Ghurkas and what sets them apart.
Discussion
Anyone else listen to Jeremy Vine this lunch time?*
He was speaking to the chairman of the (IIRC) British Ghurka Welfare Trust about the situation in Nepal.
Vine: "So what are your immediate thoughts about what's happened?"
Ghurka (without a hint of hesitation):
"Well our religious training tells us to stay calm and think with an open mind....."
And that's in addition to the "A big guy with a little knife and a frown isn't nearly as intimidating as a little guy with a big knife and a smile" thing.
*I don't normally listen to Whiney Viney and his fish wives, but I was up a ladder, painting so just let it run....ok?
He was speaking to the chairman of the (IIRC) British Ghurka Welfare Trust about the situation in Nepal.
Vine: "So what are your immediate thoughts about what's happened?"
Ghurka (without a hint of hesitation):
"Well our religious training tells us to stay calm and think with an open mind....."
And that's in addition to the "A big guy with a little knife and a frown isn't nearly as intimidating as a little guy with a big knife and a smile" thing.
*I don't normally listen to Whiney Viney and his fish wives, but I was up a ladder, painting so just let it run....ok?
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 28th April 15:47
This may well be a forces urban legend but I sorely hope its true
The Ghurkas and Marines (IIRC) were on a joint Escape and Evasion exercise, the Marines the escapees the Ghurkas the hunters
A Marine finds a massive bush, cuts himself a small entry, ties the offcuts into a plug to bung the hole and hides in this bush for 48 hours.
The whistles sounds and 'END EX' is shouted. Mr Marine all chuffed with himself crawls out and stands up to return to the trucks. Only to find his shoelaces had been tied together whilst he slept by a Ghurka.
The Ghurkas and Marines (IIRC) were on a joint Escape and Evasion exercise, the Marines the escapees the Ghurkas the hunters
A Marine finds a massive bush, cuts himself a small entry, ties the offcuts into a plug to bung the hole and hides in this bush for 48 hours.
The whistles sounds and 'END EX' is shouted. Mr Marine all chuffed with himself crawls out and stands up to return to the trucks. Only to find his shoelaces had been tied together whilst he slept by a Ghurka.
R8VXF said:
badassoftheweek.com said:
This was Die Hard without the cowboy references. Delta Force without Lee Marvin. Under Siege without the Dramamine. And Passenger 57 without the always betting on black thing.
I live in Aldershot, we have the largest Buddhist population the UK apparently, and some bloody nice Nepalese restaurants
I met a (British) lieutenant in the RGR some time back, he'd been out to Nepal on recruitment/selection. Apparently competition to get in is so high the tests are seriously hard, he reckoned a lot of his intake at Sandhurst would have struggled with the Maths and English tests.
I met a (British) lieutenant in the RGR some time back, he'd been out to Nepal on recruitment/selection. Apparently competition to get in is so high the tests are seriously hard, he reckoned a lot of his intake at Sandhurst would have struggled with the Maths and English tests.
Bit off topic but we used to have an Ex Ghurka called Tony (prob not his real name) who worked in our local hotel and often worked on the bar. Very nice guy and always willing to chat and have a laugh. They used to sell pringles in miniature tubes and one friday night Tony came over to the table and said he could break the plastic lid on the empty pringles tube with his thumb. Obviously a few of us tried is, i think one even fractured his thumb but nothing. Tony strolls over, takes aim and with one hit manages to push his thumb through the plastic lid while its still attached to the tube.
I know its not a cool story but gave me insight to how tough they are.
I know its not a cool story but gave me insight to how tough they are.
^^^
Urban military myth also tells of a bunch of Ghurkas being briefed for "jumping out of a Hercules at low level, landing in the sea" with the height of the drop being 500 feet or so.
Lots of muttering amongst the Ghurkas after which their nominated spokesman steps up and asks the PJIs if they can reduce that height to 100 feet to make it safer
PJI: "100 feet?! Safer? But your parachutes won't have time to open!"
Ghurka: "Ah, you never said anything about having parachutes"
So they all turned up apparently ready and willing to fling themselves from a C130 in to the sea from 100feet.
Mental, in a must-not-fail.....must not fail....kinda way.
Urban military myth also tells of a bunch of Ghurkas being briefed for "jumping out of a Hercules at low level, landing in the sea" with the height of the drop being 500 feet or so.
Lots of muttering amongst the Ghurkas after which their nominated spokesman steps up and asks the PJIs if they can reduce that height to 100 feet to make it safer
PJI: "100 feet?! Safer? But your parachutes won't have time to open!"
Ghurka: "Ah, you never said anything about having parachutes"
So they all turned up apparently ready and willing to fling themselves from a C130 in to the sea from 100feet.
Mental, in a must-not-fail.....must not fail....kinda way.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 28th April 16:37
The best story I've heard was when a young lieutenant in a truck with a Gurkha driver told him to drive straight over the roundabout.
The driver looked a bit concerned but did as he was told and ploughed straight the damn thing!
I've never met one who wasn't polite and cheerful. Big shame what's going on I Nepal right now.
The driver looked a bit concerned but did as he was told and ploughed straight the damn thing!
I've never met one who wasn't polite and cheerful. Big shame what's going on I Nepal right now.
matthias73 said:
I've never met one who wasn't polite and cheerful. Big shame what's going on I Nepal right now.
Couldn't agree more on both parts. Me lots of Ghurkas when I lived in Otterburn, every one of them were happy, pleasant and not the slightest bit of bother, which was fantastic in contrast to the aholes from the regular army/TA.RizzoTheRat said:
I live in Aldershot, we have the largest Buddhist population the UK apparently, and some bloody nice Nepalese restaurants
Gurkhali chicken chilli.Hot as hell but incredibly tasty it was my favourite had it pretty much every time I went into Johnny Gurkhas.
I hear it has closed now, sad times.
The Mad Monk said:
Yes, you should ask the people who live in Fleet and Church Crookham. They are absolutely delighted that the Gurkhas have the right to live in the UK and have use of benefits such as the NHS...
What's that Gurkha restaurant in Fleet called? I'd be happy to have that and a couple more hours on my wait in a and e near where I live now.Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff