Time: autumn 1814. Place: Nepal. Ninety kilometers north of the Kathmandu Valley. The small Gurkha principality of Gorkha. More recently, its ruler Prithvi Narayan Shah, having won bloody battles, united the fragmented principalities and became the king of Nepal.
At this time, India was already completely under the rule of the British East India Company. She reigns supreme. Sometimes by cunning, sometimes by bribery, sometimes by force with the help of the army, it captures almost the entire Hindustan and moves east along the Himalayan ridge. Almost no one is seriously resisting British troops anywhere. They only know the taste of victory and they are used to running easily.
The territorial conflict that arose with tiny Nepal did not seriously worry anyone at first. However, the British do not intend to cede the territories under their control to anyone. In addition, the East India Company is tempted by the prospect of conquering yet another additional country. The British decide to quickly and mercilessly deal with the enemy and suppress his possible claims.
Indestructible and legendary
For this purpose, the British send 30 thousand soldiers.
They are opposed by the Nepalese armed forces, the backbone of which is the Gurkha people, numbering 14 thousand people. They only have 4 thousand rifles and pistols. In addition, there are several more unreliable light guns, the age of which has exceeded two centuries. The rest of the weapons are only . But the mountaineers have excellent knowledge of the terrain and know how to fight in the mountains, and have experience in war against an enemy of superior strength.
And here is the first big battle of this war. A war that would last until 1816 and would be called the Gurkha War.
An eyewitness wrote about the combat training of the Nepalese: “Fast and flexible like monkeys, brave like lions, angry like tigers, sinewy and short, they jumped into the attack, moving quickly and maintaining such a distance between themselves that our muskets were useless against them. . Once nearby, they suddenly crouched down, ducked under the bayonets and struck their kukris straight up, cutting our soldiers with one blow, and then retreated as quickly as they came.”
And he adds: “Many died at the hands of these few opponents. They chopped and cut our soldiers with razor-sharp knives, and they themselves often jumped out unharmed from the palisade of our bayonets. And then they quickly slipped under the belly of the officer’s horse, ripping it open with one instant blow of their curved knife, and while the officer and his horse were falling, he, already on the other side, hit the officer in the leg.”
The British suffered a crushing defeat in this battle. And in subsequent hostilities, the Gurkhas successfully resisted the British troops. Having not won, the British leadership began negotiations.
Nepal, without becoming a protectorate of the British Crown, remained an independent state.
And brave, courageous, persistent and loyal Nepalese warriors began to be hired to serve in the British army. Initially, preference was given to natives of the Gurkha province, but later they began to accept representatives of other nationalities of Nepal. Moreover, interestingly, in relation to the Gurkhas, the British did not use the word “mercenary”.
Modernity and the Gurkhas
The Gurkhas became especially famous in the twentieth century. Nature has endowed them with a low pain threshold, short stature, broad chest, dark skin, making them invisible in the twilight of the terrain, and life in the mountains has made them fantastically resilient and strong.
In Gurkha families, boys are taught with early age the martial art of “kukri”, the same name as the legendary curved knife. A child receives a kukri knife at the age of five. And he doesn’t part with it all his life.
This is the traditional weapon of the Gurkha, which gave him the glory of the bravest of brave warriors: after all, you can shoot at the enemy from a distance, but you can only use a knife face to face with the enemy.
A short story about their courage and fearlessness. They say that once volunteers were selected from among the soldiers for an airborne assault. We talked about the plane's flight altitude. The third group volunteered to step forward. It turned out that the Nepalese did not know about parachutes and intended to land without them.
One British field marshal said that if anyone claims that he is not afraid of death, then he is either a liar or a Gurkha.
And here is an example of their highest military discipline. During the war, when they crossed the English Channel and landed in Normandy, the order was given to jump into the waters of the strait. There was no one who disobeyed the order. Everyone jumped. But the inhabitants of the mountains, for the most part, did not know how to swim...
For almost two hundred years, Nepalese have been fighting for Great Britain, serving it faithfully, protecting and preserving the lives of its citizens, and giving their own if necessary. There are many graves of Nepalese warriors scattered around the world.
During the First and Second World Wars, they fought bravely against German soldiers, whom they considered among the best. The Germans spoke with panicked horror about the dark-skinned short Asians who, without bending down, walked straight towards the machine guns and never retreated. And those who, having survived machine-gun fire, burst into the trenches, do not give mercy to anyone in hand-to-hand combat, letting their terrible curved knives enter.
And during the Falklands War in 1982, the Argentines, having heard that a Gurkha brigade was arriving on the island, threw down their weapons and surrendered in units.
Now Nepalese serve, in addition to their homeland, in the armies of Great Britain, India, and the Singapore police.
British troops pay tribute to their Nepalese colleagues serving alongside them. 13 Gurkhas have been awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for military valor in Britain. Of these, the most famous is Havildar Lakhiman Gurung. He fought in 1945 in Burma. The battle was just beginning when a grenade hit his trench, followed by two more. The brave warrior managed to throw two of them back, but did not have time to throw the last one, and it exploded, depriving him right hand. The seriously wounded soldier continued the fight for another four hours, shooting and reloading his rifle with his left hand.
These are so proud, independent, loyal, brave, strong sons Nepal - Gurkhas who glorified their country and people.
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When the British army approached Nepal during the war with the principalities of Hindustan in 1814, it encountered fierce resistance from the local population - the Gurkhas. Only after a year of grueling battles did the British command realize that they would not be able to conquer the warlike Nepalese, but they could use them to their advantage. 1815 marked the beginning of the Gurkhas' service in the British Army.
The homeland of the Gurkhas is the highland principality of Gorkha (where their name comes from). Descending into the Kathmandu Valley, they dispersed and established their influence over territories larger than the area of modern Nepal. Thanks to discipline and training, the Gurkhas nipped in the bud civil strife and attempts by neighbors to invade their domains. It was only after the signing of a peace treaty with Britain that the final boundaries of the Gurkha territory were established, in which Nepal is located today.
The harsh conditions of the Himalayan mountains forged special type Gurkha warrior - squat, with a wide chest, but most importantly strong and resilient. From childhood, boys were taught the secret military art - “kukri”, in which they honed their combat skills and strengthened their will. Indian General Sam Manekshava, noting the fearlessness of the Gurkhas, once remarked: “If a person says that he is not afraid of death, then he is a liar or a Gurkha.”
Kukri
The life of a Gurkha warrior is unthinkable without his faithful companion - the kukri knife. The shape of the kukri, with a forward-curved blade and a widening blade towards the tip, is reminiscent of the ancient Greek kopis, from which it probably originated. Zone hardening of the knife (hard edge and soft spine) and variable blade sharpening angle allow you to effectively use the weapon during chopping, piercing and cutting blows.
The kukri handle is usually made from buffalo horn and traditionally does not have a guard. In a sheath made of buffalo leather, in addition to the main knife, two smaller ones are stored: a sharp one - for hunting and a dull one, used as a flint.
The secrets of making kukri were passed down from generation to generation by blacksmiths “kami”. If the knife is forged by a real master, then with skillful use of such a weapon, you can blow off a human head with one blow.
At war
The Battle of Malaun (1815) was the first military action of the Gurkhas in the ranks of the British army. Subsequently, they did not miss a single major military campaign of the British Kingdom, including the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878. Gurkhas also participated in the suppression of the Yihetuan Uprising in China (1900) and were part of the British military expedition to Tibet (1905).
With the outbreak of the First World War, the Gurkhas were thrown into various areas front - to Persia, Mesopotamia, Palestine, France, where they fight German and Turkish troops. In World War II they fought in North Africa, Italy, Greece and even Singapore. In total, about 450 thousand Gurkhas took part in the two wars, of which more than 52 thousand died, 5 thousand people received various awards.
After the end of World War II, when British troops left India, the question arose about the fate of the Gurkhas. During trilateral negotiations between Great Britain, India and Nepal, it was decided that from now on, when recruited into a foreign army, the Gurkhas will retain the status of subjects of Nepal, but will be fully integrated into it: that is, they will be able to receive pay and leave in the amount required. as well as other military personnel.
Recruitment
Despite the fact that all Gurkha Victoria Cross recipients chose to serve in the Indian Army, the majority of the soldiers nevertheless chose to remain in the British Royal Armed Forces. This trend continued in the future. In the period from the 1960s to the 1990s, Gurkhas were actively drafted into combat missions in the Falklands, Afghanistan, Kosovo and other hot spots on the planet.
The most stringent requirements for Gurkha recruits exist in the British Army. Typically, out of 10 thousand applicants annually, no more than 800 people pass the initial selection. The requirements are: age from 17.5 to 22 years, height not less than 160 centimeters, weight not less than 50 kilograms, at least 6 years of education and good health.
After a medical examination, candidates take an exam on their knowledge of English and mathematics. And then it’s time for strength and endurance tests. The task is one of the most difficult: you need to run a distance of 4.2 kilometers with a load of 25 kilograms in 48 minutes, while the elevation difference reaches 400 meters. Naturally, many do not pass this test. At the end of the selection, 250 people remain, who still await 9 months of training in training center North Yorkshire.
Since July 2006, the British authorities have been granting British citizenship to Gurkhas and their descendants who served in the British army in the former colonial possessions of the empire (Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong). According to British immigration authorities, there are up to 140 thousand such people.
In other armies
The outstanding fighting skills of the Gurkhas also attract other countries. So, Gurkhas serve as guards for the American military base in Bahrain, form the shock part of the contingent of police forces of Brunei and Singapore. There are currently 39 Gurkha battalions serving in the Indian army, however, the head of Nepal, Prachanda, has repeatedly spoken out about ending the practice of recruiting Gurkhas by foreign countries, especially addressing his message to India, which he does not love. However, how realistic is such a ban? It should be noted that the ban will be a major blow to Nepal's economy: India alone spends 160 million US dollars on pensions for retirees living in Nepal - the same amount as Nepal's military budget.
Heroes
As an exceptionally brave people, the Gurkhas have their heroes. Corporal Dil Prasad Pun was awarded a relatively new British decoration, the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, in 2010. On the night of September 17, in the Afghan province of Helmand, fighting alone with a large detachment of Taliban, he destroyed 12 militants.
Here is a case where a Gurkha who had already retired defended civilians. One day Bishnu Shrestra was returning home on the train. Suddenly, about 40 robbers entered the carriage and, threatening passengers with weapons, began to take money, valuables, and phones. But when one of the bandits tried to rape an 18-year-old girl, the Gurkha pulled out knives and, using the rapist as a shield, went on the attack. As a result, three of the attackers were killed, eight were wounded, and the rest, abandoning the loot, hastened to escape. Bishnu himself escaped with a slight injury to his arm.
In the same trenches with "sir"
History has preserved a number of interesting facts regarding the service of the Gurkhas. If a Gurkha unit was commanded by an Englishman, he under no circumstances had the right to call his subordinates “savages,” otherwise the reaction of the proud and warlike people could not be predicted.
The Gurkhas, distinguished by their small stature, often did not reach the shoulders of the English soldiers. When the Nepalese found themselves in the trenches dug by the British, they had no way to fire from there.
The British suffered with the Gurkhas and during exercises. If one of the Gurkhas put on a gas mask, then the rest, rolling on the ground laughing, disrupted the entire event. In principle, any fact could cheer up the Gurkhas. So, having seen the love games of camels in the midst of the battle, the Gurkhas could no longer continue the battle.
“It’s better to die than to be a coward!”- this is the motto of the Gurkhas - units of Nepalese highlanders who have faithfully served the British Empire for two centuries. The combat reputation of these warriors is impeccable. Gurkhas have fought in every war fought by Britain since the early 19th century. The Gurkhas are not special forces - in structure, weapons and tasks they are infantry, but with special properties that put them on a par with the most renowned military units in the world.
HISTORY OF THE GURKS
The history of the Gurkha units dates back to the beginning of the 18th century, when the ruler of the mountain principality of Gorkha in the Himalayas, Prithvi Narayan Shah, gathered a strong army from the mountain tribes under his control, called after the name of his inheritance “Gurkhas” or “Gurkhas”. With his help, Narayan Shah conquered the neighboring principalities and founded the present kingdom of Nepal. As you know, the power of the British Empire was based on extensive colonial expansion in all corners of the globe, including South-East Asia, where the East India Company operated. After invading Nepal, British troops under the command of Baronet David Auchterlony attempted to subdue the Gurkhas by force, but unexpectedly suffered heavy casualties. British colonialists victorian era were by no means sissies, but they also characterized the Nepalese highlanders as “a people of born warriors who possessed the highest courage and strength.”
Convinced of the high fighting qualities of the Nepalese warriors, Oshterloni showed wisdom worthy of a politician. Instead of a bloody war of extermination, he offered the Gurkhas a peace treaty. This move allowed the British to turn their former enemy into an ally. In 1815, the first Gurkha battalion was formed. Since then, the mercenary Gurkha units have fought with amazing loyalty on the side of England, never betraying it. They mercilessly suppressed uprisings against the British colonialists, served in all corners of Southeast Asia and beyond, fought in Afghanistan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and participated in large quantities operations of both world wars, in which 43 thousand Gurkhas died, fought in Korea, Malaya and the Falklands. During all this time, 26 Gurkhas were awarded the highest British award - the Victoria Cross - for exceptional courage on the battlefield.
In 1948, when India gained independence from Britain, most Gurkhas chose to join the Indian Army, but some remained in British service.
GURKA TODAY
A soldier from the 2nd Gurkha Regiment (a British colonial force recruited from Nepalese volunteers) cleans his weapon at a patrol base in Musa Qala, Helmand province, March 27, 2009.
Currently, this is caused either by a desire for exoticism, or a tribute to imperial traditions, or perhaps still by the desire to have proven fighters at hand - but Great Britain continues to use the services of Nepalese warriors to this day. The Gurkhas now serve as part of modern ground units, equipped, armed and trained in the same way as all other British forces. The only distinctive piece of equipment of the Gurkha warrior is the terrifying 45-centimeter curved “kukri” dagger - a kind of “calling card” of the Nepalese highlanders.
All Gurkha formations in the service of the British Crown are designated as a "Gurkha Brigade". IN different times its composition varied: some parts were created, others were disbanded. In the 90s of the last century, the Gurkha brigade stationed in Hong Kong almost ceased to exist due to the transfer of Hong Kong to China. As a result, the British decided to redeploy the Gurkha units to England, but one of the three rifle battalions included in the brigade was disbanded, and the size of the brigade was significantly reduced - from 8 thousand soldiers to the current approximately 3.5 thousand.
Currently, the British Army has the following Gurkha units:
infantry - 1st and 2nd Royal Gurkha Fusiliers (1 RGR and 2 RGR, Ruyal Gurkha Rifles, respectively),
engineering troops - 69th and 70th Gurkha field engineering squadrons,
communications - 246th, 248th and 250th Gurkha communications squadrons,
supply - Her Majesty's own Gurkha transport regiment,
auxiliary units - two half-platoons for parades (at the Sandhurst Military Academy and the Brecon Infantry Training Center), a military band of the Gurkha brigade, a language learning center, a recruitment center in Nepal.
The headquarters of the Gurkha brigade is located in the village of Upavon, Waltshire, South-East England. This structure is not involved in combat control. It performs the functions of recruiting and integrating Gurkhas into the British army, distributing financial assistance for former Gurkha soldiers.
The 1st and 2nd Rifle Battalions are light infantry. They don't have armored vehicles. One battalion is permanently stationed in England at Horncliffe, Kent and serves as a light infantry battalion. It can be very quickly transferred to any point in Europe or Africa. The second battalion is currently serving as part of the British garrison in Brunei and focuses on training for operations in the jungle. Gurkha rifle battalions serve on a rotational basis and change “roles” every three years.
A Gurkha battalion stationed in England is assigned to the 52nd Infantry Brigade as a light battalion. Since 2010, this role has been performed by the 2nd RGR. After 2012, the Gurkha battalion in England will be assigned to the 16th Air Assault Brigade, the British airborne rapid reaction force, for the next 5 years. Along with him, the Royal Irish Regiment and the 5th Battalion of the Royal Scots Regiment (Argyll and Sitherland Highlanders) will serve as light infantry.
RECRUITMENT, SELECTION AND SERVICE
The selection process for Gurkha units is one of the most stringent in the world. This is facilitated by an incredible competition - every year about 28,000 candidates apply for 200 places in the Gurkha brigade! Nepalese highlanders live in poverty, and serving in the British army is a good way for them to improve their financial situation. Many Gurkhas are hereditary soldiers..
The headquarters of the Gurkha brigade is located in Nepal, Jawalkel.
The recruitment process begins with retired Gurkhas roaming the mountain villages in search of suitable candidates. Basically, recruits are selected from the west of the country for the first battalion, and from the east - for the second. People from the plains of Nepal, where the capital Kathmandu is located, are not considered as candidates at all - they are considered too pampered. Having arrived in the next village, the recruiters set up camp and begin the selection process.
The candidate must be between 17 and 22 years of age, in good health and physical shape, have elementary education, height not less than 1.57 m, weight not less than 50 kg. For a European, such dimensions may seem ridiculous. Himalayan mountaineers do not have a large physique, but they are very strong and hardy. And they also have dulled feelings of pain and fear. After the initial selection stage, candidates take an examination in English grammar and mathematics.
After this, approximately 700 candidates remain. They are located at the recruitment center in Pokhara in Western Nepal, where they undergo the final selection stage. and a test of physical endurance - the so-called “doko run”. You need to run 4.2 km uphill in 20 minutes with a basket loaded with 34 kg of stones. This is followed by an initiative test and a final interview.
Candidates who successfully pass all exams are sent to Britain, where they will undergo intensive 8-month training at an infantry training center. A quarter of the time is spent shooting. The emphasis in training rifle battalions is on operations in mountainous areas, jungles and deserts. Parachute training is mandatory. In addition to military affairs, significant attention is paid to the study of the English language and Western culture. After the training course with the Gurkhas, the first military contract is concluded for 5 years. However, the vast majority prefer to serve for at least 15 years to earn a British pension. The maximum service life is 30 years. Newly-made soldiers take part in a ceremonial parade and go to their units in England or Brunei. Also, during the service, each soldier must undergo a one-year internship in a “sister unit” - Her Majesty’s personal regiment of riflemen in Canada, which is the center for parachute training.
Gurkha service in the British Army is regulated by a tripartite treaty between Great Britain, India and Nepal. According to the 1949 Geneva Convention, Gurkhas are considered British military personnel rather than mercenaries, but they retain Nepalese citizenship. Until recently, a Gurk was required to return to his homeland, Nepal, after leaving service. If he wanted to stay in the UK, he had to try to obtain British citizenship in Nepal. It was only in 2009 that a law was passed that Gurkhas who served in the British army for at least 4 years could become British citizens.
The conditions for the salary of the Gurkhas were previously similar to the conditions for the content of their counterparts in the Indian army, which is still not bad, but since the second half of the 2000s there has been an increase in salaries to the level of British military personnel. Accordingly, some Gurkha retirees began to judicial procedure demand the same pensions as the British. At the same time, living in Nepal and receiving a British pension, a Gurk can afford much Better conditions life than a retired military man in the UK.
The Gurkhas had their own system of military ranks: rifleman, naik (corporal), havildar (sergeant), havildar major (senior sergeant), jemadar (lieutenant), subedar (captain), subedar major (major). Interestingly, the jemadar and subedar usually commanded platoons or were deputy company commanders, that is, they held officer positions, but were considered junior to any British officers. At the same time, Gurkha officers did not have the right to command British units other than Gurkha ones. Cases when Gurkhas managed to rise to the rank of “normal” lieutenant or captain were extremely rare. Since 2007, this “discrimination” in ranks has been abolished, and Gurkha officers are now considered equal to British officers. Currently, at least two Gurkhas have even managed to rise to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and, in theory, there are no obstacles to their further promotion.
Currently, in Gurkha units, the British make up only a third of the officer corps. The remaining officers are Gurkhas who have passed through all levels of the career ladder from ordinary soldiers or graduated from the Sandhurst Military Academy.
The competition for officer positions in Gurkha units is higher than in regular infantry units, and accordingly, it is possible to select higher-quality personnel. But not every Briton will be able to serve with the Gurkhas - you need to have an inclination for this. Gurkhas are friendly, hardworking, loyal and brave, but they do not forgive incompetence, unfair treatment and disrespect. If a British officer graduates from a military academy with good grades, but fails to win the respect of his subordinate Gurkhas, he will inevitably be transferred to a “regular” unit. For British officers commanding Gurkhas, a thorough knowledge of Nepalese customs and language is essential. Despite integration into the Western army, the Gurkhas never became European in spirit. These are people of a traditional society, with a commitment to their traditions.
For the Gurkhas great importance have family ties. Most of them practice Buddhism and Hinduism, and celebrate religious festivals in accordance with their beliefs. Gurkhas have many taboos, which you need to know when communicating with Gurkhas for your own safety. A Gurkha's actions, which are harmless to a European, can be perceived as a serious insult and enrage him. You cannot push a Gurk, slap him on the shoulder, or show him the soles of your feet. Despite their small stature, the Gurkhas are physically strong and many of them are good at martial arts. There is a known case in Kosovo when a two-meter American Marine patted a Gurkha shooter on the shoulder and immediately went to the hospital with a broken jaw and a concussion. The matter almost turned into a diplomatic scandal, and the American command had to apologize for the actions of its serviceman.
Gurkhas stationed in England spend a lot of time on “business trips” around the world. While in England, married Gurkha servicemen can live outside the barracks together with their families, unmarried soldiers live in the barracks, however, the regime there is quite liberal - you can go outside the unit. Some wives of Gurkha officers do civilian work on a military base, such as radio work.
In addition to the Gurkha brigade itself, Nepalese mountaineers are also found in other parts of the British army. It happens that some even serve in the famous British special forces SAS. Some Gurkhas are seconded to the armies of other states, in particular South Africa, as instructors.
Since 2007, women have also been accepted into Gurkha units. At the same time, they are subject to serious physical training requirements, just like men, and they cannot serve in rifle units.
GURKI AT WAR
According to the testimony of the British officers themselves, the Gurkhas are better soldiers than the British. They have the same weapons and undergo the same training as the British, but are more rigorously selected and more motivated. However, the Gurkhas themselves innocently admit that it’s all about money. On a British salary you can afford much more in Nepal than in the UK.
However, it would be wrong to consider the Gurkhas as just guest workers earning their wages. They have a certain sense of pride in their military skills, and they never missed an opportunity to show themselves in action. The list of wars in which the Gurkhas participated is impressive. Let's look only at those that were after World War II.
In 1948-1960s. Gurkhas served in Malaysia. Here they fought partisan detachments pro-communist national liberation army.
In 1962, the Sultanate of Brunei, which was in line with British foreign policy, experienced an uprising initiated by Indonesia. At first, the rebels managed to capture a number of important objects in the capital of Brunei, Brunei Town. The British could not allow such a development of events. The Gurkhas were hastily transported to Brunei by plane and quickly took control of the capital and two tactically important airfields. The uprising was suppressed. On April 12, 1963, an Indonesian military force disguised as rebels attempted to invade Brunei, but was defeated by the joint efforts of Gurkhas and British Marines.
In 1982, conflict broke out between Argentina and Britain over the Falkland Islands. These islands, considered British territory, were occupied by Argentine troops. In response, Great Britain sent an armada of ships with aircraft and amphibious assault to the islands. The British Foreign Office was wary of sending the Gurkhas into the conflict zone as it could cause problems at the UN, but the military said the Gurkhas would be mortally offended if they were not allowed to fight.
On 12 May 1982, the superliner Queen Elizabeth 2 departed from Southampton with the 1st Battalion of the 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles. The battalion was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel David Morgan. During the voyage, combat training and physical training continued. For obvious reasons, only shooting events were cancelled. On June 1, the Gurkhas landed at the port of San Carlos on the northwestern coast of the East Falklands. For a week the battalion operated secretly. Together with SAS and SBS special forces, the Gurkhas conducted reconnaissance, observing the movements of Argentine troops and identifying obstacles, minefields and firing positions. On June 7, the first clash with Argentine soldiers took place. A reconnaissance patrol of three Gurkhas came across seven Argentines. The Gurkhas were the first to notice the Argentines and, since they were preventing them from returning to their positions, they set up an ambush and captured the enemy soldiers.
The weather was not favorable for large-scale military operations: strong winds were accompanied by light, constant rain. Finally, on June 9, the battalion moved to approach the enemy. The Gurkhas, together with the Scots Guards, were to advance in the area of Mount Tumbledown and Mount William, located southwest of the Falklands capital Port Stanley. The Gurkhas were supposed to attack Mount William directly.
The Gurkha battalion began to secretly reach its initial positions for the attack at 1.00 on June 14. The rain greatly slowed down the pace of the advance. It was planned to take the initial positions at 2.00, but this was done only just before dawn. Nevertheless, when the attack began, its result was more than successful - when the Argentines saw approaching soldiers with Asian faces, they realized who they were dealing with, panicked and began to surrender. The most interesting thing is that the Gurkhas were also opposed by elite troops - commandos of the Argentine 602nd company. But they did not have the courage to engage in mortal combat, and they preferred to obediently march to the prisoner of war camp. In the Falklands, the Gurkhas lost one of their comrades, Corporal Buddhaparasada Limbu, killed. 
Kabul, 2005 Kabul, 2005. Gurkhas pose next to European soldiers, probably Norwegians. According to the author of the photograph, who served with the Gurkhas, “these are people who are small in appearance, but with a big soul, exceptional professionalism and fury in battle.”
In the late 90s, the Gurkhas had to take part in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo, Bosnia and Sierra Leone.
When NATO launched its invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the Gurkha Rifles Battalion was one of the first units to arrive in the country. The Gurkhas are still fighting in Afghanistan to this day. Periodically changing, there are military personnel of the 1st and 2nd rifle battalions. Gurkha units serve in Helmand province. Basically, they have to patrol and serve at checkpoints.
In 2007, the British Prince Harry, having arrived to serve in Afghanistan, was seconded to the 1st Gurkha Battalion as an air controller, which in itself speaks of the reputation of the unit. By the way, the prince managed to win the respect of the battalion soldiers so much that he was accepted into the “honorary Gurkhas.” According to the Gurkhas themselves, the personal qualities of Prince Harry played a role here, and not at all his origin.
It is known that during the Afghan campaign, at least 14 Gurkhas were killed or died from wounds (of which five were Europeans - three officers, a corporal and a private). All of them were killed in ways characteristic of guerrilla warfare: ambush attacks, mine explosions, etc. The largest single loss occurred on July 13, 2010, when an Afghan National Army soldier shot and killed three unsuspecting Gurkha brigade soldiers: two officers and a corporal with whom he served at the same checkpoint.
Corporal Tilak
However, anyone can be killed, especially when they shoot mainly in the back. But in clashes with the enemy, the Gurkhas never showed cowardice. Let's give two examples.
In May 2009, a corporal of the 2nd Gurkha Rifles Battalion named Tilak, who served as an instructor for Afghan police, and his charges were patrolling in the Nad Ali area and were ambushed by ten militants. Despite the intense shelling and bullets hitting the patrol cars, the corporal maintained his composure and returned fire with a 7.62 mm machine gun. He fought for 15 minutes, suppressing the fire of the militants and preventing them from attacking. In the end, some of them fled, the rest were captured. For this battle, Corporal Tilak was “mentioned in dispatches” (MID) - a kind of reward in the British Army when especially distinguished military personnel are personally mentioned in reports on the operational situation prepared for higher command.
A particularly interesting incident occurred on the evening of September 17, 2010, when Corporal 1st Rifles Battalion Dipprasand Pun single-handedly repelled an attack by a detachment of Taliban militants on a checkpoint he was guarding. The corporal served at a checkpoint guarding the approaches to his unit's positions in the village of Babaji, Helmand province. Hearing a noise outside the checkpoint gate, he at first thought it was a donkey or a cow, but, climbing onto the roof of the checkpoint, he saw two Taliban who were planting an explosive device under the gate. He realized that an assault would now follow. At that moment, shelling of the post began from different directions from machine guns and grenade launchers. The lower floor, where the corporal had been just a minute ago, was riddled with bullets. There were from 15 to 30 militants - against one soldier. Poon returned fire using the weapons he had: an SA-80 assault rifle and a heavy machine gun. The intense firefight at close range lasted for a quarter of an hour. In it, the Gurk used up all his ammunition: 180 rounds for a rifle, 250 rounds for a machine gun, 12 hand grenades and 5 for an under-barrel grenade launcher.
Corporal Poon
Dipprasand Poon
At some point, Pun turned around and saw that a militant had climbed onto the roof of the post behind him. The corporal took him down with a long burst from his rifle, and immediately noticed another one climbing the wall. Gurk pointed the barrel at him, but there was no shot - the magazine was empty. He should have used the kukri, but, as luck would have it, Pun did not take him on duty. The corporal wanted to throw one of the sandbags that lined the roof of the post onto the enemy, but the bag came untied and the sand spilled out. Meanwhile, the enemy was already climbing onto the roof. Then Pun grabbed a machine gun and, with a furious cry, “knocked out” the Taliban with it. The Nepalese disabled two more with the Claymore anti-personnel mine he had. When all means of defense seemed to be exhausted, the attack ceased. At this moment, the company commander, Major Sean Chandler, arrived at the post. In the darkness, Pun mistook him for another Taliban. Subsequently, when the corporal was being interviewed, he was asked if he could have mistakenly shot his commander in that case, he innocently replied that no, because he had run out of ammunition. According to Poon, at the beginning of the attack he was very scared, and when the shooting started, he was almost sure that he would be killed, but he wanted to take him with him. more enemies. By his actions, he saved his comrades, who, if the Taliban had broken through the checkpoint, would have become victims of attack. For courage shown in battle, Corporal Poon was awarded a high military award Great Britain – “Cross of Courage”.
By the way, the case of Pun is a good answer to the question: “Is it worth teaching soldiers hand-to-hand combat?»
FIGHTERS IN HIGH DEMAND
The British crown is far from the only employer of Gurkhas. Nepalese warriors are in high demand in many parts of the world.
Most Gurkhas serve in the Indian Army. There are 39 rifle battalions consisting of 7 regiments (each regiment has 5-7 battalions). Six of them were “inherited” from the British Empire, and one (11th) was formed already during the years of Indian independence.
One of the regiments (5th) is a border regiment, the rest are rifle units. The Gurkhas performed well in the Indo-Pakistani conflicts of 1948, 1965 and 1971, as well as peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the UN and some operations within the country (in particular, the 1st battalion of the 4th Gurkha regiment distinguished itself during the operation to neutralize foreign fighters in the territory Kashmir in 2002).
The Sultan of Brunei, in addition to the British battalion itself on the territory of this country, has his own “Praetorian Guard” - the “Reserve Detachment of Gurkhas” of 2000 soldiers. They are all former British soldiers. Their responsibilities include protecting the Sultan, his family, and oil rigs.
Soldiers of the Gurkha contingent in Singapore.
A similar unit, the “Gurkha Contingent,” operates within the police force of the former British colony of Singapore. It was formed in 1949, immediately after the collapse of the British Empire. The Gurkha contingent in Singapore includes six companies. They wear police uniforms and are armed with pump-action shotguns, pistols and MP-5 submachine guns. Gurkha contingent in Singapore Soldiers of the Gurkha contingent in Singapore.
The unit performs the functions of protecting important facilities, countering terrorism and capturing dangerous criminals. In fact, it's something like Russian internal troops. Singapore is inhabited by different ethnic groups and the Gurkhas are a neutral force designed to counter ethnic violence while treating everyone equally as required by law. Gurkhas took part in suppressing ethnic clashes between Europeans and Malays in 1950, as well as between the Chinese and Malays in 1964.
The US uses Gurkhas to guard its naval base in Bahrain. Apparently, in in this case Gurkhas have the status of private security, since the Americans willingly outsource various auxiliary military functions to so-called “contractors”.
After leaving the regular armed forces, Gurkhas are willingly hired by private military companies.
For example, in the magazine “Soldier of Fortune” there was an article about the company GSG Ltd., the majority of whose personnel consists of Gurkhas who retired before the age of 40. Its first major client was the British agricultural company Lonro, which had farms and businesses in war-torn Mozambique. The company's facilities were constantly subject to rebel raids, and it was decided to hire Gurkhas to guard them, as well as clear roads. Gurkam from GSG Ltd. We quickly managed to take control of the situation and secure the entrusted facilities. They did not lose a single person killed, although there were several wounded in the skirmishes.
The cost of one security guard's work was only $60 a day (though this was still the early 90s, and the purchasing power of the dollar was much higher then). In addition, the company assumed the social costs of providing medical care to the guards and their families and also constantly had air and ground transport ready for the urgent evacuation of the wounded.
Later Gurkhas from GSG Ltd. carried out mine clearance work in Kuwait after the 1990-1991 Gulf War, guarded diamond mines and oil rigs in Africa, the US embassies in Dubai, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, and drove UN trucks in Yugoslavia. Gurkhas in Baghdad These Gurkhas, probably PMC employees, are guarding a military base in Baghdad.
Representatives of GSG Ltd. interesting figures were announced. According to them, the company, at the request of the customer, can assemble a battalion of a thousand Gurkhas. Their placement in the specified location (without the cost of weapons) will cost 2.5 million dollars, and another 1.5 million for the monthly maintenance of the battalion. Relatively small money for a transnational corporation. Thus, TNCs, with their financial resources, are able to quickly take control of any territory where government weak or completely absent - there would be a commercial benefit. And there will always be inexpensive, disciplined and reliable fighters.
IN Lately V Western media information has appeared that a certain company Anglo Marine Overseas Services Ltd is offering shipowners to place teams of 4-8 Gurkhas on ships to protect ships from pirates. True, the issue of arming such teams is unclear. Maritime law prohibits the presence of weapons on civilian ships. A spokesman for Anglo Marine Overseas Services Ltd says the Gurkhas will be unarmed on ships and, as they are well trained in hand-to-hand combat, will be able to repel pirate attacks without firearms.
However, the ability of the Gurkha guards, who may have a maximum of kukris, to repel an attack by pirates equipped with automatic weapons and grenade launchers is very doubtful. But shipowners themselves are afraid to hire armed guards. For example, the director of the Shipowners Association in Hong Kong, Arthur Boring, believes that in the event of an armed clash with pirates, responsibility for possible consequences will fall on the ship owner, because civilian ships are not equipped to withstand machine gun and grenade fire. However, it is possible that these statements are intended only to hide the true state of affairs. A true professional will not risk his life and reputation while serving unarmed people. And the very prospect of armed resistance will probably not be to the taste of the pirates, forcing them to look for an easier target. Anglo Marine Overseas Services Ltd said its personnel already guard ferries and casino ships in Hong Kong.
And sepoys), and in Anglo-Sikh wars. Gurkhas also fought in the First World War against Britain's enemies in the Middle East and France. During the Second World War, the Gurkhas fought in Africa, Southeast Asia and Italy. In 1982, Gurkhas took part in the Falklands conflict. Currently, the Gurkhas number 2,500 soldiers and officers. Young men at least 17 years old can join the English royal regiments. Minimum service life is 5 years. The Gurkhas are distinguished by the strictest discipline, courage and loyalty to the oath.
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In the service of the British East India Company
Gurkhas served as indentured servants in the Company's forces in the Pindari War, Bharatpur War, and the first and second Anglo-Sikh Wars (,). During the 1857 Rebellion, the Gurkhas fought on the side of the British and were included in the British Indian Army.
Serving in the British Indian Army
With the outbreak of World War II, the Nepalese monarch allowed the British to deploy up to 55 Gurkha battalions total number 250 thousand people In addition to garrison service in India, they fought in Syria, North Africa, Italy, Greece, and fought against the Japanese in Singapore and Burma. In Italy, the Gurkhas became famous for their bravery in battles against Luftwaffe paratroopers at the Battle of Monte Cassino.
Post-colonial period
With British India gaining independence (and its division into India and Pakistan), 6 Gurkha regiments joined the Indian army, 4 joined the British (Gurkha Brigade). The British Gurkha regiments were reduced to 2 battalions, while the Indian ones, on the contrary, were deployed to 12 battalions. There are currently 39 Gurkha battalions in the Indian Army. They serve as infantry and border troops. Soldiers for the brigade are still recruited from the mountainous regions of Nepal. At the same time, about 28 thousand young people annually apply for places of 200 recruits. The selection procedure is often called one of the most stringent in the world - applicants, for example, have to run uphill for 40 minutes, carrying a basket with a load of stones weighing 20 kg on their back.
The core of the brigade is two rifle battalions. These are quick reaction light infantry units, without armored vehicles. All soldiers of rifle battalions receive parachute training. One battalion is stationed in the UK, one in Brunei. There are also two squadrons of combat engineers, three communications squadrons, a logistics (transport) regiment, a military band and two half-platoons for parades.
Gurkhas must serve in the army for at least 15 years to qualify for a pension; and the maximum service life is 30 years. After completing military service, Gurkhas are demobilized and return to Nepal. Recently, some Gurkhas have been lobbying the British War Department to grant them the same pensions, payments and benefits that British retirees receive.
Since July 2006, the British authorities have been granting British citizenship to Gurkhas and their descendants who served in the British army in the former colonial possessions of the empire (Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong). According to British immigration authorities, there are up to 140 thousand such people.
Since 2001, Gurkhas have been serving on a permanent basis in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. During this time, the brigade lost 14 people killed or died from wounds.
The US Navy employs Gurkhas as guards for a US military base in Bahrain.
Gurkha military rank system
- Subedar major (equivalent to major)
- Subedar (captain)
- Jemadar or Naib subedar (lieutenant)
- Havildar Major (senior sergeant)
- Havildar (Sergeant)
- Naik (corporal)
- Shooter
Under the rules in force until recently, Gurkha officer ranks were considered inferior to any other British officer ranks. Gurkha officers could not command British units other than Gurkhas. These rules have now been abolished, and Gurkhas receive regular officer ranks in the British Army.
Against Britain's enemies in the Middle East and France. During the Second World War, the Gurkhas fought in Africa, Southeast Asia and Italy. In 1982, Gurkhas took part in the Falklands conflict. Currently, the Gurkhas number 2,500 soldiers and officers. Young men at least 17 years old can join the English royal regiments. Minimum service life is 5 years. The Gurkhas are distinguished by the strictest discipline, courage and loyalty to the oath. 
In the service of the British East India Company
Gurkhas served as indentured servants in the Company's forces in the Pindari War, Bharatpur War, and the first and second Anglo-Sikh Wars (,). During the 1857 Rebellion, the Gurkhas fought on the side of the British, and were included in the Army of British India.
Serving in the British Indian Army
Since 1857, Gurkhas have served in Burma, Afghanistan, the north-eastern and north-western frontiers of India, Malta (during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78), Cyprus, Malaysia, China (the Boxer Rebellion), and Tibet (Younghusband's expedition to). In the period 1901-1905, the Gurkhas were reorganized into 10 rifle regiments.
During the First World War, 114 thousand Gurkhas fought on various fronts against German and Turkish troops in France, Mesopotamia, Persia, the Suez Canal and Palestine, in Galipoli and Thessaloniki. One unit served with Lawrence of Arabia. Soldiers with fearsome khukris (knives) immediately gained a reputation as dangerous and tenacious opponents. There were also some incidents associated with them. Thus, the small stature of the Gurkhas caused certain difficulties. When they rushed to attack from advanced positions, and British units were pulled up to take their place, the British had to take additional security measures. The trenches dug according to the height of the Gurkhas turned out to be almost waist-deep for the tall British soldiers. When the Nepalese fell into the trenches dug by the British, they could not reach the parapet and fire. It was absolutely impossible to teach them how to put on gas masks. As soon as one of the Gurkhas pulled on his protective mask, the entire unit roared with laughter. Stories about the peculiar sense of humor of Nepalese soldiers mention an incident when, due to their “giggling”, an attack was thwarted in the midst of hostilities. The fact is that a detachment of Gurkhas entering the position witnessed the love games of two camels. Forgetting about everything, the Gurkhas indulged in fun, watching the caresses of the clumsy animals.
During the interwar period, the Gurkhas took part in the third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919, and a number of campaigns on the North West Frontier, particularly in Waziristan.
With the outbreak of World War II, the Nepalese monarch allowed the British to deploy up to 55 Gurkha battalions with a total strength of 250 thousand people. In addition to garrison service in India, they fought in Syria, North Africa, Italy, Greece, and fought against the Japanese in Singapore and Burma. In Italy, the Gurkhas became famous for their bravery in battles against Luftwaffe paratroopers at the Battle of Monte Cassino.
Post-colonial period
With British India gaining independence (and its division into India and Pakistan), 6 Gurkha regiments joined the Indian army, 4 joined the British (Gurkha Brigade). The British Gurkha regiments were reduced to 2 battalions, while the Indian ones, on the contrary, were deployed to 12 battalions. There are currently 39 Gurkha battalions in the Indian Army. They serve as infantry and border troops.
Gurkha military rank system
- Subedar major (equivalent to major)
- Subedar (captain)
- Jemadar or Naib subedar (lieutenant)
- Havildar Major (senior sergeant)
- Havildar (Sergeant)
- Naik (corporal)
- Shooter
Under the rules in force until recently, Gurkha officer ranks were considered inferior to any other British officer ranks. Gurkha officers could not command British units other than Gurkhas. These rules have now been abolished, and Gurkhas receive regular officer ranks in the British Army.
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Excerpt characterizing Gurkhas
“No, I’m asking,” said Pierre, “but Prince Andrei interrupted him:- What can I say about me... Tell me, tell me about your journey, about everything you did there on your estates?
Pierre began to talk about what he had done on his estates, trying as much as possible to hide his participation in the improvements made by him. Prince Andrei several times suggested to Pierre what he was telling, as if everything that Pierre had done was a long-known story, and he listened not only not with interest, but even as if ashamed of what Pierre was telling.
Pierre felt awkward and even difficult in the company of his friend. He fell silent.
“But here’s what, my soul,” said Prince Andrei, who was obviously also having a hard time and shyness with his guest, “I’m here in bivouacs, and I came just to have a look.” I'm going back to my sister now. I'll introduce you to them. “Yes, you seem to know each other,” he said, obviously entertaining the guest with whom he now felt nothing in common. - We'll go after lunch. Now do you want to see my estate? “They went out and walked around until lunch, talking about political news and mutual acquaintances, like people who are not very close to each other. With some animation and interest, Prince Andrei spoke only about the new estate and building he was organizing, but even here, in the middle of the conversation, on the stage, when Prince Andrei was describing to Pierre the future location of the house, he suddenly stopped. “However, there’s nothing interesting here, let’s go have lunch and leave.” “At dinner the conversation turned to Pierre’s marriage.
“I was very surprised when I heard about this,” said Prince Andrei.
Pierre blushed the same way he always blushed at this, and hastily said:
“I’ll tell you someday how it all happened.” But you know that it's all over and forever.
- Forever? - said Prince Andrei. – Nothing happens forever.
– But do you know how it all ended? Have you heard about the duel?
- Yes, you went through that too.
“The one thing I thank God for is that I didn’t kill this man,” said Pierre.
- From what? - said Prince Andrei. – Kill angry dog very well.
- No, killing a person is not good, it’s unfair...
- Why is it unfair? - repeated Prince Andrei; what is just and unjust is not given to people to judge. People have always been mistaken and will continue to be mistaken, and in nothing more than in what they consider just and unjust.
“It is unfair that there is evil for another person,” said Pierre, feeling with pleasure that for the first time since his arrival, Prince Andrei became animated and began to speak and wanted to express everything that made him what he was now.
– Who told you what evil is for another person? - he asked.
- Evil? Evil? - said Pierre, - we all know what evil is for ourselves.
“Yes, we know, but the evil that I know for myself, I cannot do to another person,” Prince Andrei said more and more animatedly, apparently wanting to express his A New Look on things. He spoke French. Je ne connais l dans la vie que deux maux bien reels: c"est le remord et la maladie. II n"est de bien que l"absence de ces maux. [I know in life only two real misfortunes: remorse and illness. And the only good is the absence of these evils.] To live for yourself, avoiding only these two evils: that is all my wisdom now.
– What about love for one’s neighbor, and self-sacrifice? - Pierre spoke. - No, I cannot agree with you! To live only in such a way as not to do evil, so as not to repent? this is not enough. I lived like this, I lived for myself and ruined my life. And only now, when I live, at least try (Pierre corrected himself out of modesty) to live for others, only now I understand all the happiness of life. No, I don’t agree with you, and you don’t mean what you say.
Prince Andrei silently looked at Pierre and smiled mockingly.
“You’ll see your sister, Princess Marya.” You’ll get along with her,” he said. “Maybe you’re right for yourself,” he continued, after a short silence; - but everyone lives in their own way: you lived for yourself and you say that by doing this you almost ruined your life, and you only knew happiness when you began to live for others. But I experienced the opposite. I lived for fame. (After all, what is glory? the same love for others, the desire to do something for them, the desire for their praise.) So I lived for others, and not almost, but completely ruined my life. And since then I have become calmer, as I live only for myself.
- How can you live for yourself? – Pierre asked heatedly. - And the son, and the sister, and the father?
“Yes, it’s still the same me, it’s not others,” said Prince Andrei, but others, neighbors, le prochain, as you and Princess Mary call it, are the main source of error and evil. Le prochain [Neighbor] are those, your Kyiv men, to whom you want to do good.
And he looked at Pierre with a mockingly defiant gaze. He apparently called Pierre.
“You’re kidding,” Pierre said more and more animatedly. What kind of error and evil can there be in the fact that I wanted (very little and poorly fulfilled), but wanted to do good, and at least did something? What evil can it be that unfortunate people, our men, people just like us, growing up and dying without any other concept of God and truth, like ritual and meaningless prayer, will be taught in the comforting beliefs of a future life, retribution, reward, consolation? What evil and delusion is it that people die from illness without help, when it is so easy to help them financially, and I will give them a doctor, and a hospital, and a shelter for the old man? And isn’t it a tangible, undoubted blessing that a man, a woman and a child have no rest day and night, and I will give them rest and leisure?...” said Pierre, hurrying and lisping. “And I did it, at least poorly, at least a little, but I did something for this, and not only will you not dissuade me that what I did was good, but you will also not disbelieve me, so that you yourself do not think so.” “And most importantly,” Pierre continued, “I know this, and I know it correctly, that the pleasure of doing this good is the only true happiness in life.
“Yes, if you put the question like that, then that’s a different matter,” said Prince Andrei. - I build a house, plant a garden, and you are a hospital. Both can serve as a pastime. And what is fair, what is good - leave it to the one who knows everything, and not to us, to judge. “Well, you want to argue,” he added, “come on.” “They left the table and sat on the porch, which served as a balcony.
“Well, let’s argue,” said Prince Andrei. “You say schools,” he continued, bending his finger, “teachings and so on, that is, you want to take him out of his animal state and give him moral needs,” he said, pointing to the man who took off his hat and walked past them. , but it seems to me that the only possible happiness is animal happiness, and you want to deprive it of it. I envy him, and you want to make him me, but without giving him my means. Another thing you say is to make his job easier. But in my opinion, physical labor is the same necessity for him, the same condition of his existence, as mental labor is for me and for you. You can't help but think. I go to bed at 3 o’clock, thoughts come to me, and I can’t sleep, I toss and turn, I don’t sleep until the morning because I’m thinking and I can’t help but think, just as he can’t help but plow and mow; otherwise he will go to the tavern, or he will become ill. Just as I cannot bear his terrible physical labor and die in a week, so he cannot bear my physical idleness, he will get fat and die. Third, what else did you say? – Prince Andrei bent his third finger.
- Oh, yes, hospitals, medicines. He has a stroke, he dies, and you bled him, cured him. He will be a cripple for 10 years, it will be a burden for everyone. It is much calmer and easier for him to die. Others will be born, and there are so many of them. If you were sorry that your extra worker was missing - the way I look at him, otherwise you want to treat him out of love for him. But he doesn't need that. And besides, what kind of imagination is there that medicine has ever cured anyone! Kill like that! - he said, frowning angrily and turning away from Pierre. Prince Andrei expressed his thoughts so clearly and distinctly that it was clear that he had thought about this more than once, and he spoke willingly and quickly, like a man who had not spoken for a long time. His gaze became more animated the more hopeless his judgments were.
- Oh, this is terrible, terrible! - said Pierre. “I just don’t understand how you can live with such thoughts.” The same moments came over me, it happened recently, in Moscow and on the road, but then I sink to such a degree that I don’t live, everything is disgusting to me... the main thing is me. Then I don’t eat, I don’t wash... well, what about you?...
“Why not wash your face, it’s not clean,” said Prince Andrei; – on the contrary, we must try to make our life as pleasant as possible. I live and it’s not my fault, so I need to live until death somehow better, without interfering with anyone.