Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!uwm.edu!linac!att!cbnews!cbnews!military
From: bxr307@coombs.anu.edu.au (Brian)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Gurka rundown
Message-ID: <1991Jun21.013645.12674@cbnews.cb.att.com>
Date: 21 Jun 91 01:36:45 GMT
References: <1991Jun18.073833.13565@amd.com> <1991Jun20.020110.314@cbnews.cb.att.com>
Sender: military@cbnews.cb.att.com (william.a.thacker)
Organization: Computer Services Centre, Australian National University
Lines: 52
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: bxr307@coombs.anu.edu.au (Brian)
>[mod.note:  Gurkhas come from Nepal, which is not a British possession.

	Err, Nepal was a British "Protectorate" from about 1845.  Nominally an 
independent kingdom, after two wars the British placed it under the "protection"
of the British Empire. 

>The British fought enough of a border war (over the Indian/Nepalese border),
>way back in colonial days) to become impressed, and so were the Gurkhas.
>Sort of love at first sight... - Bill ]

	The Gurkhas did impress the British with their tenacity, and were 
some of the earliest groups of mercenaries employed by them.  They served
with considerable distinction during the Indian Mutiny of 1856 when they 
helped put down the revolting Indians.  As a reward their pay was increased
and more units recruited as the loyality of the Indian sewars (troopers)
was in considerable question for many years after the great mutiny.

	Gurkhas are also employed by the Indian government and form several
battalions within the Indian army.

	As for the report that the Australian Army might take over control
of the Gurkhas, its rather doubtful.  The Defence Forces here are about
to undergo a 10,000 member cut I could not see them being either able or
particularly interested.  I'd also think the Armed Forces' Federation (the
Australian Defence Force "Union" which isn't a union) would be rather
upset about the matter if it was even considered.  Knowing the way the union
movement does operate down here, I'd be rather surprised if they would allow
the Gurkha's to be employed at anything except the same rates as Australian
soldiers.  So there would be no savings which is of course the rationale
for employing them in the first place.

	The battalion in question, in Hong Kong, is rather interesting because
its the only one in the history of the Gurkhas which has ever had a mutiny.
About two years ago a platoon on an exercise refused to undertake the commands
of their officer.  They were courts martialed and discharged from the service.
However the fault was admitted to have lay with the officer concerned who was
considered too young and inexperienced.  He also didn't speak Nepalese (that
requirement in all officers had been allowed to lapse in the Gurkha battalions
in the mid-1970's) and so wasn't able to fully impart his commands properly.
As a consequence the requirement for all officers and NCO's to speak Nepalese
has been reinstated.



--
Brian Ross__________________________________________________________________
	"If we got it so wrong in the Middle East yesterday, what makes
you think we are going to get it right this time?"
_________________________________________________________Arthur Schlesinger