The musings of a politically incorrect dinosaur from a forgotten age where civility was the rule rather than the exception.
Webster
The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions." --American Statesman Daniel Webster (1782-1852)
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
"Come and Fight a Gurkha"
I ran across this article and I really liked it. My friend Old NFO likes to feature Gurkha's in his Military Science Fiction. He portrays them as fierce warriors, steadfast soldiers, totally honorable and uncorruptible and loyal to their officers and the ideals. I have known about Gurkha's since I started reading about WWII as a kid and the knife was legendary.
The kukri is effective as a chopping weapon, due to its weight, and
slashing weapon, because the curved shape creates a "wedge" effect which
causes the blade to cut effectively and deeper. Because the blade bends
towards the opponent, the user need not angle the wrist while executing
a chopping motion. Unlike a straight-edged sword, the center of mass combined with the angle of the blade allow the kukri to slice as it chops.
The edge slides across the target's surface while the center of mass
maintains momentum as the blade moves through the target's
cross-section. This gives the kukri a penetrative force disproportional
to its length. The design enables the user to inflict deep wounds and to
penetrate bone.
Utility
While
most famed from use in the military, the kukri is the most commonly used
multipurpose tool in the fields and homes in Nepal. Its use has varied
from building, clearing, chopping firewood, digging, slaughtering
animals for food, cutting meat and vegetables, skinning animals, and
opening cans. Its use as a general farm and household tool disproves the
often stated "taboo" that the weapon cannot be sheathed "until it has
drawn blood".
The kukri is versatile. It can function as a smaller knife by
using the narrower part of the blade, closest to the handle. The heavier
and wider end of the blade, towards the tip, functions as an axe or a
small shovel.
Former Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw of the Indian Army once said: “If a
man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a
Gurkha.” Correct, but what is a Gurkha?
In 1814, the East India Company began making “excursions” into the
Kingdom of Nepal, believing the Nepalis would be pushovers. They were
wrong. Not only did their invasion hurt their pockets, but it also cost
them dearly regarding personnel.
What malaria or desertion did not claim, the Gurkhas did. By the time
the Anglo-Nepalese War ended in 1816 with a truce, the British had
learned not to underestimate their foe. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Others noticed it also, which is why various countries currently
regularly recruit Gurkhas.
Originally from the Nepali district of Gorkha, they now come from all
over the country. They are renowned for their service in the British
Army and have fought in many contemporary wars forming part of the
Coalition Forces in Iraq.
They are willing to serve the British (and other foreign nations) due
to poverty – an unfortunate state of affairs that still exists today.
“Service” does not do justice to what it is they do, which is why many
have gone down in legend.
One such man was Lachhiman Gurung, born on December 30, 1917, in the
village of Dakhani, Tahani District, Nepal. He was very poor. So much so
that by 1940, he stood a mere 4’11” tall as a result of deprivation and
malnutrition. Fortunately, he was tough.
Gurung had repeatedly tried to join the British Indian Army. Being so
short and puny even by Nepali standards, the authorities had declined.
As WWII progressed, the British needed everyone, so the 23-year-old
finally joined the British Indian Army in December 1940. What he lacked
in size, he more than made up for regarding sheer determination. He
earned himself a place as a rifleman in the 4th Battalion, 8th Gurkha Rifles.
In late April 1945, his battalion crossed the Irrawaddy River into Burma (now Myanmar) with the 89th Indian Infantry Brigade of the 7th Indian Infantry Division. Their mission was to attack Japanese positions north of the Prome-Taungup Road.
You are welcome and I am glad that Britain is doing right by them, they have helped spread the glory of Britain all over the world and their reputation I am sure has chilled out more than one tinhorn wanna be
Good history, and glad the Brits finally owned up to what they owed the Ghurkas!
ReplyDeleteHey Old NFO;
DeleteYou are welcome and I am glad that Britain is doing right by them, they have helped spread the glory of Britain all over the world and their reputation I am sure has chilled out more than one tinhorn wanna be
In the Falklands the Argentines heard the Ghurkas were coming and they abandoned their positions.
DeleteWhere can I get that style of Kukri Shown in the Picture
ReplyDeleteHey Sabre22
DeleteHere is the link https://nepalkhukurihouse.com/default/11-5-eagle-survival-rust-free-kukri.html About $155
Thank you found it
Delete