A different view on the ghurkas
- 25 September 2011 18:59128100this hit the news earlier in the week when the local m.p.spoke out, now the views from the locals.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/8786802/Aldershot-the-town-turning-away-the-Gurkhas.html - 25 September 2011 19:10128103A mixed bag of views there Howard as there is with anything to do with Immigration, in this area they have added something to the community and are very well respected people.Audere est facere.
- 25 September 2011 19:25128108The problem is the concentration in places like Aldershot and Folkestone. They are proud, brave and gracious people whom we should look after.I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
- 25 September 2011 19:31128110Anyone who would put up their life for the good, my family and world wide is a friend of mine.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet. - 25 September 2011 19:36128112Ian i can only agree with you.beer the food of the gods
- 25 September 2011 19:39128115that is the problem the concentration in some areas, as far as i know there are no problems in folkestone, but aldershot seems different.
- Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
25 September 2011 20:36128146I wonder why Aldershot is so different to our area, a shame the Telegraph article does not explain why things have gone wrong, the Gurkas I have met are so polite and friendly.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 25 September 2011 23:16128191I lived in North Camp, next door to Aldershot. When I was living there, there were no Ghurkas based there, either in North Camp or in Aldershot.
The problem that the celebrity got us into, when she led the campaign to bully the last government, is that now each individual Ghurka soldier costs the MoD a lot more money to maintain, than the British soldier does, because the State has to get every one of their family members over, settle them here, and provide everything for them and their children.
In Aldershot, when I was in that area, the local people had to share the building estates with retired soldiers, as many would want to settle in Aldershot and the surrounding areas, such as Farnborough.
There was already then some tension because of it, quite understandably.
Soldiers based in Aldershot or North Camp usually live with their families in estates belonging to the Army, as we did, but on leaving the Army, which is usualy before retirement, very many sought to remain in the area, and find work there, but had to go to the civilian housing estates.
So by adding about 10,000 Ghurka civilians to the population of Aldershot, the government has shown clear signs of civil disruption within their range of common sense.
When the Ghurka soldiers joined the Army, they had a contract, and they agreed to it: they wouldn't settle in Britain.
Now we can all foot the bill to accomodate their families and grandchildren, who are not even in the Army!!!
Good God!
Chanters, Drums and Drones Potty Time http://youtu.be/99fMqpjnXYA
Rule Britannia!
Kent First http://youtu.be/04F3mAP3fV4 Keep banging on http://youtu.be/qYCU_SKmkGQ - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
26 September 2011 08:31128204That does not explain why Folkestone is different to Aldershot.
Did the people of Aldershot not complain in the same way about the other soldiers you mentioned Alexander, if not they are being racist.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 26 September 2011 15:29128271Not the same Jan, the people of Aldershot are whinging about the Gurkha extended families which other soldiers generally have spread around the UK.I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
- Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
26 September 2011 17:52128298now lets even the story up just a little.
People in Folkestone are no different to those in Aldeshot.
they have been complaining.
yes the ghurka's are a terrific, but even the ghurka's themselves moan about the number of nepelese entering britain a lot of these have no connection what so ever to the ghurka, have just come over for a better life.
Whist i'm sure everyone has support/sympathy for the actual army personell gurkha, if everyone knew the number of extended family(if they all came could be very high number of people)
so the story is a bit bigger and does need to be explained fullyALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS - 27 September 2011 00:56128379Jan, you would have to ask the people of Aldershot if they are racists, it's not for me to say, lo!
As for the Ghurkas, it is purely and simply a matter of military choice, no space for feminine emotionalism, Jan. The British Army had a division of Ghurkas in the days of the Empire. My Dad told me all about the strategy of the Army.
As the Empire vanished, Jan, there was little need for the Ghurkas, whose numbers were reduced to a regiment. But these soldiers were recruited from among Nepalese villages, and only a select few from each area got through into the British Army, on a set contract that they would return home when their term was done.
What tens of thousands of Nepalese wives, children and grandchildren based in Aldershot has to do with selected military soldiers, Jan, only God knows, because the MoD certainly doesn't!
The government evidently hasn't got a clue, Jan, as no army would spend its valuble and limited resources on accommodating tens of thousands of foreign woman and children of serving and retired soldiers from a foreign country, while sending tens of thousands of their own soldiers, sailors and airmen and women into redundancy.
As I said, Jan, no room here for the female celebrity type emotionalism.
It comes down to military need for soldiers of military value. Aldershot was never designed to accomodate tens of thousands of Nepalese women and children and their grandchildren.
Maybe Folkestone was, according to you, dunno, but not Aldershot.
Sorry, Jan, didn't mean to be racist, just slipped out!
Damn me if you will, but by God I ain't changing my mind on this!Chanters, Drums and Drones Potty Time http://youtu.be/99fMqpjnXYA
Rule Britannia!
Kent First http://youtu.be/04F3mAP3fV4 Keep banging on http://youtu.be/qYCU_SKmkGQ - 27 September 2011 01:03128380I might add, that the British Army once recruited Highland soldiers as elite fighting men, well many of their regiments have been shut down or merged, but never heard anyone moaning or grumbling about these British bretheren of ours, probably because they are British!Chanters, Drums and Drones Potty Time http://youtu.be/99fMqpjnXYA
Rule Britannia!
Kent First http://youtu.be/04F3mAP3fV4 Keep banging on http://youtu.be/qYCU_SKmkGQ - Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
27 September 2011 07:24128393explained a little more in post 11ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS - 27 September 2011 09:35128411i think keith summed it up quite well with his description of feelings in folkestone.
- 27 September 2011 19:16128467back on local news tonight started with the man who always has something to say.
a familiar face in the area, top man from the beeb.
he is indicating a row of nepalese run businesses running hand in glove with other local ones.
this chap was of the opinion that the nepalese community was not integrating well.
finally we hear from this man that there are only 2500 nepalese in folkestone including those at the barracks.
- Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
27 September 2011 20:20128489there is (or was) a gurhka lib dem councillor in shepway who represented the cheriton ward, but whenever i attended any meetings either he or others arranged he only ever spoke about ghurka's i did many times ask him if he had views on any other subjects, or other ward members(non nepalese) he never had.
peter carrol we all know was always the lib dem losing candidate to michael howard when mr howard was the M.P in shepway.
mr carrol owned a haulage company which i understood he foolishly sold at election before last thinking he would beat mr howard, it was never going to happen, he was hardly good enough to be a cllr let alone an MP.
I think we all support the army personnel of ghurka's but im aware of a lot drug related issues with other nepalese people in shepway.
often people see someone who looks like a ghurka when in fact they have come over for a better life.
one thing i will say about the ghurka army personell they do act swiftly when told
i once told the welfare officer of a nepalese person causing a problem in the community, i was told the next day he was back in nepal, i asked why they said we dont want to have a bad reputation so we sent him home
many of the army people just don't understand english law and how the system lets people off, or poor sentences it realy baffles themALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
