Ghurkas and what sets them apart.

[nicanary]

neenaw said:

I remember doing my work experience from school at RAF Spadeadam and getting told some of the stories of the Ghurkas and their amazing ability to drink whisky like it was water in the Naafi after the exercises had finished.
From what I remember of it there wasn't a bad word spoken about them and they seemed to be incredibly well respected by all of the other guys up there.

While on this topic, are there any good books about that are worth a read about the Ghurkas?

Try "Quartered Safe Out Here" by George MacDonald Fraser, the "Flashman" novelist, which is simply superb and describes his experiences in Burma. He mentions the Ghurkas quite frequently - they were clearly loved by the British troops. One officer described his job as managing a bunch of adult 12-year olds.

[j4ckos mate]

Ive donated, just seem the right thing to do,

I did have a Nepalese office junior once, he was a nice lad,
didn't try to kill anyone, not unless you include his mugs of tea.

But i think t be fair, the Singaporeans and Indonesians are pretty well mannered as well.

[nicanary]

j4ckos mate said:

Ive donated, just seem the right thing to do,

I did have a Nepalese office junior once, he was a nice lad,
didn't try to kill anyone, not unless you include his mugs of tea.

But i think t be fair, the Singaporeans and Indonesians are pretty well mannered as well.

It's the way they're brought up. Honour and respect are important in many Asian communities - it only goes to show how low we've sunk in the West.

[h8tax]

I have 30 of them living next door - they are the security team for my neighbour. Lovely chaps, all super polite and very friendly and helpful.

Needless to say though, their reputation goes before them and the area is not troubled with petty crime.

[User33678888]

Lots of retired Gurkhas work in private security for the patrol companies around Hampstead. I've had the pleasure of speaking to a couple and they are always extremely polite and friendly. However, the story about the scrote who was caught burgling one of the houses they protect and having a nasty fall as he tried to run away should put off most other scrotes from trying. He lost four teeth and managed to break both arms in that fall, poor chap.

[TDL933]

Back in Catterick in the 50s there was a troop of Gurkha Signals attached for training. They were inveterate gamblers, a pastime of which the Army disapproved and indeed specifically forbade.
Orderly officers (invariably newly commissioned 2L/Ts) were advised that huts 3 and 4 need not be visited when on rounds.

Edited by TDL933 on Thursday 30th April 09:54

[Johnnytheboy]

User33678888 said:

Lots of retired Gurkhas work in private security for the patrol companies around Hampstead. I've had the pleasure of speaking to a couple and they are always extremely polite and friendly.

I meet a lot of them working as security guards in Hants/Wilts at offices. The ones I deal with on a fortnightly basis at one of my own sites in Swindon are a real joy to deal with. Unlike almost every Anglo-Saxon security guard I have ever met.

As for any grumblings about the Nepalese immigrant population around Farnborough etc., I find it very telling that they were the only group of immigrants New Labour didn't want to let in.

[Muncher]

h8tax said:

I have 30 of them living next door - they are the security team for my neighbour. Lovely chaps, all super polite and very friendly and helpful.

Needless to say though, their reputation goes before them and the area is not troubled with petty crime.

Who the hell is your neighbour?

[Adenauer]

Muncher said:

h8tax said:

I have 30 of them living next door - they are the security team for my neighbour. Lovely chaps, all super polite and very friendly and helpful.

Needless to say though, their reputation goes before them and the area is not troubled with petty crime.

Who the hell is your neighbour?

Joanna Lumley

[crofty1984]

nicanary said:

Try "Quartered Safe Out Here" by George MacDonald Fraser, the "Flashman" novelist, which is simply superb and describes his experiences in Burma. He mentions the Ghurkas quite frequently - they were clearly loved by the British troops. One officer described his job as managing a bunch of adult 12-year olds.

Interesting Book title. From a Rudyard Kipling poem?

[TDL933]

crofty1984 said:

Interesting Book title. From a Rudyard Kipling poem?

Gunga Din

"you may talk of gin and beer
When you're quartered safe out 'ere
An' sent to penny fights and Aldershot it.
But when it comes to slaughter
You'll do your work on water
And you'll lick the blooming boots of 'im what's got it"

[nicanary]

TDL933 said:

crofty1984 said:

Interesting Book title. From a Rudyard Kipling poem?

Gunga Din

"you may talk of gin and beer
When you're quartered safe out 'ere
An' sent to penny fights and Aldershot it.
But when it comes to slaughter
You'll do your work on water
And you'll lick the blooming boots of 'im what's got it"

The master. Unfortunately, after the recent tragic event, there's no longer "A little yellow idol, to the north of Kathmandu....."

[davepoth]

Johnnytheboy said:

I meet a lot of them working as security guards in Hants/Wilts at offices. The ones I deal with on a fortnightly basis at one of my own sites in Swindon are a real joy to deal with. Unlike almost every Anglo-Saxon security guard I have ever met.

As for any grumblings about the Nepalese immigrant population around Farnborough etc., I find it very telling that they were the only group of immigrants New Labour didn't want to let in.

My thinking on the matter is that if we'd let them in gradually over the last 70 years at the end of their service like we should have done, they would have become much more integrated with the population over time and wouldn't feel more comfortable in separate communities. Hardly fair to blame them for our own government's failings, is it?

[oddball1973]

nicanary said:

Try "Quartered Safe Out Here" by George MacDonald Fraser, the "Flashman" novelist, which is simply superb and describes his experiences in Burma. He mentions the Ghurkas quite frequently - they were clearly loved by the British troops. One officer described his job as managing a bunch of adult 12-year olds.

one of my favourite books, i'll never forget the bit where a naked Jap chases him up a hill armed with a landmine

[CB2152]

We were at an Armed Forces Day parade a few years ago with the Air Cadets and my (at the time) Flight Sergeant and I were approached by a Gurkha veteran with a camera. He spoke pretty broken English but was pointing at a group of his friends and his camera, while saying "photo, please?"

I motioned to take the camera to take a picture of him in his group (all in uniform looking awesome) but instead he led us by the arm over to the group, the Gurkhas all lined up, and put me on one end and the FS on the other! Evidently he wanted us in the photo for whatever reason and they all looked well chuffed that we were in it.

I'll be honest, we were more than happy to oblige and they were all absolutely great chaps

Edited by CB2152 on Wednesday 29th April 17:34

[HOGEPH]

My only experience of the Ghurkas was when they were the resident regiment in the Falklands 1995.

Always on time and at the exact helicopter rendezvous point.

Smartly turned out off duty and always polite and quiet.

[johnxjsc1985]

HOGEPH said:

.

Smartly turned out off duty and always polite and quiet.

Seem to remember this country being like this seems a long time ago now.

[RodMod]

h8tax said:

I have 30 of them living next door - they are the security team for my neighbour. Lovely chaps, all super polite and very friendly and helpful.

Needless to say though, their reputation goes before them and the area is not troubled with petty crime.

You must live near me then.

Rod.

[TDL933]

nicanary said:

The master. Unfortunately, after the recent tragic event, there's no longer "A little yellow idol, to the north of Kathmandu....."

Not Kipling
J. Milton Hayes if memory serves

[DanielSan]

The Ghurkas are definitely treble hard bds. My grandad has mentioned before when he was in the army, if they were on guard duty some times the Ghurkas would be training trying to get past guards, him and whoever else was with him, not once did they ever catch a single Ghurka, but they all had a tap on the shoulder from one with a big grin on his face and the sudden thought that they were very happy to be working with them....