howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#1
#2
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#3
a total of 400 gurkhas will go leaving 2400 in service.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#4
The Ghurka brigade is a leftover of the Empire, we don't need to send hundreds of thousands of troops all over the world, those days are over.
It's sometimes projected that Ghurkas are braver than British soldiers. They're not.
The Kentish soldiers always had a place of honour in the front line of the English Army ever since, outnumbered and caught in an ambush, they fought a heroic battle against the Danes in Essex.
The Highlanders were also considered among the very brave of the British Army, and still are.
We have enough brave men to fight for Britain.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#5
The Brigade of Ghurkas have given great service to this country and we have no more loyal friends. This Brigade have already been cuts too far and I find this latest cut appalling. I have signed up to that Bern!!!
No-one is saying they are braver than British soldiers but they certainly have proven their courage and have a fierce reputation that make a battalion of ghurkas worth a brigade when it come to damaging the morale of an enemy. The impact the arrival of the Ghurkas had in the Falklands, on the Argentinian concripts, really set the cat among the pigeons and apparently all sorts of wild stories went around the Argies about what the Ghurkas would do them them with their kukris. This damaged their will to fight much to the disappointment of many ghurkas when they got into action.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#6
it was on the cards the moment that the actor lady got her way, gradually they will be reduced to nothing,
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#7
That is true Howard. The cost advantages of the brigade has disappeared eliminating one factor that might have kept them. Ultimately the Nepalese will lose out due to well meaning action even though we may have applauded her victory at the time.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#8
Quite right Barry that the Ghurkas have stories of bravery to tell, but what sets awe into people is how British soldiers have fought in desparate situations.
The Ulster soldiers were among the few fighting formations in the British Army who managed to conquer German trenches at the Battle of the Somme.
The banner with the Red Hand was flying over a section of the German trenches, but many, many Ulstermen lay dead and wounded on the field.
The Thin Red Line is an epic tale of Highlanders who stood and held their ground in the face of the full onslaught of the Russian heavy cavalry.
The Charge of the Light Brigade has no comparison in history. It was sheer bravery.
#9
There is no one branch of the services that is intrinsiclaly braver or less brave than any other , none of us know what we can or will do until we are given the ultimate test .
The Gurkhas, however, have a long tradition of loyal service to the crown and this is what these cuts jeopodise .
#10
Well said.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#11
i think post 9 says a lot
working with this group they are a very good group to have on your side
and sarah is right
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