Customer Reviews

The Gurkhas

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This book was well written and very informative in all areas pertaining to those durable soldiers, the Gurkhas. I couldn't put it down and was so enthralled with it that I had to take off from a day of work to finish it. This book has taught me of a warrior tradition I only knew from conversations. It has inspired me to find out more and more of this story. A must read for any military enthusiast

This is another splendid book by Farwell. Over the years he has written many books chronicling the life of the British soldier and his many gallent campaigns in the days when the sun never set on the Union Jack. The Gurkhas have established themselves as one of the world's elite fighting forces, and justly so. Farwell does a nice job telling their story from their beginnings in 1815 when the British first encountered these redoubtable hillmen as enemies. Over the decades they steadily gained the trust and respect of all who commanded them in India. Their exploits during the Indian Mutiny of 1857 firmly endeared their trust to the British who were justly weary of the loyalty of any native troops after the attrocities committed by seapoys in that rebellion.

The Gurkhas identified themselves as Rifles, or Light Infantry and assumed many of the traditions of the Rifle Brigade and Royal Green Jackets. This includes the fast 140 pace, the green hued uniforms, the use of bugles and the like. This is also seen in the style of performance in the band of the Brigade of Gurkhas who perform in their own unique style at Tattoos with fast paced marching and music. Past association with Scottish regiments resulted in another carry over tradition, the inclusion of pipes in all regimental music. Again, the Gurkhas have developed their own keen style of piping, including many traditional Napalese tunes as well as Scots pipe music. Too bad Farwell did not touch a little more on these interesting traditions which make the Gurkhas quite unique.

Sadly in todays much reduced British army all of the Gurkha regiments have been reduced to one, the Royal Gurkha Rifles, with a paltry two battalions. Farwell's book is as much social history as well as military anedotes. This is a standard feature of many of his works. Since the book was written back in the 1980s it does not reflect any of the recent conflicts and peace keeping missions which the Gurkhas have been involved with, nor their current force reductions. Still an entertaining and informative book nonetheless.

The rousing history of the Ghurkas & their wonderful achievements are meat & drink for an author like Farwell & he certainly doesn't disappoint here. Good mix of general military history together with plenty of first hand, personal accounts of Ghurka bravery & quirkiness. These are a special people & this is a fascinating story of how their 200+ years of loyal service to the British Crown's Armed Forces came about &, sadly, ended on pretty poor terms. Recommended!

How could anyone be interested to write a book about the Nepalese infantry in the service of the British army? That question made me flip through the book in the bookshop. And since I found an interesting answer I bought the book. And I did not repent it. I read it while in company with Nepalese men. Gurkhas are foremost Nepalese men.
As answer to my question I could say I found in the book a description of the army service of these men as well as a description of the character of these men which displayed a collection of good qualities that every man should have.
The picture the author is showing here is correlating with my own experience with the mountain men of Nepal, these cheerful stocky highlanders (by the way this goes for many "highlanders" as if mountains are character polishing!). They are honest, reliable, tough, tenacious, fearless, brave, loyal, friendly, humorous, helpful and they are very strong. Why not conclude and formulate a theory that good men with qualities, make also resilient fighters in the men`s business that is war (whereas there are other good men, who make no good fighters, but the point is: no good men, no good for nothing).
Of course I liked the chapter about Characters and Characteristics. The Gurkha "knows how to be obedient without being servile" - something many mountaineers witnessed as well. They are a model of "acceptance of strange people and extraordinary circumstances" and they have something which the guys of old called moral: "Even the newest Ghurka recruit appeared to accept with equanimity war`s horrors and physical hardships, remaining cheerful, able to emerge from battle - even defeat - with his moral unimpaired."
Superman - a Ghurka? With one mistake at least: "If he has a mistake it is his hasty temper" as a Coronel expressed it. And too superstitious I would add!
Of less interest I found the chapters about the different campaigns the Ghurkas were used - or misused- by the British, a major part of the book. When the going got tough they cried out for the Gurkhas and the Gurkhas - and other British colony nationalities - shed their (less precious??) blood.
When you are interested in British warfare and military history this book is right for you. Otherwise you need to be interested in manliness with the peculiar characteristics of the Ghurkas.
Meanwhile the Gurkhas serve their own nations (the Indians also formed troops of mountain men which they also call Gurkhas), nations that have to fight no war at all in the peaceful Himalaya - luckily. The mountain men serve instead mountain expeditions. There is a certain similarity to military expeditions which should be enough for them to appease their drive for probation. Only a pity that they have to change their pretty Kukri knifes into ice axes.
They still will cling to their motto: Kaphar hunnu bhanda marnu ramrod - It is better to die than be a coward!

Most Mercenary Troops are not what you would call top drawer people. Most having the most pressing reason not to hang around home. The reason usually involving a Woman or a Noose. Some of these outfits are noted for their draconian discipline like the Foreign Legion or the German Penal battalions of WWII. I would of not wanted to of been an officer or Non Com in those units. The Ghurkhas are another story and its a great story. From their war with "John Company" in 1815 to the present, The Gurkhas have set a very high standard indeed. As an example,It was a sight to see at Buckingham Palace in watching them mount Guard in place of the Guards. I just can't picture the Legion doing the same job in Paris. Of all the Regimental stories I have read so far this is near the top of the list. Mr. Farwell has done his usual good job of telling a good story about Englands Army and her late Empire.

Fascinatng.

I knew of the Gurkhas only through vague stories, this book lays out how they were recruited and utilized in the British and Indian armies.

Great stories. I wish it were longer.

Farewell, did a good job with this book. He covered the history, actions and honors of the Gurkhas. What he left out was any detail about the Kukri. This blade is just as iconic and feared as the Gurkhas, you think it would merit some explanation as to its custom of use and mythology.

Aiyo Gurkali-"The Gurkhas are coming"(battle cry of the Gurkhas).

"I must not cry out-I am a Ghurkha"(wounded Gurkha)

"My inclination to run for cover,not lessoned by a salvo of mortar bombs that came down behind me, was only restrained by the thought of what a figure the
corps commander would cut, sprinting for safety, in front of all these little men. So, not liking it a bit, I continued to walk forward. Then from behind a
a rock that offered scant cover to his bulky figure rose my old friend, the subadar-major of the 7th Gurkhas, his face creased in a huge grin which almost hid his almond eyes. He stood there and shook with laughter at me. I asked him coldly what he was laughing at and he replied that it was very funny seeing the General Sahib alone by himself not knowing what to do! And, by jove, he was right; I did not"-Field Marshall Slim(The Ghurkhas, by Bryon Farwell).


When the British task force set out for the Falklands they deliberately released the names of the regiments that were going. Among them were the Ghurkhas. The Argentines took the hint. When the Ghurkhas swarmed up the ridge in the final assault , they found it empty of foemen for they had scattered to the winds. Sometimes it is good to have a reputation.
The Ghurkhas are Nepali who have traditionally served in the British Army. They have recieved a distinction which few others have recieved. They are ALMOST as good as Englishmen. The Gurkhas naturally return the compliment. They think Englishmen are ALMOST as good as themselves. Traditionally the Ghurkas and the British have been as thick as thieves(cynics might note that that metaphor has in some cases been more accurate then one might wish, but that is beside the point).
In Nepal, soldiering is a prestiegious occupation. Nepali are poor and warlike, and English are rich and warlike. Service in a Gurkha regiment provides a reputation that one can take home to one's hamlet in Nepal. It also provides material goods. There is pay, obviously. There are also perks like innoculation, and training in the use of technology. As a result nine can be turned away and one accepted making the Ghurkhas some of the most formidable infantry in the world.
Gurkhas have a certain stereotype. They are always polite and rather boyish. They also take discipline quite seriously. And they are of smaller stature then normal among humans. One might remark sarcastically, that that description would fit a Golden Retriever. However that is PCness talking and while it is patronizing, there are worse sins then an officer feeling an affection, however snobbish, toward his men.
Be that as it may, the Ghurkhas have always been steadfast and loyal troops and well deserve the reputation bestowed on them. They have a number of decorations to their credit and the only serving Victoria Cross is a Ghurka. Bryan Farwell gives a fascinating description of the Ghurkhas both in the field, and in their normal day-to-day life. It is written in a most engaging manner and describes not just their martial qualities but their customs, idiosyncracies, and manner of living. It is an affectionate look at people who are regarded as fearsome in battle, but tender, boyish and lovable off-duty. A strange stereotype but not the worst and if true it fits the image of the ideal warrior who is "fierce in the field and meek in the hall." Many of the writers perspectives would be considered old-fashioned today. But being old-fashioned does not mean he has nothing to say.
Besides historical and social descriptions the author gives various things including jokes about Ghurkhas(usually relating to their sense of discipline)and one or two jokes by Ghurkhas(they love to laugh but have a rather grim sense of humor that can be an aquired taste). Also such things like the custom of satirizing officers in little skits, and customs surrounding the fearsome Kukri-blades which are brush-cutter, meat-cleaver,religious sacrificial implement, and weapon all in one and are forever associated with the gallant Ghurkhas. There are also a number of entertaining war-stories from the time the Ghurkhas first started taking service to the present day. The book was published to early to have any stories from the present conflict and those who are looking for such will have to look elsewhere. However there are more then enough blood-and-thunder anecdotes to entertain anyone.
So if you wish to follow the Ghurkas as they go to the ends of the Earth in the Queen's service, read this book.

There are two kinds of books on history - one which relies on the author's own understanding of the subject and another that is acquired from another person's. This book unfortunately is of the latter.

While a young schoolkid growing up near the major Indian military base at Siliguri in Bengal, I had watched these slant eyed men with awe. They were indeed the best turned out soldiers with their slant hats, cross belts and the deadly "khukri"(hand knife)hanging by their side. I have ever since tried to read every book on this subject that I could get my hands on.

Mr Farwell looks at the Gurkha from a purely British perspective. At the end he is still a glorified mercernary to the British. It is as if the Gurkha's soldierly qualities started and ended with British rule in India. He is no doubt led to that opinion by former British Indian officers he interviewed for this book(who share a dim opinion along with the author of other Indian soldiers).

What the author does not mention is that Gurkhas were first used as mercernaries not by the British but Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Punjab. Even their uniforms coopted by the British was designed by a member of his court. Gurkhas had the opportunity to eschew their mercernary ways when India evicted the British in 1947 and invited them to join the Indian army.Large numbers today serve that army with distinction and pride. Unlike the British, the Indians have treated them on par with other citizens. The British ostensibly claim that they pay Gurkhas less(a fifth or less of other British troops)so as not to disrupt Nepali social life. Also, they are free to settle in India and indeed large numbers of them have.

As for his claim of Indian troops not being impartial during the independence riots, it is a clear case of poor leadership. British officers left in great haste and as they trained very few Indians to replace them, men often found themselves confused as their country was breaking up around them. The British were so jealous of their Gurkhas that they even invented a reason to keep Indian officers out - some so called treaty with the king of Nepal. There are some juicy snippets of the British officers sleeping with their men( good reason for keeping the Indians out!!)

For those of you wanting to learn about the Gurkhas , John Masters' Bugles and a Tiger would be a wonderful source. Mr. Byron Farwell quotes him extensively in his book but misses his message.

In the history of human conflict, people have often fought simply for their pay and the love of a good fight. However, mercenary troops are generally of dubious quality, in that while they often fight with a great deal of ferocity, their loyalty to their employer is generally suspect. That is not the case for the Gurkhas, sturdy mountain men from Nepal, who have served in the forces of the British Empire for two centuries. Considered by many observers to be the best infantry units ever fielded, they exhibited a loyalty to the Empire that exceeded that of the British themselves. After British power in India collapsed and the carnage of religious strife began, the Gurkha units left in India were the only ones who could be counted on to keep the peace without taking sides.
This book is their story, of how they first came to be recruited to serve under the Union Jack, and a list of their many heroic exploits. You cannot help but be awed by their achievements in battle, where individual achievements often helped turn the tide of battles. Whole Argentine units deployed in the Falklands either surrendered or fled when they learned that they were about to be attacked by a unit of these extraordinary troops.
The history of human conflict is replete with tales of atrocities committed by troops of foreign extraction. In this book, you learn of soldiers who fought fiercely, giving their enemy no quarter while the battle raged. And yet, after two centuries of being engaged in battles all over the world, there are almost no instances of Gurkha troops injuring or killing a civilian, or engaging in any other unnecessary act of destruction. The old adage of "rape, pillage and burn" does not apply to these people, and this is the history of their valor, strength, courage and moral integrity. One of the most uplifting military histories that I have ever read.