18.12.2008, 19:31
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.
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.