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About
Gurkhas |
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Brief
History of Gurkhas in British Army -The
Gurkha takes their famous name from a small principality
of Gorkha who’s King in the eighteenth century
conquered most of the area now known as Nepal. The
Gurkhas have been associated with the British Army since
1815 following the war between the British in India, in
the shape of The Honorable East India Company and the
warrior tribe from the Gorkha state of Nepal. After two
long and bloody campaigns the peace was made in the
spring of 1816. |
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GORKHA PALACE - NEPAL
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Ironically,
it was the mutual respect that developed between the two sides
that led to the Gurkha being permitted to join the ranks of
the then East India Company.
 Initially
4 Gurkha Regiments were raised in the service of John Company
(Johnny Gurkha) and six more Regiment with two battalions each
followed soon and saw service throughout the subcontinent of
India. They took part in operations in China, Tibet,
Afghanistan, Asia Minor and Cyprus.
 First
& Second World War -
Over
200,000 Gurkhas joined the British Army, Fighting in Flanders
with 6 battalions in 1914 and 1915. The Gurkhas were the first
unit to break the German lines at Neuve Chappele. They also
fought in the Middle East and most notably at Gallipoli. 10%
of those who joined were killed.
During
the Second World War a quarter of a million Gurkhas joined the
British Gurkha Regiments and in addition the entire Nepali
Army was placed at the disposal of the British.
With a population of 9 million this meant
that virtually every Nepali of martial clan and military age
was serving the British Crown. Again casualties were heavy,
especially in Burma and Italy and almost 10% were killed.
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Gurkhas War Cry "Ayo
Gurkhali"
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Gurkhas served as part of the British
Indian Army and there were 10 Regiments, but following
Indian Independence four Regiments were transferred to
the British Army, the remainder stayed with Indian Army.
It
was at this time in 1947 that the British, Indian and
Nepalese Government signed a “Tripartite Agreement”
with intention of regulating the pay and conditions for
Gurkhas serving in all three Armies. The agreement is
still in existence today |
 Post
War Conflicts/Operation –
The Brigade in 1948 was some 15,000 strong and was immediately
plunged into the bitter struggle with the communist terrorist
in the damp and torrid jungle of Malaya. A war that despite
casualties bought many more awards but was not to end for 12
long and arduous years. The Borneo campaigns followed in 1962
and the revolts broke out in Brunei. The Gurkhas were the
first to dispatch to the scene of trouble, flying from
Singapore in six hours notice.
The revolts were
dealt with within a short time but the Indonesian
Confrontation with Malaysia from 1963 to 1966 the Gurkhas at
war again, the bore the brunt of fighting and played a major
part in bringing the Borneo campaign to a successful
conclusion.
The Gurkhas
conduct, velour and the jungle welfare skill were the main
factor in British victory in the Malaya and Borneo and helped
to prevent those lands suffering the same fate as Vietnam.
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A
Battalion was in action again in the Falkland war in
1982 and some element of brigade was in the Gulf
Conflict 1991. More recently one Infantry battalion with
supporting element from Gurkha Engineers, Signals and
Transport Regiment deployed into Kosovo as a part of 5
Airborne Brigade UK on a NATO lead operation and a
Company Group + deployed to East Timor on UN Peace
Keeping Force. |
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Gurkha with modern
weapons
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Currently British
Gurkhas serving or served as UN Peace Keeping force/NATO force
in East Timor, Cyprus, Bosnia, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and
Iraq. There are
over 50,000 Gurkhas serving either with the British, Indian or
Singaporean Government. All
serve for minimum of 15 years and on completion of their
contract all return to Nepal.
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Control Room Security
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The
Gurkhas of today are highly skilled in a multitude of
facets. These can be as diverse as builders,
electricians, engineers, fire fighters, administrator,
mechanics, cooks, receptionists, security officers and
drivers to name the just few, as well as routine basic
tasks. Gurkha
soldiers receive a best training possible and when
combined this with a level of discipline found in no
other industry, you can guarantee that the end result is
the availability of highly skilled and professional
personnel. |
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Many of
these Gurkhas seek employment overseas.
Over 1500 Gurkhas are working for Sultan of
Brunei to provide security to his family and properties.
Other area to have utilized the services of these
highly qualified professional personnel includes
African, Balkan and Middle Eastern Countries for
compound/property security, banks and cash in transit
Security, Airport/flight security, personal body
Guard/driver, mine clearance and armed mobile
Para-military patrols as well as cruise line security. |
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DHL
Security Staff on Duty
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