How tough were the Gurkes ? Why Father & Grandfather would tell me stories about them !?

Question

As an Aussie, our Soldiers were always held among the toughest, bravest and the ones who could just grind it out longer than most, but the Gurkes must have been fearsome with their bowey knifes and having to draw blood every time they pulled their knifes out, or cut themselfes in substiture. They had the Japanese terrified of them ! We're they the most fearsome ?

Answer 1

They are beyond a doubt the best jungle warfare soldiers in the world. I too had many stories about them from WWII from my father. I also have first hand knowledge of them from when our ship pulled into Hong Kong back in 94'.

I also found them to be some of the most quiet and humble people that I have ever met. They don't have to go around telling people how good they are, they just are. I am proud to have worked with some of them in the past.

Answer 2

I served alongside with B Company, 1st Bn, 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles for 7 months and I can back Conrangers statement about it being nonsense about every time they took out a kukri they had to cut a finger or draw blood I never saw it happen once.

P Prasad Limbu, where ever you are today, raise a pint for the old days.

As for them being outstanding soldiers yes they are, they have a different mind set from westerners, its almost like being a priest to them its a vocation and they take more pride than anyone I know (And that takes a lot because trust me I was damn proud of my unit).

And they were even treated differently from us, B Coy 1/7 GR got sent back to UK same time as my unit they did not get leave but got shipped straight down to the falklands in time for the War, my Unit got leave and watched them leave only to go on stand by for it later, then it was all over and we went down for first year anniversary as garrison

Answer 3

Gurkha's don't use "bowie" knives.

They use a quaint weapon called a Kukri, which is carried in a leather covered wooden sheath,

The large blade is carried with two small knives, one skinning knife, the other was used as a sharpening blade like a butchers steel.

I was buying a drink for a Gurkha Regimental Sgt-Major about 15 years ago and asked about the 'never drawn without tasting blood' story.

"Total nonsense" he said "If that was true how would we inspect them? Like all other kit it's inspected every day, The men would bleed to death in a fortnight!"

Answer 4

An Old Marine tells the story of witnessing a Chinese human wave attack in Korea on a Gurka position. Claims that he saw Gurkas jump out of their prepared fighting positions leaving their rifles to engage the advancing Chinese on foot with their knives. After lobbing off a number of heads and other limbs the Chinese attack waivered and broke.

Amazing what a couple loose heads rolling under foot will do to the morale of an attacking force. The Old Marine felt slighted because he didn't get the chance to fire his M1919 belt fed machine gun that day!

Answer 5

I'm going to say yes. When I was stationed at a NATO base, I made the mistake of asking to see Gurkes knife. The table went quiet. This man then pulled out the knife and calmly sliced open his left index finger before allowing me to see the knife. Freaked me out. They are the best I have ever seen!