[P/O W. 'Moggy' Cattermole]

"The finest men you could ever meet." to quote a soldier i met while at Camp.

"Unlike the British squaddie after nine pints of Stella, Johnny Gurkha remains approachable and likeable and shows no sign of the usual wear & tear associated with going on the lash - a skill no doubt learnt from wizened old monks high above the snowline of the Himalayas. Do not engage in the following:

A fight - you will lose. You may possibly end up in the cooked meat section in Sainsbury's at 45p/Lb.
A drinking competition - see above without the Sainsbury's bit." to quote the british army rumour service.















I greatly admire the gurkhas, i think they're a fantastic lot. This post was really to share a few pics i've found of them, but also to act as a tribute to them. Enjoy!

Ayo Gorkhali!

[fabianfred]

During my 25 years of service with the British Army as a REME Armourer, I had the pleasure of serving alongside the Gurkhas on several occasions.
First was when I was posted to the Staff at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. The gurkhas had just arrived in the UK for the first time and where stationed just down the road at Church Crookham. These were the 7th D.E.O. Gurkha Rifles and were used to provide enemy and labour during the overseas exercises in Cyprus. I went on two of these month long trips and enjoyed the close company and friendship of these guys...the first Asians I had lived among.
As a coincidence my home was also in Church Crookham, so i was able to visit my new friends at their camp there.
At the end of my service I was posted to HongKong as the Armourer S/Sgt. with the 2/2nd K.E.O. Gurkhas and the 10th.P.M.O. and stayed there for three years. Their main job was patrolling the border with China in the New territories.

I shall always look fondly on my time spent with them all.

[109dude]

There's a campaign to get equal justice for Gurkhas, I think after all they have done for the UK they deserve everything the regular British citizens enjoy.

[Guest]

I have also served with them and to a man they are tough, polite, smart, intelligent and friendly. The British army is very fortunate to include these soldiers within its ranks.

To be treated in the manner that they have been by successive governments is shameful. When I look at the way the UK Govt. opens its doors to some of the lowest forms of life from across the world it makes their treatment of the Gurkhas and their families inexcusable.

It is time they were given the recognition that they so richly deserve.


GJE52

[P/O W. 'Moggy' Cattermole]

The campaign for equal justice is working; i was under the impression, as they are allowing all Gurkhas, veterans and not, to live in the UK now. It was terrible the way that the Gurkhas were treated, and happily, things are changing.
Joana Lumley headed a campaign for eqaul rights for them; i for one believe they definitely deserve it. Ayo Gorkhali!

[Trooper117]

Politics, politics... what this thread has come to, I dunno..
However, there are two sides to every story of course.. The press, who lets face it like to sensationalise everything, otherwise it won't sell it's newspapers, are as usual, along with the likes of Miss Lumley and others who like to get their faces in the tabloids, are not telling you the whole picture.
I worked many times with the Gurkhas, had a platoon of em to play with on a regular basis.. I used to live with em and eat with em, and talked with many on this issue.. most by the way, are chuffed to bits to go back home when they have finished their tour with the British army.
You must also realise, that every single one of them understand their terms of service when they enlist, they haven't been forced or press ganged into the forces, and by the way, they are fiercely proud to be part of the British army under those rules and conditions..
Lets not start having a go at the government that I serve, just because as usual the token celebrities and press have jumped on the bandwagon to champion a cause that the vast majority of Gurkha are actualy happy with..
I suggest you go and actualy talk to some serving Gurkhas before you start jumping on this particular political bandwagon old chap..

[P/O W. 'Moggy' Cattermole]

Give me a few years to reach the ol' army and then i shall gladly talk to them; so far the closest i've done is marched about two 40 or so cadets past them once (god knows what they were doing there, as it was at crowborough camp, a camp specifically for cadets), and there wasn't much opportunity to shake any gurkha's hands.

I know i don't know everything about it; no way near. But even so, the treatment of them, especially some of the older veterans sturck me as rather unfair.

[Trooper117]

Don't get me wrong.. if I ran the country and made the rules, every flippin one of them would have the chance to live here, but unfortunately I don't..
also remember that competiition to join their Regiment is fierce, and there are many applicants for each place offered, so if things were that unfair they wouldn't be trying to join in droves..

[KG64_Ðørvånski]

they're okay, not the best.

[GeneralPsycho]

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