Competition long time back with Gurkhas part of my team
I was watching this short documentary on YouTube about mercenaries, and the thought of our very own ‘imported’ Gurkhas contingent being employed in our homeland security to safeguard Singapore popped into my mind
If you’re clueless, the Gurkhas has been used in the Majesty British Empire since long long long long time ago. Their bravery and loyalty is well known amongst fighting men, thus they serve well as soldiers of war and peacekeepers
To put it shortly, the history between the British and Gurkhas is that, one fine day during our great grandfather time, when the Brits was steam rolling into India, as they reached Gorkha, Nepal, they thought these diminutives northern people of the mountains is a pushover. They were wrong of course, they got their ass whooped
From then onwards, there was mutual admiration on both sides and the Gurkhas have been serving Her Majesty Army ever since
In Singapore context, if you were to visit Little India, you might notice among the usual Bangla, Kerala Indians, are this short, fair skinned, well-built and always neat looking men. Well they’re the Gurkhas
You might even noticed their walking gait slightly different than most. They would slightly sway side to side and the gait would be more noticeable if they were to run.
Being the reason is that, they’re brought up on the slopes of mountains growing up, there’s hardly any flat land, so they’re slightly ‘challenged’ in a way not being able to walk or run in a straight line
Runners-up yet again to the Gurkhas
But don’t let that ‘handicap’ fooled you, they’re amazing runners. I’ve ran with some of them during my stint of National Service during the annual Sports Day or Cross Country, I’ve never once beaten them or come close to them. I ate their dust most of the time *chuckles*
A decade back and looking back now, when I left my National Service commanding and serving, with and under these Gurkhas, it has given me a lifelong impression that in combat, they’re really someone I want to take into battle.
Albeit I’ve only come into contact with them mostly during work, training and only a few occasion did I socially mingle with them, they’ve shown they’re a dedicated and fierce some bunch
It’s pretty odd when I was the ranking recruit, fresh-faced, green with experience and there was this handful of Gurkhas who has seen and did more what I’ve done, calling me “Sir”
During my stint with the Gurkhas for the Instructor course
Although they’re reknown in battle for their “It’s better to die in battle than be branded a coward” stance, they can be pretty cheeky and mischievous bunch. They can be a joker if they let their other side of self showed, but the instant when it comes to crunch time, whooaa it is as if a totally different person had possessed them
Calm under pressure and there’s a glint in their eyes that beckon “Is today the day that I go out in honour”, you can’t help but to really admire these Gurkhas. I still do …
The recent Mas Selamat escape at the Whitley Detention Centre, put a spotlight on the Gurkhas in bad light. They were part of the security forces that guard the area. I’m sure it will be blow to their honour, especially the guards who was in-charge of detainee Mas Selamat that day.
I’ve never seen Gukrhas making mistakes in their line of work, this one surely is of them and the biggest boo-boo of them all. But I also know they’re a fast learner, they won’t be making this mistake again, thats for sure
Gurkhas – Part 1
Gurkhas – Part 2
Gurkhas – Part 3
Gurkhas – Part 4
Gurkhas – Part 5
Gurkhas – Part 6
