have been awarded 26 Victoria crosses. An incredible achievement and just goes to show their level of Bravery and Tenacity.
I didn't think they were actually part of the British army but were a mercenary unit. Has that changed?
@@stephensim5839 Yes Stephen, they are now fully integrated into The British Army. When they finish their service, they are eligible for British Citizenship and to remain in Britain with their Family`s if they wish.
As a young Sapper just out of training in the 70s I was lucky enough to spend time with the Gurkha Engineers working on a project in the Scottish Highlands. I learned so much from them, and still to this day am inspired by their example.
Gurkha are amazing soldiers in every way. Humble and lethal.
As a small child about 5 y.o. my parents took me to an open day at Bassingbourne Barracks. The Ghurkas were there with an exhibition, we spent a few minutes talking to them, they were so nice and spoke to me very kindly showing me equipment etc. Being a small boy I inevitably wandered off and separated from my parents, I went and found the Ghurkas to help find my mum and dad, they looked after me until mum and dad came to collect me. They so impressed me that almost 60 years later I can still remember this, like it was yesterday.
I've seen a few people (mainly Americans) react to Ghurka videos and some don't understand the relationship between the British army and the Ghurkas and question whether they're treated like second class soldiers, given old equipment etc, this is simply not the case in anyway.
I can't reiterate enough the level of respect that the UK has for its Ghurka soldiers - they're phenomenal soldiers often winning shooting competitions and renowned for their politeness and manners. We're really are lucky to have them on our side - I'd hate to have a Ghurka as an enemy 😳
LIVING BEING IS OUR RACE, MANKIND IS OUR RELIGION, HINDU,MUSLIM,SIKH,CHRISTAIN, THERE IS NO SEPARATE RELIGION
ALMIGHTY GOD KABIR is the father of all souls that JESUS, MOHAMMAD, GURU NANAK, VEDH was telling in BIBLE, QURAN, GURU GRANTHA SAHEB
.. In OLD Orthodox Jewish Bible KABIR is mentioned...KABIR means (GREAT or MIGHTY GOD) in hebrew...but when translated in different languages translator removed KABIR word.....
@@bibekjung7404 Thankyou 👍 Kabir should be reinstated. It's wrong to alter scripture. This makes a lot of sense to me? I don't subscribe to any religion, too many anomalies and perversions, in what has been passed on.
Yes, I grew up a couple of hundred yards away from their Barracks when they were in Hampshire. It's funny, when they went out they always wore suits, and always went in pairs, never alone.
@@bibekjung7404 Belief is fine and I would fight to defend anyone's firght to their belief. Religion is divisive, one group telling all other groups that they are wrong and thus less.
If there is a God he must despair about our use of the belief in him.
Feeling proud to be a gurkha ,a nepali....thank you for making this video and showing it to the world. Love from Nepal ❤️
Thankyou for protecting us.
Thank you for your service to our king and country you make every single one of us proud 🫡. 🇬🇧🤝🇳🇵
Ayo Gorkhali!
Respect.
Hey bro, if you wanna more about the gurkha Army's watch the movie Gurkha Warrear
"Show me a man who isn't afraid going into battle & I'll show you a liar or a Gurkha" ~ Some British Army Officer
If a man says he isn’t afraid of dying he is lying or a Gurkha is good one too
@@bibekjung7404 *ALL* religion is absolute horse 💩. Humanity is a great thing all by itself without being poisoned by religion.
Not some "British Army Officer". It was Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw of the Indian Army who said this legendary quote ...
@@bibekjung7404 I agree brother but not every religion agrees with your views. For example, have you come across teachings from Sura 9 text 29? I think these teachings are not suitable for the 21st century, what do you say?
It's actually "show me a man that isn't afraid of death,he's either a liar or a Gurkha",stay happy and healthy ✌️
“Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous, never had country more faithful friends than you”. (Sir Ralph Turner, former Gurkha Officer)
They're not treated properly by the government when they retire.
The Gurkhas are much loved and very respected here in the U.K. They are known as the fiercest of all our regiments and they have won more VC medals per man than any other regiment.
We are very lucky to have them and if you meet one you will be taken by how polite they are.
They are mainly Hindu warriors with their roots going back to an 8th century Hindu warrior, Guru Gorakhnath who had inspired Hindu warriors to defeat the first calphiate muslim armies invasions into India.So it was not surprising that one Gurkha took out 30 taliban years ago when in duty in Afganistan.
I had the honour to serve with Gurkhas a couple of times. it's like serving with the arch angel Michael, the most gentle and polite people you've ever met, and when you see them fight, your only thought is.. TF they're on my side
Me too, with the addition that they're always moaning, amongst themselves. For those from high in the mountains it's always too hot, for the rest it's always too cold. My biggest mistake with them was on exercise, explaining that I was missing a big bonfire-night party back in the NAAFI. Then I went for water resupply and evening O group. This was interrupted by a large fire lighting-up the night. I then had to explain to the CO why the Gurkhas had pulled down a tree, chopped it up and set fire to it. He came with me back to our position - where we were greeted by all our pyrotechnics being set off and cries off, "You like? We make you happy". The bollocking I got wasn't much, considering ^^.
I live in a Gurkha military town, my local shop is owned by a Gurkha family. Absolutely love this community, loyal to the core.
My Dad served with The Gurkhas in WW2.. he was a tank driver in the 14/20th King's Hussars. He said that they were the absolute best soldiers in the world and he would,and had, trust his life in their hands.
My Dad was in the RN in ww2, but somewhere out east encountered the Gurkhas, 'wonderful chaps, toughest troops we had'. He used to talk about them jumping 100s of feet out of planes, don't know if that's true.
My dad too. He was based in India and trained Gurkhas and African troops. He didn’t talk much about his experiences but I do remember him once telling me he was full of admiration for his brave men.
Hi Pat I served in the 14/20th KH from 1975 to 1992 when we amalgamated to become the King Royal Hussars and ended my 23 years in 1998 I only worked with the 6 Gurkha rifles who we were affiliated with on 2 occasion truly an honour to work with these soldiers
My Uncle was fighting along side them in Burma before and during WWII, he was in The Kings own Scottish Borderers, I have huge respect for them.
Only the Māori are comparable 👍🏻
I live in Folkestone and we always have a Battalion of Gurkhas in the Barracks. We are immensely proud of these soldiers and the ex-servicemen who continue to live in the Folkestone area. They are a lovely people to live alongside and I count myself fortunate to be their neighbour. 💖
A story from the Falklands War. Some Gurkhas were detailed off to guard some Argie POWs. Generally speaking the Gurkas a really nice chaps who nearly always have a smile on their faces. Now, British soldiers have a rather 'dark' sense of humour, so they told the Argies that if a Gurkha smiled at you it meant that they were going to eat you! Best behaved Argie POWs ever!!!
When they landed in the Falklands, they couldn't wait to get going. With bergens and other kit seemingly dwarfing the men themselves, they were calling "Where the Argies? Where the Argies?" One British soldier likened them to "Heat-seeking ferrets".
Brilliant 😂
they was told not to cut the POWs ears off
The Gurkhas were tasked with the day light assault on Mt William but their reputation had gone before them so as they advanced the Argentines downed tools and walked off site quick smart. They either surrendered to the near by Scots Guards who had taken Mt Tumbledown a few hours earlier or legged it to Stanley. The Gurkhas were fckn furious, they got the battle honour but they would really like to have had the actual battle. It comes to something when you'd rather surrender to a bunch of angry jocks.
Is this true it sooooo funny
So happy that you watched this, these men deserve a lot of respect. It was a shame what the UK government did to them a few years ago can not remember what it was something to do with ex Gurkhas after serving with the Army not being allowed to stay in be the UK, Joanna Lumley fought for them to have the right to stay ? I believe she won.
Yes. They won. I think they get a proper Army pension too as a result and well deserved!
Correct it is well deserved, But the reason that wasn't the case to begin with is as far as I've seen on a couple of videos on the subject is in the terms of the original agreeagreement with Nepal regarding recruitment, That said the British army could recruit in the country as long as the people who served returned once their service was over.. Because no country would want some of their best going to leave the country permanently..
Not quite right. Serving Gurkhas never stayed once their service was over - Nepal never wanted them too. It was only in recent years that some wanted to retire and live in the UK. Now they can - on a full Army pension. To the young men in Nepal it is a great honour to be chosen to serve with the British Army - and they are greatly loved by us all.
@@jillosler9353 Have a look at what point one says below...
The Tripartite Agreement between the Uk, India and Nepal was a treaty signed in 1947 concerning the rights of Gurkhas recruited in military services of United Kingdom and India.
The main points of the agreement are:
1/ The Gurkha soldier must be recruited as a Nepali citizen, must serve as a Nepali citizen, and must be resettled as a Nepali citizen.
2/ All religious and cultural observances must be preserved in accordance with the demands of the Hindu faith.
3/ Gurkha soldiers in both the Indian and British Armies should receive the same basic rates of pay, although allowances may be paid to reflect differences in the costs of living between countries where Gurkha soldiers might serve outside Nepal.
4/ Subject to satisfactory performance and conduct, all soldiers should be allowed to serve for sufficient time in order to qualify for a pension.
5/ All Gurkha soldiers should be allowed an extended period of leave in Nepal every three years.
6/ Gurkha soldiers recruited into the respective armies are liable for service worldwide.
7/ Gurkhas are fully integrated into the Army to which they are recruited and under no circumstances are they to be considered mercenaries.
Damn right. I added my small voice to that fight.
And them getting a full army pension.
Tim Bowden, in his book One Crowded Hour about cameraman Neil Davis, tells about an incident that happened in Borneo during the confrontation between Malaysia and Indonesia in 1964.
A group of Gurkhas from Nepal were asked if they would be willing to jump from transport planes into combat against the Indonesians if the need arose. The Gurkhas had the right to turn down the request because they had never been trained as paratroopers. Bowden quotes Davis's account of the story:
"Now the Gurkhas usually agreed to anything, but on this occasion the provisionally rejected the plan. But the next day one of their NCOs sought out the British officer who made the request and said they had discussed the matter further and would be prepared to jump under certain conditions.
"What are they?" asked the British Officer.
"The Gurkhas Told him they would jump if the land was marshy or reasonably soft with no rocky outcrops, Because they were inexperienced in falling. The British officer considered this, and said that the dropping areas auld almost certainly be over jungle, and there would not be rocky outcrops, so that seemed all right. Was there anything else?
"Yes, said the Gurkhas. They wanted the plane to fly as slowly as possible and no more than one hundred feet high. The British officer pointed out the planes always did fly as slowly as possible when dropping troops, but to jump from 100 feet was impossible, because the parachutes would not open in time from that height.
"Oh," said the Gurkhas, "that's all right, then. We'll jump with parachutes anywhere. You didn't mention parachutes before!"
😂last part wala hilarious
This was said by great sir manek shaw to Gurkha...
Not by any other
The history of how The Gurkas became part of the British military is fascinating ...Well worth a looksee...Basically we fought them...and were so impressed we asked them if they'd like to join us...and they said ok...Obviously a lot more to it...but as a Brit...and I think I speak for most of us if not all...we're bloody proud of them!
😍😍😍😍😍😍
Fascinating, I'd like to learn more.
It wasn't that friendly lol. The english simultaneously attacked through 5 directions, nepal defended 3 of the inner territories but lost the other two. The english then made a treaty where nepal were forced to give the 2 regions and recruitment of soilders into the british army.
@@Yeahagreed it was the British army get your facts right made up off England Scotland Wales Ireland .are you aware Wellington was Irish born in Dublin . Britain were impressed with there fighters so they joined from there free will you should pay more attention to British history ffs
History why they joined the British army been on exercise with the Gurkhas in Kenya and have a mate not all Naples can join in they are not born there they do join British army regiment's instead as there father's served in the Gurkhas
i freaking love our british gurkhas they are the most prideful thing about the uk and the most hard working soliders youll find you have to respect these lads for the lengths they go to provide a better life for their families is incredible
You are learning a lot about us Steve... the Ghurkas are not to be messed with my friend, they have a reputation for being fierce and are fearless fighters.
It's delightfully overwhelming to read all the comments of you foreign people conveying your love and respect for Gorkhalis. Jay Nepal, Jay Gorkha🇳🇵💪♥️
We're not the foreign people, you're the foreign people 😂
Anyway, yeah. We love our Gurkhas. Any person who is willing to fight for us with the loyalty, ferocity and fearlessness that the Gurkhas have will always hold a very special place in the hearts of the British public.
This was a fascinating video, thank you very much. I am the daughter (74 now) of a military dad who was accepted by the British army at 14 when he was orphaned, as an electrical and mechanical apprentice (REME - he passed all the exams ). He survived WWII, fighting in North Africa, Italy, Crete, France and was discerned with a Distinguished Conduct Medal presented to him by George V. When he retired, he was a Major - I'm so very proud of him.
The Gurkhas are beloved my the British people.
Seem to remember tourists been held hostage in a hotel by some terrorists in Northern India
Then we heard the Gurkhas were going in and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Think all tourists got out safely. I seriously doubt all the terrorists did.
There isn't a fighting force anywhere on this planet that can outmatch the Gurkhas of the British army. Thank you to every one of them.
Nepal was never part of British Empire. They consider its an honour to join our Military. We hold them with the highest respect. Not always reflected in the Government treatment of them. They are not to be messed with.
In what way do they not receive good treatment from the government?
@@archiebald4717 they did not have equal rights to that of British and other overseas soldiers.
@@pauls.arts.and.craft. That ended many years ago. Although increasing the pay and pension sounds good, the result is that there are far fewer of them, so fewer families benefit from the income. In my view, the previous levels were better because more people benefitted. A Pound goes a lot further in Nepal.
@@archiebald4717 it was just not pensions, it was right to abode and other benefits.... if you serve equally, you deserve to be treated equally.
@@pauls.arts.and.craft. They have always had barracks. I think you mean the right to UK citizenship, if they want it. Well, they have that right after four years service. In my opinion, just because someone has a job in the UK, it is not necessary to offer citizenship, but there we are. Those who serve in the Singapore Special Contingent and in the Indian army have no such rights.
They’re farmers, not fighters but when the British Army tried to invade, they fought back. They’re lovely. At Xmas, they collect for the forces’ charities outside M&S and they can’t understand why a queue forms to shake their hands.
As a Brit, I would say, in conflict, the best man to be by your side, would be a Gurkha. Cant say more than that.
Actually it was Lance Corporal Blakeley from Musselburgh. He was 6'7" with ears like the Scottish Cup. He wasn't a good soldier tbf but he did draw the enemy's fire.
How do you know ?
They are some of the best soldiers our country has. Ghurkas are proud to fight for Britain and Britain is proud to have them fight on our side.
Growing up my mom told me stories of the Gurkhas many times. They are a treasure to us.
If there's one group of people that deserves to come here and receive everything this country has to offer, it's these young men and their families. That applies to all those that came before and after. They are more than welcome here.
Pity our slimy rat government didn't agree for years..
It's all very well saying they should come here but surely the point is that they return to their villages and bring wealth and honour to their family and enrich their local environment with their knowledge and experience.
@@martinthompson7160
Absolutely, but what I'm saying is of all those that come here these people in particular are most welcome to be here. If they want to stay then that's fine by me. Most I would think go back home to family and friends.
@@martinthompson7160Nope, as they were promised, the point had also always been that they would earn their citizenship of the UK by fighting for her. The same goes for the tens of thousands of Sikh soldiers, who were also formidable and not fond of surrender.
@@thedigitalrealm7155NOPE?!! their alliegence is swore to India ever since 47 after the ceremonial constitutional transferring?! , the same as Indian Gorka! , India is no friend of UK?, lets get that clear now?..
My old Dad had the greatest respect for these men, he said they were able to despatch a man before he knew they were even there and many groups of soldiers were heartened to see them arrive to assist! XXX
My father worked with an ex Gurka at an army installation in the UK. This man when asked to bring his Kukri knife to work so they could see it said he would but if he unsheathed it he would have to cut their finger as a Gurka must draw blood with his kukri before he re-sheathed it. Dad asked if this was true and the Gurka quietly told him "no not really but it stops a lot of people pestering me to see it".
@Random Guy My uncle served along side the gurkas and when he asked to see the knife, thew soldier showed it to him, then before he put it back, he asked for my uncles finger. My uncle knew about the story of having to draw blood before it is resheathed and took a step back. So the gurka shrugged and then ran the blade across his own finger tip tto draw a few drops of blood, then put it back in its sheath. So yeah it was very much true for a good while.
@Random Guy It was never true. 🤣
@@Nobby76 absolute nonsense. It sounds good, but it's never been a thing.
@@batteredwarrior it was and it is true but nowdays they don't do it , if they do it then they really have high respect for their history.
@@batteredwarrior comes to nepal.someone still follows it
The British Army started recruiting Gurkhas because it's better to fight with them than against them. They are truly awesome!
BRRISTIST WON NERLEY HALF OF THIS WORLD , BUT THEY CHOOSE ONLY NEPALESE GURKHAS , TO FOGHT FOR THEM , THERE MUST BE SOME GOOOOD REASON
I have so many memories of these guy's when we shared our canteens etc.
I have nothing but absolute respect for what they bring to our table.
It started in 1814 when the british were pushing north from India and encountered the Gurkhas.
We fought each other for two years until a peace was settled in 1816.
The Gurkhas thought the british were good fighters, almost as good as them, as they said, and ever since they have been part of the british army.
They have a formidable reputation as fighting men, by any standards, and exceptional people.
Gurkha units will have mostly british officers, who have to be able to speak their native language, which is Gurkhali.
They SO admired the courage of the British officer - their enemy - that they volunteered to serve under his command. The rest is history.
Sorry but the native language is Nepali. I can confirm you that because I’m Nepali😅
GURKHALI 😂😂😂 That's a new one I've not heard before but they speak NEPALESE and some URDU
Important to remember that it was the British respect for the Gurkhas which resulted in the regiment being formed. They are not unique to the British Army either. There are also Gurkha regiments in the Indian Army, Indian Frontier Force, Singaporean military, and the military of Brunei.
Great and brave soldiers. They have won an unbelievable amount of Victoria Crosses.
The Gurkhas are among the highest recipients of the Victoria Cross.
The Royal Artillery has won the Victoria Cross 51 times, the Royal Engineers have won the Victoria Cross 41 times, the Royal Army Medical Corps have won the Victoria Cross 27 times and the Rifle Brigade have won the Victoria Cross 27 times. Gurkha Regiments have won the Victoria Cross 26 times. Nepalese Gurkhas have won 13 of these.
As a kid in the 70's I spent my summers in a small village in the Welsh mountains, every year there was a race up and down a local mountain, mountain runners would come from all over the world to compete, and every year a small group of Gurkhas competed, it was a very competitive and fiercely fought race, but the Gurkhas would just run as a group and stick together the whole race, finishing as a group in military formation, it was always amazing to watch and they made it look so easy, I took up mountain running myself in my 40's and now do the race myself, don't see any Gurkhas doing it anymore though, a lot of the mountain races where I live started out as military training routes.
Love this. The Gurkhas are spoken about in 'What Does it take to Earn the British Medal of Honour, the Victoria Cross' with Jeremy Clarkson. The VC is the highest military honour awarded in the British Army.
U ONLY GET WHEN U SAVE LIFES, MORE THEN KILLING ENMIES ,BUT IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING WHICH U CANT THINK OF
The Gurkha motto is “Better to die than be a coward” which says it all regarding these fearless fighters.
Ayo Gorkhali! Proud of our brave trusted and honourable brothers.
During WW1, a Gurkha was on sentry duty on the side of the Suez Canal, with orders to challenge anyone for the password. Down the canal towards him sailed the Battleship HMS Swiftsure, so he challenged it, when there was no response, he opened fire on the bridge with a bolt action rifle. Swiftsures captain suddenly remembered the password, and the ship was allowed to continue, with several hundred sailors cheering the Gurkha.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Sounds about right if you order a Gurkha to pick a fight with a battleship he will the scary thing is he might even win.
Sounds apocryphal to me. I can find no evidence or accounts of this happening.
The Gurkhas are a wonderful body of men who have been wonderful allies for many years. 1200 years ago there was a saint in their religion called Guru Gorkhanath who predicted that his people would become fierce warriors. The word Gurkha is from the name of the city of Gorkha in Western Nepal.
Not western its at middle
@@srvbiraj2282bro in middle we might think like kathmandu and stuff its near western i think too
They are mainly Hindu warriors with their roots going back to an 8th century Hindu warrior, Guru Gorakhnath who had inspired Hindu warriors to defeat the first calphiate muslim armies invasions into India.So it was not surprising that one Gurkha took out 30 taliban years ago when in duty in Afganistan.The kukri he probably used to behead some of them as claimed was probably used to sacrifise the jihadis to Goddess Kali
Highly respected by all in the UK, they are true allies. Long may that continue.
Nowadays after retirement they are granted British citizenship if they want. There are 2 gurkha resturants in our region: delious food and good service
Have no doubt. These guys are the finest light infantry in the world.
I knew men who had fought with them in WW2 and they all said that if you were in trouble then you didn't want anyone other than a Gurkha next to you. They never showed fear and they never stopped, in battle they were remorseless and when not fighting they were utterly kind and generous.
They feel that they have to live up to the actions of their relatives and ancestors.
These are very hard guys to beat in a fight.
Couple of other things I remember about Gurkhas. During the Victorian period Gurkhas were the only 'native' troops that white troops would willingly share a mess with. Gurkhas were classed as 'Highland Light Infantry' which is why they wore dark green (Rifle Green) and the Gurkha regimental band has Bagpipes.
If a man tells you he is not afraid, he is either a liar or a Gurkha ~ Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw, Indian Army..
My friend was a Gurkha sponser and I had a friend who father was Gurkha British Officer, an Officer has to prove is ability to match the bravery of the Gurkha soldier. Also you might find it interesting looking up Joanna Lumley connections with the Gurkha's , Her dad was a British Army Officer with the Gurkha's.
When we first met the Gurkhas in the 1800s whilst patrolling the edges of our Empire they were our enemies. The British Army were so impressed by their fighting abilities,attitude and bravery that we decided we had better have them on our side.
My Dad worked in Nepal for a while in the early 80s and brought me back one of their unique kukri machetes. I still have it down the side of my bed today.
A similar thought-process was applied to the Scots Highlanders. They're good at fighting; let's have them on our side...
@@kumasenlac5504 Indeed. The Seaforth Highlanders (unfortunately now amalgamated with other regiments) were originally formed from fighters of my Mum's clan the McKenzies. They wore kilts in the McKenzie tartan and maintained strong links with the clan. They were part of the 51st Highland Division that provided the rearguard in 1940 allowing the Dunkirk evacuation to take place.
It seems in both cases that the British military wisely accepted that it's better to have these mountain dwelling warrior cultures onside.
Nepalese need to be 17 1/2 - 21 yrs old to join the British army.
A khukuri is NOT a "machete".
@@batteredwarrior I'm just trying to give a rough idea of what it is in case people hadn't heard the word before. "Bladed weapon" or whatever you think fits best.
Gurkha… a small man with a big smile and an even bigger knife. Probably the most polite soldier on the planet. And without doubt one of the fiercest warriors. As an ex British serviceman I know that other British soldiers ( myself included) have only the highest regard and respect for them and their abilities.
They don't though, it's a myth.
@@snowflakemelter1172 if you wanna see come to battle filed we don’t talk but we show
@@goodhearing1252 more internet hard man bullshit.
@@snowflakemelter1172 This mf dont need gorkha to battle. I can fuck his whole family. thrashtalker son of a bitch
Gorkha soldiers became part of British when the british actually lost to the Gorkhas and were so impressed with the warfare ability of the Gorkhas that they signed a treaty and remained friends and Gorkhas fought for the Britsh.
Britian ruled over entire indian sub continent and wanted to conquer Nepal but the fierce gorkhali soilders fought till death saved the sovereignty of their nation.
The name gurkha actually comes from a Nepali District "Gorkha" . Prtihivi Narayan Shah was king of Gorkha who later on united the nation by winning over other small states ruled by other Nepali kings and British rulers. And in Nepal we dont use the word "Gurkha" we say " Gorkhali" for the soilders.
Its an honour really in Nepal for someone to be called a Gorkhali Soilder.
And its fascinating that a country which promotes peace which is so beautiful with unbelievably kind hearted and welcoming people has people who will basically die and kill for their nation rather than living in shame.
Its and honour to be Nepali . our nation is poor and under developed but we live in a land of Gorkhalis which was never conqured by any other power and thats something to be proud forever.
My brother in law's dad served in the Gurkha rifles, based in Aldershot. A fierce group by reputation, but some of the most gentle, kind and generous men you could ever meet.
We love our Gurkhas, to see how fierce they are there's a Jeremy Clarkson video on the Victoria cross with a few Gurkhas receiving it.
my dad fought with the ghurkas and he said they were such lovely people.
Near where I live some retired Ghurka soldiers are employed to drive buses in rough areas where other drivers were being hassled by drunks and silly youths. The Ghurka drivers don't seem to have the hassle the other drivers did. Nobody wants to upset them lol.
This was a brilliant programme. I never knew much about the Gurkhas, only that they were very loyal and brave. Fascinating stuff.
We love the Gurkhas. As well as Nepalis, Irish citizens and citizens of any Commonwealth country can apply to join the UK military. Due to the UK legacy, the Gurkhas are also recruited by the Indian Army and the Singapore police. The Sultan of Brunei has about 2,000 ex British Army Ghurkas as his personal bodyguard.
Not ex British Army Gurkhas , they are one of the Gurkha Regiments who are posted to Brunei for a few years then return to the UK ,and another Gurkha Regiment is posted there
@@duncancallum It's not a bad bodyguard.
Why are Irish citizens in the British army. ????
@@Stand663 I don't know if they are, but they are free to apply if they wish. Irish citizens have exactly the same rights and privileges as UK citizens, while they are in the UK. They can vote, they also become an MP, if they so wish.
@@duncancallum The praetorian guard of the Sultan are all ex British army gurkhas. Known as the Gurkha Reserve Unit.
Gurkha are known to be .
Dedicated
Fearless
Never give in... NEVER..
Highly respected by uk military
My dad was one of the riflemen in royal gorkha ( 10GR) ….happy to see people appreciate there sacrifices…I always looked up to him n wanted to walk in his foot step but couldn’t cause of mi health problems .anyway happy to c people support for the gorkha
I love the ghurka's we've got many in wiltshire.
I live in an army garrison town in England and a lot of the retired ghurkas families have opened up nepalese restaurants in the town. They are amazing people.
Lucky you 😁😁no need to cook ever again .
@@greenspringy1 I wish.
Hard as nails the gurkha's, run all day, nobody better in jungle warfare...and so humble to talk to...lovely people unless you get on wrong side of them....
We are extremely proud of our Gurkhas they are and always will be very special to us Brits . Xx
These guys get a lot of respect from the British public because their history in the army more than warrants it. Lot of VCs won by the Gurkhas.
Very true but disgrace that even after their service they are refused citizenship in UK whilst our borders are wide open to terrorists and criminals.
When I was a kid I lived not too far from Aldershot, an army garrison town. When we went into town the Gurkhas stood out. Generally smart, polite young men in a blazer and ghurka tie.
Beside the Maori's of New Zealand the Gurkha's are one of the only people we never beat. The story I heard of why the Gurkha's fight for us is that a Scottish Major got fed up with fighting them and went to see the head man they were impressed with this mans daring and agreed to fight for us. The important thing is that British officers have to learn some Nepalese. I'd say we are lower Nepal is in the Himalayas ie Mount Everest
They are mainly Hindu warriors with their roots going back to an 8th century Hindu warrior, Guru Gorakhnath who had inspired Hindu warriors to defeat the first calphiate muslim armies invasions into India.So it was not surprising that one Gurkha took out 30 taliban years ago when in duty in Afganistan.The kukri he probably used to behead some of them as claimed was probably used to sacrifise the jihadis to Goddess Kali
There are so many things that people outside of Britain do not know about our history, structure etc., and it's a shame because some of those people are those who shout the loudest about things like abolishing the monarchy. It is somewhat gratifying to see your interest and the connections felt. Great reactions videos. 👍
We love, respect and are for ever grateful for their service. God bless
The British soldier at 17:39 genuinely seems emotionally invested and sounds like really cares about those candidates. He seems to respect their culture too, with how fluent his accent is when speaking their language ❤
Such an interesting watch, I agree it would have been nice to see the training further along! ‘13 hours that saved Britain’ is a great documentary to watch, Also ‘know your ally: Britain’ is another great one from the perspective of the American army teaching its soldiers about The British.
Hey Kim thanks for the recommendations. I'll bookmark them for later.
There are loads of videos on here showing various stages of Gurkha traing in the UK try Forces TV ad there have been TV series again on here.
@@sjbict nice thanks, I will check them out 😊
My both Grandfather were in the Burma campaign 1945 during WW2. Later my maternal Grandfather was awarded Military cross in 1946. I never got to see him .. he passed away after the retirement.. my father was a Gurkha too 1970 until 1992. And I tried my luck as well in 1999.but my slight bit of eye sight problem stopped me from progressing …
One of the toughest, most respected, valued and disciplined regiments not just in the British Army but in the world.
The Gurkhas are based in out town in Kent, always well dressed and always very polite.
As a British person, I and I believe I can speak for most of the British people, are incredibly proud of our Gurkha regiment.
They are the most incredible young men! Their bravery, strength, loyalty and stamina are second to none in the world!!! 💕💕💕💕
I love the way Americans are blown away by history timelines! It reminds you how young America still is. The Gurkha's are loved by the British people, monarchy and rest of the military
We fought them 200 years ago during our Empire expansion and recognized they were great fighting men. They have served us faithfully ever since. God bless them.
I have wonderful memories of the Ghurkas my Father served with, best soldiers, great men.
Have a look on UA-cam of the Gurkhas changing the guard, they're well respected here in the UK, I hope you find out more about your ancestry
Thanks Mike and i'll check it out.
My cousin is Brigadier Patrick Reehal MBE , he is now The Colonel Of The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment. He organised the logistics of the Queens funeral. His story in the Armed forces is amazing 👏
Thank you for making this video. I come from Gurkhas. There is not a single house in my village that does not have a Gurkhas. Specially, Mongolian people such as Gurung (myself), Magar, Pun, Rai and Limbu so on joins Gurkhas because it’s kind of tradition and prides in our communities as well as better future. Since 1800 we have been serving in Indian Gurkha army, Singapore police and British Gurkha.
Gurkhas,best of the best.
I'm British,and I am proud to have the Gurkhas here.
Glad you found the video recommendation useful. I was privileged to see some of the Gurkhas drilling at the Duke of Wellington Barracks in London only a few days before the Queen's passing.
Thank you gurkas for your service from a British one of a best soilders goning
The are part of the Kings( still doesn’t sound right) body guards. One of our “personality’s” went to recieve an medal off the Queen,stood behind her were 2 Gurkhas, on moving away he stumbled a little bit,he said the Gurkas immediately stood a step forward and put their hands on their knives,he said his blood went cold.. They are one of the most respected units of the British Army ,respected BY the British military.
I agree Kings Guard does not sound right, maybe one of their Grand kids will be ok to replace the Queen the ones we have now are not up to it.
I love theirs loyalty and discipline.
Waiting for a flight i met three retired Gurkhas and their families waiting to travel back to Nepal. Such interesting guys and so polite to me asking questions into their service and lives. I was sad to part on my journey, i could have talked with them for hours.
Britain can be very proud of these guys who serve our country. Respect.
The Gurkhas make the US Marine Corps look like Tom Daley's Knitting Club.
They are the best of the best and loyal to the crown god bless them
We couldn’t beat them, so we encouraged them to join us!
A polite and always well dressed soldier. Shirt, tie and jacket when off duty in the bar. Quiet, unassuming. Proud of their heritage. In military speak.. Dangerous.
My husband was very interested in history of wars and the military. He always spoke highly of the Gurkhas.
I’m glad you’re looking into them.
New sub here, I love your curiosity about so many topics!
Easy to learn about so much nowadays, we should be grateful.
Spent a day with the Ghurka Welfare Trust in Pokrah, Nepal in 2019 whilst on a trip there. I had known them previously throughout my life but that was the most interesting day of my trip, They are great soldiers but also amazing people as well.
So many people from foreign thanking and feeling proud of us (Gurkhas) in this comment section. Thank you all from Nepal.
Every Nepali who has worn the uniform has earned that pride the hard way mate. Long may this special relationship flourish.
They're literally the most humble, polite people you'll ever meet, and as a Brit I mean that sincerely. But they're trained by the British Army, have amazing discipline and are absolutely fierce on the battlefield. During the Falklands war, Argentinian troops shat themselves when they heard the Gurkhas were coming for them in their trenches. They're masters of trench warfare and scaring the shit out of their enemies. They're fearless, smart, well disciplined, well trained and not afraid of facing death. Not somebody you'd want to face on the battlefield.
it's after 1814-1816 anglo- nepal war, that british got impressed by neplese fighting skill that decided neples to have in their army, and they continued to recruit aven after they left India.
The Gurkhas are fierce. My Great Uncle fought along them in WWII. He said he was glad he was fighting with them not against them. I liked the story when they were asked to jump out of a plane at a certain number of feet. They came back and asked if they could first jump at half that number of feet. The officer replied no because the parachutes wouldn't open and work properly at that hight, once they found out they would have parachutes they had no problem jumping at the allotted height.
Hearing that the Gurkha's are coming is either the best possible news you can hear (if they're on your side), or the worst possible news you can hear (if you're not).
As a British veteran, I'll happily testify to the immense respect and fondness that is held for the Gurkhas. Units and services may have rivalries or banter, but the Gurkhas are disrespected by none.
Feeling proud that people are curious to know us 💓
We are so proud as Brits to have these brave men in our armed forces......
The British army conquered every country they decided to invade, until they tried to conquer Nepal, we couldn’t beat them mainly because of the terrain and their ferocity. If you can’t beat them recruit them. I’ve worked with Gurkha soldiers and they are the most unassuming people you could meet until they meet an enemy, and then they become a formidable force. The Gurkhas have won 13 Victoria crosses which is almost unprecedented in a single Regiment in the British Army.
Not a bad answer, except you forgot about my neighbours, the Kiwis. The British signed the treaty of Waitangi, because they couldn’t beat them. They were good learners and fantastic sappers and soon built structures that were capable of withstanding artillery barrages.
@@mareky1234 Maoris. All Maoris are Kiwis, but not all Kiwis are Maoris.
It has to be said, however, that the Kiwis are not too shabby, either - nor the Ozzies.
One of my uncles, who was a Desert Rat, had enormous respect for the Anzacs -
"Everyone would want a Digger by their side in a fox-hole!".
Not entirely convinced he had the option of a Gurkha, though. ;)
Unfortunately, the British Army may have conquered the land by brute force but they truly failed to conquer the hearts of the people living in these invaded lands. This means this invasion carried no glory. The sun eventually set on the empire so it was all a bit temporary. Hardly seemed worth the bloodshed in my opinion.
@@rr-jp7kg I dunno, they managed to end slavery throughout the empire and stopped the European slave trade and African slave trade, with their money. You might not believe slavery was bad, if it weren't for the British telling you it was.
That industrial revolution they had, kick-started the modern world we live in. Trains - invented in Britain - had to run on time and a universal time was adopted. It caught on.
Then, the people of the empire (Commonwealth) managed to save Britain's arse in WWII, long before others were either willing or capable of helping out, so it came in handy... for everyone, not just the British.
Was it Cruel Britannia? Yes. In Britain, children as young as 4 years-of-age were being stuck up chimneys or down mines, so the cruelty was not reserved for the colonies. The average age of an industrial worker was 25.
Thank goodness that empire has disappeared! But, the sun never sets on the Commonwealth, so in the long run, it was worth it.
@@rr-jp7kg the Empire became the Commonwealth, like all nations who had an empire we did some terrible things, but look at all of them. The French, German, Portuguese, Spanish etc non of these developed into an organisation of friendly nations, in fact nations like Mozambique (Portuguese) have joined. South Sudan, Surinam, Burundi and Somaliland have applied to join all former colonies of other nations. The British empire was the most benign of any the world has known created mostly for trade. You can keep your petty bitterness and live in a world as it was 200 years ago, but have a look at how many nations of the world still bear the Union flag on their flag, even an American state (Hawaii) bears it.
Gurkhas are the very best partner, you can have fighting beside you. He will give his life to save yours.
They have been used many, many times at a time of any war. They also have the greatest respect form all the British public. It is their highest honour for a Gurkha to be a part of the Kings guards.
Tough as nails - very reliable with any assignment they are given. Nothing but the very best becomes a Gurkha.
We have great respect for the Gurkhas here, I had the privilege of working on their base in Maidstone, whilst running a project for young people. People I met could not be nicer.
Fantastic lads - always had massive respect for the Gurhkas. They've always been the paragon of professional soldiers - tough, loyal and committed soldiers, in peace and in their garrison towns and adopted country, decent, upstanding and perfect gentlemen. Put a lot of home grown soldiers to shame to be honest. Thanks fellas.
My grandad fought against the Japanese in WWII alongside the Gurkhas and he has always said that those warriors pulled them out of the fire several times. Utmost respect for the Gurkhas.
My Grandfather Uncle Was A British Gurkha Soldier Army 2nd World War And His Father Also British Gurkha Soldier 1st World War.