The American Spectator : Debt of Honor

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Debt of Honor

By George H. Wittman on 5.15.09 @ 6:06AM

What the British owe their most faithful soldiers.

In a world of seemingly perpetual conflict to be able to depend on an unwavering ally is beyond value. This is the special bond between the British Crown and the Gurkhas. In a distinctly un-British manner, therefore, the UK's Home Office had ruled that only some of the retired members of the famed Gurkha Brigades could resettle in Britain.

The Home Secretary, while never using the word "mercenary," clearly implied that as loyal as these barely over five foot tall Nepalese soldiers had been for nearly 200 years, they nonetheless were not eligible for citizenship as were soldiers of the Commonwealth countries -- to say nothing of the millions of British citizens and residents who emigrated from former colonies.

The result has been, to use a British term, "a right cock-up." Joanna Lumley, the co-star of the television series, Absolutely Fabulous, who was born in Srinagar, Kashmir, India while her father was a serving officer in the 6^th Gurkha Rifles, has launched her not inconsiderable vigor into the campaign to challenge the government ruling. Joined by other notables including her fellow actor Virginia McKenna, whose late husband was a major in the 9th Gurkha Regiment, Ms. Lumley has charged in the best Gurkha style through Whitehall.

Wearing a pin symbolizing crossed khukuris, the massive curved knife of the Gurkhas that is their regimental cap badge, the dynamic Lumley, blond locks flying, sliced her way through Parliament. A successful motion in the House of Commons for equal right of residence for all Gurkha veterans and their families certainly was energized by her efforts.

The problem was that the prime minister must sign off on this -- and so far he hadn't. Off marched the "daughter of the regiment" to confront PM Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street. The dour Scotsman obviously was outmatched by the wily Ms. Lumley and initially folded -- as any reasonably rational male would do. Unfortunately, after the Lumley assault squad had left, Brown immediately went back into hiding with the statement that he "had to consider the matter."

The "mercenary" aspect of these Gurkha forces that fight for "the Queen's shilling" is a circumstance not unknown to the U.S. government. After the Vietnam War Vietnamese veterans, well-connected civilians, Montagnard tribespeople of the Hmong, and other indigenous folk who had worked with American forces were shoe-horned into U.S. citizenship. Precedent had been established with veterans of the Philippine Scouts who had served as part of the U.S. Army during World War II.

It seems odd that the already weakened Labour government would allow itself to be dragged into a controversy involving such worthy servants of the Crown. It is understandable, though, that there would be an element of fear involved in opening the door for emigration of the "best and brightest" of the skill-short nation of Nepal. As Edward Vickers, the grandson of a Gurkha brigadier wrote, "…Inviting British (Army) Gurkhas to retire to the UK rather than returning home, therefore risks unpicking another piece of the extremely frayed fabric of Nepali society."

The fact is, however, that British-trained Gurkha troops repeatedly have participated in international peacekeeping at the British taxpayer's expense and to their honor. Everyone who has served in a combat area with these small, indefatigable soldiers has come away with a tale of special heroism. Perhaps one of the least known is the story told me by the late Donald Wise, war correspondent for London's Daily Mirror, himself a former officer in The Parachute Regiment, and survivor of a Japanese POW camp in Burma.

A Gurkha company had been attached to the United Nations in 1961 to assist in securing the province of Katanga that had broken away from the newly independent central government in Leopoldville, Congo. The Gurkhas, however, had been restricted to a non-combat role. They were specifically ordered not to fire their weapons. The Katangese forces led by European officers faced off against the Gurkha unit across what had been a golf course.

The Katangese started the conflict by lobbing mortar rounds into the Gurkha position. They wanted the Gurkhas to abandon what was a key control point. The Gurkhas did not budge. After a couple of hours and an accumulating number of casualties, the Gurkha commander demanded of his superiors the approval to return fire. He was simply reminded of his standing orders.

As his losses mounted, the Gurkha officer radioed directly to the UN command in Leopoldville. The UN military in Leo repeated the standing order, but said that they would query United Nations headquarters in New York City. Meanwhile, the men of the Gurkha company, many raw recruits in their first combat, hunkered down in their foxholes totally exposed to the intermittent but deadly Katangese bombardment. They fired not one shot in return.

At the end of nearly five hours of incoming fire the word finally came from the UN via New York and Leopoldvile that the Gurkhas had permission to return fire. The order to unsheath their khukuris was given; the Gurkha company charged across the golf course scattering Katangese in whole and in parts on the other side of the fairway. The Katangese scrambled away from their adversary that they had heavily outnumbered -- though the odds were considerably reduced by the time the Gurkhas regrouped.

The discipline and courage of the many scores of years of service was in their genes then, as it remains today. One of the two Gurkha battalions still in the British Army rotates with its brother battalion in Afghanistan today. These extraordinary soldiers, sons of those who have gone before and fathers of those who will follow, should not be forgotten by the government they so loyally serve.

In the First World War Sir Ralph Turner, MC, 3rd Queen Alexandria's Own Gurkha Rifles, said it best:

"… Uncomplaining you endure hunger and thirst and wounds, and at the last your unwavering lines disappear into the smoke and wrath of battle. Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous, never had a country more faithful friends than you."

topics:
Gurkhas, Nepal, Katanga

About the Author

George H. Wittman writes a weekly column on international affairs for The American Spectator online. He was the founding chairman of the National Institute for Public Policy.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (24) | Leave a comment

Melvin| 5.15.09 @ 7:25AM

How can the British government honor the commitment to the Gurkha's when those currently governing England are no longer honorable themselves?
There are no longer any statesmen left in the world, we are stuck with self-serving career bureaucrats.

Rocco| 5.15.09 @ 7:43AM

Impressive soldiers these Gurkhas!

Melvin, your statement on the lack of statesmen is right on the money, unfortunately, and we are stuck with the bill.

Robert Pinkerton| 5.15.09 @ 9:47AM

This article treats merely the most blatant and most recent of examples. The way we in the West treat those who have risked life and limb, or spilled their own blood in their countries' defense, is a world-historical scandal.

Dustoff| 5.15.09 @ 10:40AM

Did anyone notice the typical UN screwing up again. What a huge lost to the Gurkhas because of these stinking fools.

Richard Baker| 5.15.09 @ 11:19AM

It is a shame that men so loyal to England should be treated so shamefully. Mercenaries, indeed. This is how Socio-Communists treat people in general so we really shouldn't be surprised.
Read somewhere, that when a Gurkha showed you his kukri he would draw it across his wrist, gently, to draw a little blood as it was not to be drawn without so doing. That's Hardcore.

Truman Eyler| 5.15.09 @ 12:43PM

If you really want to learn about the Gurkhas, read the two volumes of memoirs by the late John Masters, "Bugles and a Tiger" (1930's) and "The Road Past Mandalay" (WWII). Masters had served as an officer with Gurkha troops.

Bruce Floyd| 5.15.09 @ 3:48PM

They have been and are wonderful warriors. If Brown and his little troop of faggots doesn't want them, we would sure like to have them in the U.S.

Bruce Floyd
USMC

Richard Baker| 5.15.09 @ 6:57PM

To Bruce Floyd:
Marine, everything that I've ever read about these guys says outstanding. I agree with you. If the Brits don't want them, send them to the US. We could sure use MEN in the US these days.

Mo| 5.15.09 @ 6:58PM

Good point Bruce. These are the types of folks we should be begging to immigrate. However, since they are not used to complaining and will be productive and self-sustaining thus requiring no billion dolloar government bureaucracy to rely upon, they will not be deemed acceptable by the current administration.

Big Leo| 5.15.09 @ 8:03PM

The only bad thing about the whole Prejean affair is now I have to say nice things about Donald Trump. He was a stand up guy in all of the fuss, and he deserves credit for it.
Now that I've said that, I can go back to calling him a jerk.

Marc Boyd| 5.15.09 @ 9:04PM

Michael Yon has been with them in tracking training in the jungle. Interesting reading. Scroll down for his dispatches.

http://www.michaelyon-online.com/michael-s-dispatches/

Animesh Singh| 5.16.09 @ 2:04AM

I am from Nepal. Can Americans please hire us in your Army? We promise you that we will be the most loyal soldiers in the world. The British have let us down. Personally, I think we should no longer serve them.

Can anyone do something about this please. Start a campaign to draft us Gurkhas into the US Army.

Mike| 5.16.09 @ 4:10AM

I have a copy of "Bugles and the Tiger", it has to be a good 50 years old now. I am going to see if I can track down a copy of "Road to Mandalay", and give it a read, after i reread Bugles and the Tiger. I still laugh about the part of the book when they try to get Gurkhas to volunteer to train as paratroopers. It was hilarious. I always wanted to meet those first few volunteers. :-)

Richard Baker| 5.16.09 @ 10:24AM

To Animesh Singh:
As a former professional soldier, I wish that the Gurkhas were part of the US Army. Sad that the British seem to have no respect for you folks but then they have no respect for themselves. In our system, the only way to have you would be to enlist as a group and ask to stay together.

iknownothing| 5.16.09 @ 10:31AM

iknownothing| 5.16.09 @ 10:39AM

Since the Gurkhas are honorable men, their problem is that they don't understand how to manipulate the current venal political culture of modern western democracies. If they really wanted to immigrate to Britain, they should have done a better job of transforming themselves into victims, and hiring a public relations firm. Or even better, they should have all converted to Islam, and became radical Muslims. Then after they inevitably start to spew anti-Western, anti-Christian, and anti-Jewish hatred, they would then start to win the sympathy of the British elites in the UK Home Office. Then for the newly Muslim Radical Gurkhas, it would all be downhill from their, since they could claim that their Nepalese government was subjecting them to "religious persecution". After all, since all the bureaucrats in the British Foreign Service all tend to be anti-western, anti-Christian, and anti-Jewish themselves - and since they all fancy themselves to be the modern-day version of "Lawrence of Arabia" - they will move heaven and earth to process the visas of the Islamic Radical Gurkhas ASAP.

iknownothing| 5.16.09 @ 10:42AM

iknownothing| 5.16.09 @ 10:45AM

Whoops - sorry for the multiple post - I messed up in the way I was using the Firefox browser.

Rashmi| 5.16.09 @ 11:01AM

Thank you George G Wittman & thank you Spectator for this article.

I feel proud to be a Gorkha - from India and having had great men in my family who have proudly served in the 3rd & 5th Gorkha Rifles.

May I also recommend please read Byron Farwell "The Gurkhas" a splendid read all based on facts unlike John Masters books that are fiction.

BTW people should know that the Victoria Cross winner - Mr. Pun around whom this campaign started - the 6th Gorkhas based in the UK have taken away his ORIGINAL medals in the name of safekeeping and have given him some replicas and refuse to return it to him (now that they know its valued in hundred thousand pounds) as they keep claiming he sold it to them!

Honourable Brits for sure!

Michele San Pietro| 5.17.09 @ 4:34AM

I totally agree with you: the British owe a lot to their soldiers, just like the American. We shouldn't allow anybody to slander and libel the soldiers, who have done a lot for freedom of democracy, often giving their own life.

Dennis Dilley| 5.17.09 @ 1:12PM

The story begins with only a passing reference to the "Home Secretary," without actually identifying the individual. Could it be the same Jacqui Smith, moron nonpareil, who distinguished herself in the infamous Michael Savage affair?
Gotta hand it to you Brits for knowing how to uphold the finest traditions of what used to be a pretty good nation. Let in the trash, keep the best off the property.

nemcc| 5.18.09 @ 11:00AM

As a former Special Forces officer, I have worked with numerous soldiers from around the world. One of my proudest possessions is an antique khukhuri. The Ghurkas are among the finest soldiers in the world. Courageous, disciplined and loyal to a fault. I would be all for reestablishing the Lodge Act to incorporate the Ghurkas into the US Armed Forces.

David Brundle| 5.18.09 @ 6:01PM

Don't for one second imagine that the bunch of spineless cretins we currently have in Government have heard the last of this issue. The British people have a great affection for the Gurkhas, they will not tolerate this situation any longer.

Richard Baker| 5.21.09 @ 4:00PM

To nemcc:
Isn't it amazing that anyone, such as yourself, who has trained/worked with the Gurkhas, to include the Royal Army, was glad to have made contact with them while the politicians, who probably wouldn't know a Gurkha if they saw one, denigrate their activities? The British government is not, today, worthy of such fine soldiers.