I am seeing a lot of questions about the Gurkhas- but what do they actually do?

Question

I fully understand that they are excellent soldiers and hard workers, but what is their role- do they do anything different to a normal infantry unit? How would a British Officer's job with them differ from the same job with an ordinary British regiment?

Excuse my ignorance but I just want to know as I have seen a few questions relating to them lately.

Thanks!

Answer 1

in some circles they are viewed as an elite infantry unit, other people view them as a normal infantry unit. A British officers job with them differs in that they must speak fluent Gurkhali

Interestingly, the Gurkhas have never been deployed to Northern Ireland, some people think that they may be the answer! Upon hearing the news of surrender during the Falklands war, a group of Gurkhas arriving in Stanley wanted to swim from the Falklands to Argentina to kill some Argentinians!!

Answer 2

Some gurkhas serve in British Units as do other nationalities such as Fijians who are working in Northern IReland ...There were three gurkha regiments and two were disbanded and after that some gurkhas have joined british regiments...

My cousin was in the hospital when her father died and she saw the families of a fijian soldier who had died in Iraq apparently there are more and this I havent seen reported in the news...

My cousin husband served with the regiment and jkust trained them for work in the british army...

I myself have met a gurkha soldier who cam to stay with us and probably like every other soldier was sOoooooooooooo
obedient and disciplined and would shame even well mannered people. That is why I belive this country should have national service....

Gurkhas understand enough to do the job and this gurkha who served did not do much speaking...

Answer 3

they're just another infantry regiment. they do have other roles in the army too - there's the queen's gurkha signals for example.

gurkha officers must progress through the ranks from private - they cannot go through sandhurst and come out a 2nd lieutenant. british officers serving with gurkhas must speak their language.

Answer 4

Originally drafted into the British army Indian brigades,these nepali people,recognise as a martial race,fought well.
Never really producing officer material and despite their qualities they were ,much as the Indian brigades,cannon fodder.
They certainly deserve our respect,but no more than any other british army regiment.Over the years the respect and romantic image of these foreign soldiers has placed them on a pedestal.Gurkha families were very proud to send sons into service within the revered british army and they pay was more than they could hope to draw from nepal,tibet or mongolia.perhaps the reason britain didnt feel obliged to offer anything more.However,I do feel that anyone who has given 22 years to the British army deserves citizenship and more.

Answer 5

I've done some training with the Gurkhas, and i can tell you that they pride themselves on their soldiering ability, they are slick in what they do, hard working, and the ones i saw were dam fine shots. Their Knife, " the kukri " is probably even more well known and their symbol, and they aren't afraid to use it. Since many have moved to the U.K there are also opportunities to serve in many different areas of the British armed forces.

Answer 6

The Gurkha's are a brave and proud infantry unit of the British Army. They have served this country for many many years in many battles and conflicts.
Their members are from Nepal and often from impoverished families and class it as a honour to serve in HM Forces.
Despite all this, when they finish their term in the army they are entitled to LESS rights in this country than illegal immigrants are.
I suggest you do as I have done and go to the following site and sign the petition.

petitions.pm.gov.uk/gurkhasrights

Answer 7

Kill the Queens enemies like all British soldiers.

Answer 8

No, they probably don't do anything different than UK soldiers. They are, however treated differently when it comes to pensions and the right of residence in the UK.
Many have served the UK for 20 years or more, and when they retire they are not allowed to stay in the UK and their pension is not the same as that of a UK national.

Answer 9

I do not know their full history but I have never heard of a British Soldier who does not have the greatest respect for his Gurka comades

Answer 10

A good question. I prefer not to repeat. Just go to this site. It is quite elaborate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghurka.