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2010-12-25 Britain

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Posted by john frum 2010-12-25 10:35|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 May he rest in peace.

Posted by 49 Pan 2010-12-25 11:14|| 2010-12-25 11:14|| Front Page Top

#2 The attacks came in wave after wave, but the Japanese were beaten back with heavy losses. For four hours Gurung remained alone at his post, calmly waiting for each new onslaught, firing into his attackers at point blank range, determined not to yield an inch of ground. His comrades could hear him shouting: Come and fight a Gurkha!

The Japs should've taken the warning.
Quite a man...

Posted by tu3031 2010-12-25 11:51|| 2010-12-25 11:51|| Front Page Top

#3 The Japanese discovered that they really, truly, did not like to fight Gurkhas, or to be anywhere near Gurkhas.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-12-25 12:52|| 2010-12-25 12:52|| Front Page Top

#4 The article notes that Havildar Gurung was active in the movement to allow Ghurka retirees settle in the UK. He was at first rejected because "he did not have strong ties to the UK".

In my humble opinion, the UK would be far better off allowing any Nepalese who want to emigrate there to come in. They are largely Hindus, not Moslems. They make great fighters (like Gurung), and would be a great counterforce to the Muslim invasion.

Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2010-12-25 12:54|| 2010-12-25 12:54|| Front Page Top

#5 I gather that family kukris are inherited, so whichever of his descent gets that blade has his work cut out for him.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-12-25 13:01|| 2010-12-25 13:01|| Front Page Top

#6 What has Britain come to that a VC holder has an application to settle in the UK rejected?

No ties to Britain? That little piece of bronze is tie enough

Posted by john frum 2010-12-25 13:04|| 2010-12-25 13:04|| Front Page Top

#7 The Hmong were subject to abandonment and to eventual communist slaughter in SE Asia as well. Perhaps we too, share in the neglect and exploitation of bush and mountain peoples like the Sub-Saharan Khoikhoi, the American Indian and others. Something to ponder and reflect upon, particularly on this special day.

Posted by Besoeker 2010-12-25 14:01|| 2010-12-25 14:01|| Front Page Top

#8 john, exactly. I realize that Nepal was not part of the British Empire, but the Ghurkas fought for Britain. Any Ghurka veteran, not just VC winners, should be able to emigrate to the UK if they want to. Way ahead of Pakistanis. The UK would have far less trouble if they did that.

Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2010-12-25 14:13|| 2010-12-25 14:13|| Front Page Top

#9 Gurung later said: I had to fight because there was no other way. I felt I was going to die anyway, so I might as well die standing on my feet. All I knew was that I had to go on and hold them back. I am glad that helped the other soldiers in my platoon, but they would have all done the same thing.

A little man, but with balls the size of grapefruit.

Posted by regular joe 2010-12-25 14:38|| 2010-12-25 14:38|| Front Page Top

#10 Any Ghurka veteran, not just VC winners, should be able to emigrate to the UK if they want to.

They can.

Posted by tu3031 2010-12-25 14:50|| 2010-12-25 14:50|| Front Page Top

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