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You folks hear the story of the first Gorkha to surrender to the Brits in the Anglo Gorkha War of 1815?
Well, here it is!
You folks hear the story of the first Gorkha to surrender to the Brits in the Anglo Gorkha War of 1815?
Well, here it is!
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It was the first time organised British troops had faced the Gorkhas in battle & were indeed very intrigued by these spunky little warriors.
However, even as the campaign dragged on, they failed to get a prisoner of war.
It was the first time organised British troops had faced the Gorkhas in battle & were indeed very intrigued by these spunky little warriors.
However, even as the campaign dragged on, they failed to get a prisoner of war.
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Finally, one fine day the Brits saw a Gorkha soldier walk into their lines. He had been wounded during the battle. Ecstatic at the unexpected surrender, their first priority was to treat this man's wounds.
Finally, one fine day the Brits saw a Gorkha soldier walk into their lines. He had been wounded during the battle. Ecstatic at the unexpected surrender, their first priority was to treat this man's wounds.
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As he recovered, he became quite friendly with the British troops, thanks to his cheerful nature, which they later realized was typical of all Gorkhas.
As he recovered, he became quite friendly with the British troops, thanks to his cheerful nature, which they later realized was typical of all Gorkhas.
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After a few days of recovering & partaking British hospitality, when he had recovered, this bugger sought permission to rejoin his own lines, & without waiting for an answer, started walking back to his garrison!
After a few days of recovering & partaking British hospitality, when he had recovered, this bugger sought permission to rejoin his own lines, & without waiting for an answer, started walking back to his garrison!
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All that the stunned British soldiers could do was to see him walk back to the 'enemy' side!
All that the stunned British soldiers could do was to see him walk back to the 'enemy' side!
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No wonder General Amar Singh Thapa & his men won their admiration & respect, and even though defeated, ended the campaign with dignity, marching out with their colours and accoutrements intact & unmolested!
No wonder General Amar Singh Thapa & his men won their admiration & respect, and even though defeated, ended the campaign with dignity, marching out with their colours and accoutrements intact & unmolested!
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Some soldiers, these!
Some soldiers, these!
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This British fascination with Gorkhas carried on even after the empire retreated, wherein the Royal British Army chose to retain four out of the 10 Gorkha Regiments that served in 1947.
This British fascination with Gorkhas carried on even after the empire retreated, wherein the Royal British Army chose to retain four out of the 10 Gorkha Regiments that served in 1947.
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And the kanchas of Nepal have more than lived up to their fierce reputation, in battlefields ranging from the Falklands to Afghanistan to Kargil to Sri Lanka to East & West Pakistan and many more.
God bless them!
And the kanchas of Nepal have more than lived up to their fierce reputation, in battlefields ranging from the Falklands to Afghanistan to Kargil to Sri Lanka to East & West Pakistan and many more.
God bless them!
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THE GURKHA SOLDIER - Bravest of the Brave, most generous of the generous, never had country more faithful friends than you!
- Sir Ralph Turner, The Third Gorkha Rifles
THE GURKHA SOLDIER - Bravest of the Brave, most generous of the generous, never had country more faithful friends than you!
- Sir Ralph Turner, The Third Gorkha Rifles
