Ghurkas

[Panic Button]

I have nothing against them, but why have we been taking Nepalese men into the British Army for years?

[boxtops]

You could ask the same about why we have been taking people of all nationalities into the British Army for years.

[Panic Button]

Have we?

[poodicat]

Thought commonwealth countries could be in the british army maybe wrong

[boxtops]

I believe so! People from all the Commonwealth countries have fought in the British Army. This link says the Gurkhas started to fight for British interests in the Far East since 1915
http://www.army.mod.uk/gurkhas/7544.aspx

[Panic Button]

I didn't realise they were in the Commonwealth

[boxtops]

No they are not! two parts to my post. The MOD website gives the reason why the Gurkhas fight for us, though:

"During the war (circa 1757) a deep feeling of mutual respect and admiration had developed between the British and their adversaries, the British being much impressed by the fighting and other qualities of the Gurkha soldier. Under the terms of the Peace Treaty large numbers of Gurkhas were permitted to volunteer for service in the East India Company's Army. From these volunteers were formed the first regiments of the Gurkha Brigade, and from this time stems Britain's friendship with Nepal, a country which has proved a staunch ally ever since and has become our 'oldest ally' in Asia.

"Never has the trust that was then placed in the Gurkha soldier ever been in doubt. Alongside his British comrade in arms he has fought in many parts of the world and has proved himself to be of the closest of friends and bravest of allies that Britain has known."

[tamborine]

shed their blood for ours....they're bold, strong, warriors who survive well in dense jungles; we discovered their loyalty to Brits during the Days of the Raj.

[David Black]

We tried to invade a couple of times and failed badly so took the typically practical approach of hiring them.