If a man says he not afraid to die . . .

[voluptuary_manque]

he is either lying or a Ghurka!

Note the kukri strapped to his back . . . even in full dress.

 

[sr71plt]

I'll agree with that.

 

[bashfullyshameless]

Yup.

http://artofmanliness.com/trunk/687...akes-on-40-train-robbers-with-only-a-khukuri/

Total. Hero.

 

[trysail]

I first ran into the story of the Ghurkas and their traditional weapon in one of James Clavell's books, most likely Whirlwind. The Ghurkas are a special breed and you want them on your side.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khukri

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Nonsense. Plenty of people have no problem dying. For many people the fear is for pain and indignity.

 

[sr71plt]

Nonsense. Plenty of people have no problem dying. For many people the fear is for pain and indignity.

And the fear of meeting James B. Johnson.

 

[Stella_Omega]

And the fear of meeting James B. Johnson.

Really, fear?

 

[TE999]

I know the NKPA troops were scared shitless of them in Korea...and the PLA troops too.

They are tireless and fearless fighters. They make Rambo look like a pussy.

 

[R. Richard]

During the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) war, the Argentine troops would not willlingly face Gurkha soldiers. Cowardly, but smart.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Suicide bombers are apparently not afraid to die either. Of course, this is a matter of indoctrination since childhood. The same could have been said of Kamikazi pilots.

 

[sr71plt]

Suicide bombers are apparently not afraid to die either. Of course, this is a matter of indoctrination since childhood. The same could have been said of Kamikazi pilots.

Being prepared to die and not being afraid to die are two different concepts.

 

[OLDERNWISER]

.....

 

[voluptuary_manque]

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/1volupturary_manque/kukri-knife-wwii-horn-handle-3.jpg


Kukri or Khukhuri

 

[OLDERNWISER]

.....

 

[manyeyedhydra]

Mostly treated very shabbily by the British government in recent times, sadly.

 

[JustaSCOUNDREL]

Mostly treated very shabbily by the British government in recent times, sadly.

Are you really surprised? Read Kipling's poem "Tommy"

 

[estragon]

Re: The Ghurkas

G. MacDonald Fraser, who, as a section leader in the Border Regiment, was posted near a Ghurka unit in Burma, 1945, had this to say: "That was a thing that was often hard to remember: that this delightful little man, with his ungainly walk and protruding backside and impish grin, who barely came up to your shoulder and was one of nature's born comedians, was also probably the most fatal fighting man on the earth. Their reckless courage was legendary, and I imagine in that in proportion to their numbers they must have won more Victoria Crosses than any other race in the Army."

He goes on to describe their attack on a Japanese position. The Ghurka rifles were littered in front of the Japanese dugouts, as the Ghurkas, charging full speed, and screaming maniacally, dropped their rifles and went in, slashing with their khukris. Said Fraser, "I was profoundly glad that I was not Japanese." See "Quartered Safe Out Here," by George MacDonald Fraser (incidentally the author of the Flashman series).

 

[colddiesel]

The US Navy employs Gurkhas on security work at their naval installations in the middle east particularly Bahrain. Their raison d'etre is that that are not political targets as an American serviceman might be. I suspect that they would also have a little more freedom of action as the US serviceman has to operate with the glare of the media on him far too much.

I was transferred from a Scottish regiment to serve alongside Gurkhas in Malaysia and Borneo. They terrified us, let alone the enemy. They were particularly effective at counter terrorism work, anything up close and personal.

Gurkhas who have retired from the British Army now form elite forces in India, Malaysia, and Singapore.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Really, fear?

Prolly. No one messes with me IRL. People tend to think twice before they rattle my cage.

 

[Handley_Page]

Mostly treated very shabbily by the British government in recent times, sadly.

Ah, not quite. After a serious bit of publicity (fronted by the beautiful Johanna Lumley), the UK government changed its mind, realising that there was a great deal of public support for he Ghurka.

But our government never has treated its military very well. In the post- Napoleonic time, sailors and soldiers were treated like dirt, despite having given much (often a limb) in the service of their country. It has changed, but not a great deal.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

It seems, unfortunately, that whatever the socio-economic class they come from, as soon as a British subject joins the ranks of the ruling classes they immediately succumb to the old 'heedless aristocracy' mindset. I've never understood it but it matters not whether Tory (who you'd at least expect it from) Labour (New or Loony Left) or Social Democrat. Personally, I'd despair of being a tailor, even today.

 

[stephen55]

Prolly. No one messes with me IRL. People tend to think twice before they rattle my cage.

***coffee spew***