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April 02, 2003
The Gurkhas Have Arrived
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (ACCNS) -- Security at this forward deployed location has taken on a formidable new dimension. After adding layers of concertina wire, K-9s and four contingents of law enforcement, officials at the British installation have added a regiment nothing short of legendary. The Gurkhas, the world-renowned Nepali special forces contingent of the British Army, have hunkered down here, alongside Air Force Security Forces and local police. For the elite light infantry unit, hunkering down is a simple process, and one of the unit's many extraordinary capabilities. British Army Major Neil Stevens, the Battalion Second in Command of 2nd Royal Gurkha Rifles regiment, explained why his unit is so valuable. "We can move anywhere in the world on 24 hours' notice," Major Stevens said. "We're ready to go anywhere, anytime." He said the Gurkhas, rely on flexibility and operational experience. They are configured and used like the U.S. Army Rangers or U.S. Marines. They are also martial artists, airborne tacticians and masters at cover and concealment. As they patrol the perimeter here they'll be drawing upon a more intangible quality – their reputation. "Our capability is backed up by history," Major Stevens said. "We've received more Victoria Crosses than any other unit." The Gurkhas have been honored 26 times with the cross, the British equivalent of America's Medal of Honor. Their heritage is ripe with operational experience. After a British expeditionary conflict in Nepal in the early 19th century, the Royal Army was so impressed with the Gurkha fighters that it recruited and constructed special regiments of the elite soldiers. Since it's inception in 1815, the mostly Nepali force in composition and culture has participated in every significant campaign and many lesser-known military endeavors. "In the last two years we've been everywhere the British Army's been, from East Timor to Afghanistan," Major Stevens said. Their reputation is also tethered to their "ethos" -- adherence to a strict, self-imposed code of honor and discipline. "We must be loyal, honest, well-trained," explained a rifleman standing in front of perfectly arranged cots flush and grounded at their encampment here. "We are very experienced, especially in jungle warfare." A more recognizable trademark is their long and lethal Kukri knife, a symbol of their legacy and lethality. The Gurkhas are working with the four agencies already securing this base, including Security Forces, RAF and Ministry of Defense Police and local constabularies. "We're very happy to be working with the MOD police and U.S. Forces," a Gurkha rifleman said. "We are not sure about the conflict with Iraq and we don't know what will happen, but we're here now and we're happy to help." Security Forces officials agree and are also happy to have the boost in capability, said Capt. Woody Boyd, the security forces commander at another deployed location, currently assisting in orchestrating the defense of this base. "I can remember 12 years ago as an airman hearing people talk about Gurkhas and what they are capable of doing," Captain Boyd said. "The Gurkha is an extremely professional soldier and we're extremely honored to work with them. It definitely enhances security." Security forces officials indicated the regiment will be deployed on the perimeter to thwart any intruders. It will also serve as a last line of defense before armed Air Force security forces on the airfield. Major Stevens alluded to the employment of a balance of conventional policing and stealthy tactics. "We intend to be very visible during the day for the purpose of deterrence," Major Stevens said. "But at night it's another matter. We'll be configured accordingly." From the Air Combat Command News Service Can you please add links to the story you quote in the excerpt instead of making us click to get it?? thanks Posted by: robert at April 2, 2003 10:46 AM"As they patrol the perimeter here they'll be drawing upon a more intangible quality – their reputation." I sure wouldn't want to mess with them. That reputation reaches mythic proportions. "Can you please add links to the story you quote in the excerpt instead of making us click to get it??" Oh. My. Gawd. You had to click one. more. time. to get to the link. Tell me, does your genitalia hurt like this all the time? Behold, brothers and sisters, the awe inspiring power of DOOFUS! Posted by: Eichra Oren at April 2, 2003 11:07 AMI clicked on over to the official Gurkha site and learned that the British had so much admiration and respect for the skills and honor of their enemies (the Nepalese, and I'm paraphrasing), eventually they recruited 'em, and thus, the Gurkhas were formed. I wouldn't want to mess with them, either. As far as I'm concerned, with the arrival of the Gurkhas, the war is over except for the mopping up. Posted by: Kathleen at April 2, 2003 11:22 AMBig smile here. Glad the Gurkhas are on site. Tough, ruthless bastards, and apparently the nicest guys you will ever meet. Ayo Gurkhali!! (traditional Gurkha war cry - it means "the Ghurkas are here." Nuff said. Posted by: T. Hartin at April 2, 2003 11:29 AMBritain woke up to bad news this morning - photos in many of the newspapers of the desecration of the Etaples cemetary in France, where 11,000 Brits from WW1 are buried. Among other things, the defacement said "Dig up your garbage. It is fouling our soil" No sign yet of the profuse apology Chirac owes to the British people. But now - some encouraging news. The Ghurkas have been deployed ! It would be impossible to exaggerate the morale-booster that is. Those Nepalese have been our staunchest fighting allies for generations, a reputation as strong as the ANZACs. 26 Victoria Crosses - epic fighters. Pity help the Iraqis if the Ghurkas are sent into action. A holiday tip. Don't go to France this year, or even Tahiti, lovely though it is. Try Nepal, walk their high hills. Posted by: JohninLondon at April 2, 2003 11:33 AMMy dad fought along side the Gurkhas in WWII and always talked about their courage and fighting abilities. This is great news. Posted by: John Davies at April 2, 2003 11:39 AMThose guys are something else. I saw a story on them on them on the History channel, apparently their ancestry and living in high altitudes where the terrain is nothing but rocky slopes gives them almost superhuman strength and endurance. Tough dudes. I recall hearing about Argentinian troopers pretty much wetting themselves in the Falklands when the Gurkahs deployed. Seems like about the only sensible thing to do. Orion Posted by: Orion at April 2, 2003 12:22 PMMy personal wish right now: We send the ghurkas to go after the Feda-weenies holed up in the Ali mosque in Najaf... Back in the 80's and 90's there was a move in some British military circles to disband the unit. That would have been a major mistake. I once worked with a guy named Ahmsu from Nepal who tried to become part of the Ghurkas once back in his youth. Evidently it's a real badge of honor in Nepal and an *extremely* competitive process, with 100 or more applicants for every position. Ahmsu worked out faithfully for a year, learned to speak English with a British accent, worked through several self study courses of military history and got recommendations from everybody that he could think of (his father was a local politician, so he had access to more people than most). But in the end it was to no avail. He was sent home without a position. Despite the fact that Ahmsu is now 50+ and a successful IT consultant in the US you can still hear in his voice that he would rather have had "the one that got away". Posted by: Bucko at April 2, 2003 12:40 PMAll interested, go here: http://www.army.mod.uk/brigade_of_gurkhas/hqbg/vcs/index.htm and read about the VCs awarded the Gurkhas. Their exploits in the '40s are amazing - and several of them record, "The enemy fled in terror." Heh. Posted by: Kathleen at April 2, 2003 12:53 PMDuring a wargame just before the Afgan war an observer was watching a group of 4 Gurkhas sneak up on a position. They dropped their weapons and charged it at a run drew their long blades and simulated cutting the throats of the defenders much to the shock of the observer. Deploy them in Israel. You'dd have peace in six months,the PA disbanded and elections for real leaders of a demorcratic Arab state Posted by: P. Ingemi at April 2, 2003 02:44 PMIt is said that once drawn, a Gurkha blade cannot be resheathed until it has drawn blood. That kind of tradition makes the wearer of such a blade very circumspect in coming to a boil. Cheers... Posted by: AlexPGP at April 2, 2003 04:09 PMTHere was joke during the Falklands war. Sorry Alex: "It is important to remember that the kukri is a tool of all work, at home in the hills and on active service it will be used for cutting wood, hunting and skinning, opening tins, clearing undergrowth and any other chore. From this it is plain there can be no truth in the belief that a Gurkha must draw blood every time before he may return the kukri to its sheath." http://www.army.mod.uk/brigade_of_gurkhas/history/Kukri_History.htm quote from story above: ...After a British expeditionary conflict in Nepal in the early 19th century, the Royal Army was so impressed with the Gurkha fighters that it recruited and constructed special regiments of the elite soldiers.... Whomsover wrote it obviously knew nothing of the history of the Gurkhas or of the British Army. 1. The first regiments of Gurkhas were raised by the Honourable East India Company for service under that company (a very private concern). The British Army did not take any Gurkha units on charge until the HEI Company Army was disbanded as a result of the Indian Mutiny of 1856-57. This is even alluded to in the website appended in the story 2. There is no such creature as the "Royal Army" - mention this to the British Army and be howled down with much glee. The British Army came from a tradition of units raised by their Colonel on contract from the Crown. Parliament ensured that, as a result of the English Civiel Wars and the Interregnum of the 17th Century that the Army was to be subservient to it not the crown - hence no "Royal Army" The RN was a raised directly by the crown (the crown paid for the ships, their equipment and personnel not throgh a "contractor") and, though passing to the control of Parliament at the same time as the Army, retained the title. The RAF was raised under "modern rules" in 1918. Similarly there has never been a "Royal Australian Army" or "Royal Canadian Army", etc they have always been just the Australian Army or Canadian Army or Indian Army (under the Raj) or New Zealand Army, etc... Cheers quote from story above: ...After a British expeditionary conflict in Nepal in the early 19th century, the Royal Army was so impressed with the Gurkha fighters that it recruited and constructed special regiments of the elite soldiers.... Whomsover wrote it obviously knew nothing of the history of the Gurkhas or of the British Army. 1. The first regiments of Gurkhas were raised by the Honourable East India Company for service under that company (a very private concern). The British Army did not take any Gurkha units on charge until the HEI Company Army was disbanded as a result of the Indian Mutiny of 1856-57. This is even alluded to in the website appended in the story 2. There is no such creature as the "Royal Army" - mention this to the British Army and be howled down with much glee. The British Army came from a tradition of units raised by their Colonel on contract from the Crown. Parliament ensured that, as a result of the English Civil Wars and the Interregnum of the 17th Century that the Army was to be subservient to Parliament not the crown - hence no "Royal Army" The RN was a raised directly by the crown (the crown paid for the ships, their equipment and personnel not throgh a "contractor") and, though passing to the control of Parliament at the same time as the Army, retained the title. The RAF was raised under "modern rules" in 1918. Similarly there has never been a "Royal Australian Army" or "Royal Canadian Army", etc they have always been just the Australian Army or Canadian Army or Indian Army (under the Raj) or New Zealand Army, etc... Cheers quote from story above: ...After a British expeditionary conflict in Nepal in the early 19th century, the Royal Army was so impressed with the Gurkha fighters that it recruited and constructed special regiments of the elite soldiers.... Whomsover wrote it obviously knew nothing of the history of the Gurkhas or of the British Army. 1. The first regiments of Gurkhas were raised by the Honourable East India Company for service under that company (a very private concern). The British Army did not take any Gurkha units on charge until the HEI Company Army was disbanded as a result of the Indian Mutiny of 1856-57. This is even alluded to in the website appended in the story 2. There is no such creature as the "Royal Army" - mention this to the British Army and be howled down with much glee. The British Army came from a tradition of units raised by their Colonel on contract from the Crown. Parliament ensured that, as a result of the English Civil Wars and the Interregnum of the 17th Century that the Army was to be subservient to Parliament not the crown - hence no "Royal Army" The RN was a raised directly by the crown (the crown paid for the ships, their equipment and personnel not throgh a "contractor") and, though passing to the control of Parliament at the same time as the Army, retained the title. The RAF was raised under "modern rules" in 1918. Similarly there has never been a "Royal Australian Army" or "Royal Canadian Army", etc they have always been just the Australian Army or Canadian Army or Indian Army (under the Raj) or New Zealand Army, etc... Cheers hey guys,about the commments with regarding the khukri,like Ben told that its a weapon for every little purpose in hills ,thats true and the other fact that once its drawn from its myan(cover)its has to have blood on it ,if not enemies then its their own,a respect for the godess of power and khukri that has let gurkhas renowned all over,that happens after the soldiers pray to goddess of power before the war and get deployed to the war zone to swip all of the enemies. "Ayo Gorkhali". Posted by: achyut kattel (nepal) at April 6, 2003 12:26 PM"mess with the best die like the rest." My great grandfather served in the 1st Gurkha Rifles. Martial tradition is a way of life among Gurkhas and it was a family profession in most families till the turn of the millenium. Loyalty, courage and honor are social traditions.Hence, Gurkhas perform to their code of "its better to die than live a coward". It feels very good that all you nice people recognise the contributions and courage of us Gurkhas. Posted by: diwakar rana at July 10, 2003 05:39 PMPost a comment
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