Gurkha name comes from the "Gorkha" place in Nepal. Gurkha used to carrey this knife so it is also called Gurkha knife "khukuri". Gorkha army is the derived form of Gorkhali. King Prithvi Narayan Shaha was the king of Gorkha. At that time Nepal was divided into many small regions where there used to be an individual king in each region. Later King Prithvi Narayan Shah realized that all the small states or regions should be united and should make a whole country. So King Prithvi Narayan Shaha with the help of his "Gorkhali" army (from Gorkha), succeeded in uniting Nepal into one kingdom around 1768-69 AD. During the early 19th century, the Gorkhali army was involved in a long-drawn battle with mercantile British India. Eventually, a peace treaty was signed, and the British, seeing how bravely the Gorkhalis fought, also made a provision in the treaty to recruit Nepalese in the British Army as British "Gurkha" soldiers. Since then, many Nepalese, mostly the Rais, Limbus, Gurungs and Magars, have served and still serve in the British Army. Their courage, sincerity and loyalty have won them praise and friendship from their British counterparts and fear and respect from their enemies. They are most famous as foreign soldiers serving the British Army. For their velour, many Gurkha soldiers have been decorated with medals of Honor, including the Victoria Cross, the highest military honor for bravery in the British Army.

''Bravest of the brave,
''most generous of the generous, never had
country more faithful friends than you.
Sir Ralph Turner (former officer in the 3rd Gurkha Rifles).
Carved on the London memorial to Britain's Gurkha soldier unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II on December 3, 1997

The Gurkha and the Khukuri

The Gurkha knife "khukuri" and Gurkha soilder has a very close relationship with each other. The Gurkhas Victoria Cross medal would not be in the arms of Gurkha soldier if there was no “Gurkha knife” the khukuri. The famous “Gurkha soldier” had no reputation if there was not this “Gurkha knife” the Khukuri. So in a way we can say that without this “Gurkha knife” the Khukuri, the bravery, honesty and fearless Gurkha soldiers have resulted nothing. And because of the soldiers today this “Gurkha knife” the khukuri is our National weapon is worthy of notice, if only for the remarkable weapon which they use in preference to any other. It is called the "kukri" and is of a very peculiar shape. As may be seen by reference to the drawings both the blade and hilt are curved. The blade is very thick at the back measuring a little more than a quarter of an inch in thickness. From the back it is thinned off gradually to the edge, which has curve of its own, quite different to that of the back, so the blade is widest as well as thickest in the middle, and tapers at one end towards the hilt and the other towards the point. The steel of which the blade is formed is of admirable temper, as is shown by the fact that specimens which had not been cleaned for thirty years, but have been hung upon walls among other weapons, are scarcely touched with rust, and for the greater part of their surface are burnished like mirrors. The point of the kukri is as sharp as a needle, so that the weapon answers equally for cutting or stabbing. In consequence of the great thickness of the metal, the blade is exceedingly heavy. It may be imagined that a blow from such a weapon as this must be a very terrible one. The very weight of the blade would drive it half through a man’s arm if it were only allowed to fall from a little height. But the Gurkhas have a mode of striking which resembles the "drawing" cut off the broad sword, and which urges the sharp edge through flesh and bone alike.

To make a complete set every Gurkha knife (kukr)i must come with two small knives at the back. The two smaller knives used are of very similar form, but apparently of inferior metal. These are kept in little case attached to the side of the Kukri sheath, just as is the case with the knives attached to a Highlander’s dirk. Both small knife attached with the big Khukuri has their own purpose. One is used to sharpen the khukuri and the other is used as small knife to cut.

In the hands of an experienced wielder this knife is about as formidable a weapon as can be conceived. Like all really good weapons, it's efficiency depends much more upon the skill that the strength of the wielder and thus it happens that the little Gurkha a mere boy in point of stature, will cut to pieces of gigantic adversary who does not understand his mode of onset. The Gurkha generally strikes upwards with the kukri, possibly in order to avoid wounding himself should his blow fail, and possibly because an upward cut is just the one that can be least guarded against.

"When we were engaged in the many wars in India, the Gurkha proved themselves our most formidable enemies, as since they have proved themselves most invaluable allies. Brave as lions, active as monkeys, and fierce as tigers, the lithe wiry little men came leaping over the ground to attack moving so quickly, and keeping so far apart from each other, the musketry was no use against them. When they came near the soldiers, they suddenly crouched to the ground, dive under the bayonets, struck upwards at the men with their kukris, ripping them open with a single blow, and then, after having done all the mischief in their power, darting off as rapidly as they had come. Until our men learned this mode of attack they were greatly discomfited by their little opponents, who got under their weapons, cutting or slashing with knives as sharp as razors, and often escaping unhurt from the midst of bayonets. They would also dash under the bellies of the officers’ horses, rip them open with one blow of the kukri, and aim another at the leg of the officer as he and his horse fell together."

Late king Prithivi Narayan Shah was born in 1723 AD in Gorkha, mid-west district of Nepal. He was throne at the age of 20 after the sudden demise of his father. During his era, the modern Nepal what we know today was scattered into many small & large kingdoms. So with the mission to unite all kingdoms into one, he started conquering all kingdoms and eventually united Nepal in 1768 AD. The origin of Gurkha army also started from his reign.

It is also believe that his army were the first to use khukuri. They fought so fierce fully that they not only united Nepal but also won the heart of British Rulers ruling in India who were eyeing Nepal .With a Clever head & lions heart, Prithivi Narayan Shah became the first ever ruler of modern Nepal.

Gurkha

As mention above Gurkha (or Gorkha) are a people from Nepal who take their name from that of the ruling dynasty. Gurkhas claim descent from the Rajputs of Northern India who entered modern-day Nepal from the west. In the early 1500s they conquered the small state of Gorkha and adopted its name. By 1769, the Gorkha dynasty had taken over the area of modern Nepal. They made Hinduism the state religion.

In 1814-1816 they waged war with the British East India Company army. The British were impressed by the Gurkha soldiers and began to regularly hire them as mercenaries to the Gurkha Brigade. This continues to this day with Gurkhas serving in both the British and Indian armies.

The 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, and 11th Regiments, after Indian independence, became part of the Indian Army. The Indian Army uses 'Gorkha' as the official spelling. In 1996 the British Army merged all Gurkha battalions into the Brigade of Gurkhas, with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, Royal Gurkha Rifles. Both the U.K. and India continue to maintain Gurkha units and have used them in combat. The 1st Battalon of the 7th Gurkhas fought in the Falklands War of 1982, while the 1st Battalion of the 11th Gorkha Regiment fought in the 1999 Kargil conflict for India.

Today the Gurkhas are not considered mercenaries by the British Army who point out that they are fully integrated into to the British armed forces, take the prescribed oaths in accordance with the Army Act of 1955, and are therefore subject to Military Law like British soldiers.

In the mid 1980s some Nepali speaking groups in West Bengal began to organize their own Gurkha state. In 1988 they were given broader autonomy.

Genetically Gurkhas are Tibeto-mongolians. They speak a Rajasthani dialect. They are also famous for their large gurkha knife called the khukuri (kukri.

Gurkha Brigade

The Brigade of Gurkhas is the collective term for British army units that are composed of Nepalese soldiers. They are famous for their ever-present khukuri (kukri) blade...gurkha knife..

The first Gurkhas volunteered as mercenaries in the service of the British East India Company after the war in Nepal of 1814-1816. During the war, the British were impressed by the tenacity of the Gurkha soldiers and encouraged them to volunteer for the British armed forces.

Under international law British Gurkhas are not mercenaries. They are fully integrated soldiers of the British Army, operate in formed units of the Brigade of Gurkhas and abide by the rules and regulations under which all British soldiers serve. Similar rules apply for Gurkhas serving in India's Army.

Gurkhas served as troops of the East India Company in the Pindaree War of 1817, in Bhurtbore in 1826 and the Sikh Wars in 1846 and 1848. During the Sepoy Mutiny in 1875, Gurkhas fought on the British side, and became part of the Indian Army on its formation. The 2nd Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles) defended Hindu Rao's house for over three months, losing 327 out of 490 men. 12 Nepalese regiments also took part in the relief of Lucknow. The 2nd Gurkha Rifles served in Malta during the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Gurkhas formed ten Gurkha Rifles regiments. 100,000 Gurkhas fought in the First World War. They served in the battlefields of France in the Battle of Loos, Givenchy, Neuve Chapelle and Ypres; in Mesopotamia, Persia, Suez Canal and Palestine against Turkish advance, Gallipoli, and Salonika. One detachment served with Lawrence of Arabia. 2nd battalion of 3rd Gurkha Rifles was involved in the conquest of Baghdad.

In the interwar years, Gurkhas fought in the Third Afghan War.

During World War Two, the Nepalese crown let the British recruit 20 extra battalions – 40 in total – and let them serve everywhere in the world. In addition to keeping peace in India, Gurkhas fought in Syria, North Africa, Italy, Greece and against the Japanese in Singapore and in the jungles of Burma. 10 Gurkha Rifles became a nucleus for the Chindits. They fought in the Battle of Imphal.

After Indian independence – and partition – in 1947 and under the Tripartite agreement, six Gurkha regiments joined India's Army. Four Gurkha regiments joined British service on January 1 1948. They formed the Brigade of Gurkhas and were stationed in Malaya.

During the Malayan Emergency, Gurkhas worked as jungle soldiers as they had done in Burma. They also formed four new units – Gurkha Engineers, Signals, Transport and Military Police. They were also used for convoy escort duties, security of the new villages and ambushing guerillas. In the year of Malayan independence, Gurkha Signals units monitored communications during the first free elections.

One Gurkha battalion – 2nd Gurkha Rifles - was stationed in Tidworth, UK in 1962. On December 7, the unit was deployed to Brunei on a day’s notice at the outbreak of the Brunei Revolt. The forthcoming Indonesian Confrontation saw the formation of the Gurkha Independent Parachute Company on April 1 1963. It ended up as a commando unit and worked with the Special Air Service. The unit was disbanded in 1972.

After that conflict ended, the Gurkhas were transferred to Hong Kong, where they had security duties during the upheavals of the Chinese Cultural Revolution.

The Gurkha brigade’s size was reduced to 8000 men when British government changed its defence policy. Hong Kong became their headquarters while other battalions were stationed in the UK and Brunei.

In 1971 the 7th Duke of Edinburgh’s Gurkha Rifles moved to Queen Elizabeth Barracks at Church Crookham, Hampshire. In 1974 Turkey invaded Cyprus and the 10th Gurkha Rifles was sent to defend the British sovereign base area of Dhekelia. Later they remained there on peacekeeping duties and sometimes had to literally place themselves between Greeks and Turks.

On July 1, 1997, the British government handed Hong Kong over to the People's Republic of China, which lead the reduction of the local garrison. The size of Gurkha Brigade was reduced to 3400. In July 1, 1994 four Rifle Regiments were merged into one, 1st Royal Gurkha Regiment and three Corps regiments to squadrons. Gurkha HQ and recruit training were moved to the UK.

Gurkhas have had a role in the Falklands War, Gulf War, NATO operations in Kosovo and UN peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and East Timor. Two Gurkha battalions are stationed in Sierra Leone as of this writing.

Currently all Gurkha recruits begin their service in Gurkha Training Wing in Church Crookham. Brigade HQ is based at Airfield Camp near Netheravon, Wiltshire. 2nd Gurkha Rifles Regiment is stationed in Brunei.

Gurkha regiments traditionally have British officers, although many officers of all ranks are now themselves Gurkhas. Past officers have described their troops as silent, reliable and loyal. Their enemies describe them as silent, ruthless and dangerous.

The Brigade of Gurkhas - or to be precise, their salaries and pensions - is a significant source of income for Nepal. Gurkha recruiters select yearly 270 of ten of thousands of applicants. Usual tribes are Magar, Gurung, Rai and Limbu. There are about 3400 Gurkhas in the British army. They also have the Gurkha Welfare Scheme.

Gurkhas have one five-month leave in Nepal every three years. Some of them can take their families with them to the UK – this becomes a permanent right once they have reached the rank of Colour Sergeant. Most serve unaccompanied.

Gurkha soldiers have won 12 Victoria Crosses, although all but one (Rambahadur Limbu) were won when all Gurkha regiments were still part of the Indian Army. They have affiliations with the Royal Scots, the King’s Royal Hussars and the Royal Green Jackets.

In addition to British Army, Gurkhas are recruited for the Gurkha Contingent of the Singapore Police Force. The Indian Army still also has Gurkha troops, usually recruited from those who have been rejected by the British Army, since pay and conditions are nowhere near as good and most potential Gurkhas would therefore prefer to serve with the British. gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife, gurkha knife,