The result of unprecedented in-depth interviews with Gurkha soldiers past and present, Gurkhas at War depicts key military campaigns of the twentieth century. These eyewitness accounts cover the lengthy battles against the Japanese in Burma, the action against Communist rebels in Malaya and Hong Kong, plus more recent deployment of Gurkhas in the Falklands, the Gulf, the Balkans, and East Timor. The result is a powerful and intimate introduction to Gurkha culture and recruiting traditions and an insider s view on the numerous issues facing the Gurkhas today in Nepal and in context with the British Army.
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About the Author
J.P. Cross has written a number of books on the Gurkhas and Nepalese history. He has spent nearly 40 years serving in Asia, most of them with the Gurkhas. He and co-editor Buddhiman Gurung live in Pokhara, Nepal.
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The Gurkhas, in Their Own Words,
This review is from: Gurkhas at War: Eyewitness Accounts from World War II to Iraq (Paperback)
Lt Col John Philip Cross is a genuine 'living legend'. Cross, who currently resides in Nepal along with his co- author, was the last commander of the British Jungle Warfare School. He has commanded Gurkha paratroops and 'regular' British troops, has served in the Far East in World War II, fought in the Malaya Insurgency, has perfect fluency in several languages and, most particularly, knows the Gurkhas better than any man currently walking the planet. His military insights have found expression in many of his books, most of which are unfortunately no longer in print, though at least two of them are in the process of being resurrected ("First In, Last Out" by Hailer Publishing in the USA will appear in the near-term future).
This book, a good introduction to his work, summarizes accounts from the Gurkhas themselves and yields invaluable insights on this group of legendary fighters for the 'Empire on which the Sun Never Sets'. The preface, by Field Marshall Sir John Chapple, draws attention to a recurring theme of the interviews: many of the accomplishments of these first-rank fighters went without official British military acknowledgement, an unfortunate fact which seemed fairly representative of the treatment of non-European soldiers in service of a European government. On the other hand, acknowledgment was not totally lacking from some commanders. For example, the great Lord Kitchner (of Khartoum) extended accolades, "What kind of shots are they? None better...Have they good eyesight? They can see through a brick wall. How do they stand hardship? They'll stand anything except abuse..." Cross wrote explanatory notes which preface each major subdivision of the book, as well as brief sections on "The Gurkha Soldier", the interviews and the battle order. There is also a brief photographic section and a mournful conclusion: "Gurkhas are a product of the past. If they did not exist, no one would now invent them." In summary, a copy of Cross' book belongs on the shelf of every serious student of warfare. Note: there is another book by a different author which has the same title as this one.
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