A brief chat about my Kukri and an insight into the Gurkha Soldier, spotlighting the actions of Sgt Pun (Conspicuous Gallantry Cross), who single handedly fought off an enemy assault on his outpost in September 2010 in Afghanistan.
Billy Fish The Man Who Would Be King. A brilliant film. Joanna Lumley was born in Simla I think. Her Dad was a Ghurka Officer. I remember they used to frequent a right rough old pub opposite Aldershot station and in those days at Church Crookham walking out dress for them was grey slacks , regimental tie and rifle green blazer. No exceptions. They were always in Aldershot M+S buying their civvies. You never ever saw them in jeans or without a shirt and tie. Church Crookham was a lovely old type camp. With white wash stones. The wooden type accommodation. Not spiders but similar. And on religious days the whole camp was adorned with flowers hanging everywhere. A goat was blessed, beheaded and eaten. They make a fine goat curry too. At Sandhurst you were allowed to eat in their side of the cookhouse. Own chefs etc. The food was pukka- pun intended!
I helped lay a minefield in front of the Gurkha positions in the Falklands in 1982 .A more polite and helpful soldier you will never meet, they called us Sappers ," Sir". Very good people and couldn't do enough for you, food was a bit suspect mind. Another class video Kei
Wow, that was some tasking, thanks for commenting and your service, I have much respect for you lads that went down South. You're bang on regarding the Gurkha lads.
The 39th Garhwal Rifles used the kukri too. My great-uncle was a company commander, killed at Neuve Chapelle in 1915. The Garhwals were joining Gurkha regiments, and winning so many medals, in 1887 the Garhwal Rifles was formed. Only 2 Indian units won 3 Victoria Crosses from 1914-1919. The Garhwal Rifles was one of them. / As a boy, I read "Bugles and a Tiger" by John Masters, who was a pre-war Gurkha officer, then a successful Chindit leader in Burma, and a successful author after WW2 ( Bhowani Junction ). "Bugles" really gives the essence of a Gurkha battalion then. /
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd Enjoy your Christmas - with family, I hope. / Indian Army officers were really extraordinary men. I knew Brigadier Beyts, who was deputy to Colin Gubbins, running Auxiliary Units from 1940, then he moved to SOE. He really had everything at his fingertips, spoke very clearly, never said more than necessary, and was understood fully first time. When Britain was in the grip of the 1970s, Beyts was involved with Civil Assistance, set up by General Sir Walter Walker in case of civil breakdown. / We had an Auxiliary Unit hide in one of our woods sadly blown up postwar. After my mother's death, I discovered that she was FANY attached to French Section SOE. She never mentioned a word to me, although I was mad on military history. She gave me her FANY badges, but never mentioned a silk escape map - which I would have given my right arm for! But it did explain why she knew the Beaulieu area like the back of her hand. /
Thank you, Im very much enjoying your comments. Its information/stories like your telling that you would struggle to find or hear about. Enjoy your Christmas and thank you.@@zen4men
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd Sadly I am stuck in a city, and unable to get out and walk much. But I find writing crystalises my thoughts, leading me on further, making realisations. I am sure you will find making videos will prompt new discoveries! I am known as Zen.
In days of manpower shortages I always wonder why we don't recruit more Gurkha soldiers. From what I understand there are always far more candidates than there are spaces. I've worked alongside them at Bisley and they are great guys and very friendly. A curry in Church Crookham is an experience not to be missed.............. And the other thing - you always saw them out in the 'shot dressed in a blazer, shirt and tie, no drunken brawls and no trouble from them. I think they were the only soldiers that even the Paras didn't try to have a punch up with.................... 🙂
3:45 - another element to the cut out at the bottom of the blade. If you follow the blade edge, as it reaches the cut out, notice (on good Kukri) that it creates a specific angle. An angle, that deflects anything sliding down/off the blade, away from the hand/fingers holding the Kukri ;)
Thanks Richard and yeah I agree, we maybe a small nation and maybe our Army is small and not always have the best kit, but we punch well above our weight.
Bhanbhagta Gurung. During WW2 in Burma killed enemy sniper, ran towards enemy position under heavy enemy fire, took out enemy positions one by one and then organized the repulse of the enemy counter attack. Was awarded the VC by George VI. at Buckingham Palace for this. Balls of a material unknown to Man.
Brilliant soldiers are lot was tasked as enemy for them, we set out our platoon hide, all wired for sound, when we stood to in the morning, we found they had paid us a visit in the night, all the trip flares had been disarmed, comm cords cut, and claymores turned inwards, scary little men, but absolutely brilliant, stay safe and keep your powder dry. Paul.
