About 6 months ago, I happen to catch a bit of news on the internet and TV that the British government had just passed a bill, a long overdue bill, that would allow qualified Ghurkas who have served in the British Army the right to abode in Britain. So, I just made a mental note of it, not knowing any Ghurkas personally.

Then I remember, I once showed a 12 inch action figure I hade just picked up of a "Johnny Ghruka" which had the '44 pattern battle dress and metal kukri to a security guard at my Condo, who was Nepalese, but I wasn't positive that he was Ghurka.

So, the next time I saw him, I asked him whether he was. Surely I guessed right. So the next question was whether he had served in the U.K. armed forces -- he said no, he served in the Indian Army ... but his father now 80 years old and residing in his native village did. I asked when, and he said his father just caught the last year of the war in '45 and had served in the signals corps of the British Army.

So I asked the man whether he knew or have heard of the recent passage of a bill that might enable his father to apply to live in the U.K.. And he says no, he hadn't heard that. So I told him what I heard in detail, and I encouraged him to contact the British Consulate in Hong Kong for more information. I said that I would try to find some details on-line and give it to him later.

Anyhow, I didn't see the man again for a couple months until by chance he was stationed at my building's entrance, and he was glad to see me. I asked him however did that U.K. thing boil over .. and he said with a smile .. "Yes, I applied for my father and it has already been approved!" I told him .... no! That quickly! Wow! Does that mean he's quitting his job here in Hong Kong. Yes. And how about his wife, will she be able to go with. Yes, she had in fact already been approved over another circumstance.

So, now the whole family is immigrating to the U.K.!

I had asked how will he get on in his new country ? And he seems quite confident and at ease that he will find work in the same field as he did in Hong Kong. What about his wife ? Well, she will find work easily too. And how will he be able to find his away around ? Well, there was a friend there in the U.K. who will have everything set up for them once they arrived.

Good deal!

I last saw him two days ago, and he made a point to sought me out and say good bye as he was on his second to last day at work as a guard in my Condo complex. Thereafter, he will be wrapping up his stay in H.K. which had been over ten years also. I had heard that ex-Ghurka regiment are rather stuck in soul-less jobs in a foreign culture here in Hong Kong.

For those of you who didn't support having more immigrants in the U.K. -- I'm sorry to add to your worries. For those you who like me thought that it was about time for ex-British Ghurkas to be granted the right to abode in the land which over a hundred thousand of them had laid down their lives for. Three cheers! Hip hip, Hooray !!!!!

_________________

This chap and his family are welcome in my eyes, especially as he served in the Royal Corps.

Mind you, I'd question his sanity at wanting to come back to this grotty little island, but it's his call!

If you've earned it, I have no problem. He can take my spot
This man and his family surely have earned it!!

VERY interesting bill though, I had not heard about it either.
Glad it was approved quickly also.

_________________

I'm sure he would be happy to know of your welcome (not that I'd be able to pass it on since he's quit his job here). He seem awfully happy though ... besides, I think your island may be better or at least bigger than this island (he was working on Lantau Island), which I think just provided him a better income than his native land. But this here is part of China now, and never was his home. May be Britain will be for him & his (I hope).

_________________

Completely with you on both counts

Congratulations to all who helped this bill to be passed.



I doubt most rational people in the UK have a problem with those who've done something for the country living here - I work on Whitehall so I've seen plenty of support for the Ghurkas' rights to reside here. The main problems (not wanting to get too political) stem from there being too much given freely to those who add nothing (and make no atempt to); that applies to British Nationals as much as immigrants. I've worked in benefits processing so I've seen first hand the injustice of it all

_________________

Thats the case in so many countries and I just don't get it. Its counter productive.
But thats for another thread on another forum

In my eyes its being rewarded for service to the country and I for one think its a great idea

_________________

I think most peeps know of the Ghurkas and their history serving with the British armed forces. But here's the wiki article just in case:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghurka

My father employed a driver/body guard back in the 80's who was ex-Ghurka Rifles having served in Borneo during the Malay campaign, though I didn't realize it till he presented me a Kukri knife as a present out of the blue. I had to ask him what it was, as it had that crook in the blade and looked aweful menacing! That sort of prompted me since then to read up on their military history. I can't tell you how many of them won Victoria Crosses, but there had been quite a few. Now there's 3 million people on earth who can call themselves Ghurkas as they live in parts of Nepal & India. I'd imagine the total popuplation was much less (may be half ?) when the running total peaked by the end of WWII of approximately 125,000 of them had died in all parts of the world where Britain had been engaged in conflict. That's translates to something like 10% of the total population ? That would be like a country say the size of Japan of 100 million sacrificing 10 million for a cause .... it's mind boggling really.

_________________

For those of you who didn't support having more immigrants in the U.K. -- I'm sorry to add to your worries. For those you who like me thought that it was about time for ex-British Ghurkas to be granted the right to abode in the land which over a hundred thousand of them had laid down their lives for. Three cheers! Hip hip, Hooray !!!!!


These guys are more than welcome,we owe it to them

_________________
Titty Squeezer Of The Hungry Horses MC

Without wanting to get too political Nepal (and the way they're treated by China) is much worse in many respects to living here.

Fair play to them I say.

_________________
Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

It's all relative isn't it. Out of all the 'Western World' countries the chap could have picked, he picked one of the less great. But what can I say, I'm still here, not for long mind but I am still here...

What a cool story! I have heard tales of allied soldiers on watch with a knife at their throat suddenly while a guy with a big smile grabs their dog tag at feels for the little notch.
Well done.

_________________
No, they are not going to see this coming...

Couldn't agree more Tony, on both points.

Just from what little I've read and seen in Hollywood movies, I always thought the Ghurkas were pretty cool.

The story I heard way back when was of a US military unit (Army or Marines, I don't recall...) at a forward base.
They were told to be extra alert because a "security team" (my words, not theirs) was going to test the base
security that night.

The night passes and nothing happens and the guards on patrol don't see a thing. Next morning their CO
asks them if the security team showed up the previous night. Everyone agreed that nobody had arrived.
The CO ordered everyone to upend their rifles and on the butt plate on every rifle in the unit was a white
painted "X."

And that's why you don't mess with the Ghurkas. Swift. Silent. Deadly... with a smile.

And Joe, that's a great motivational poster.

Russ

_________________
"A writer needs a pen, a painter a brush, and a filmmaker an army." - Orson Wells.

http://www.rookscastle.com
http://www.alchemyarms.com

Update;

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090429/tuk-brown-loses-gurkha-vote-dba1618.html

great news!

Gordon Brown: as in touch with public opinion as ever I see

_________________

"Labour's Keith Vaz (Leicester E), Home Affairs Select Committee chairman, said he had been in the House too long when a Labour Government was trying to restrict numbers coming into the UK and the Tories were doing the opposite."

Now that's funny

_________________
Rob Slater
A08/TQ2.0.42136E1

I found it funny the this Government said it would cost too much to allow all the Ghurkas to live here.... mmm.. maybe if MP's stopped spending our money on stuff like bath plugs and porn they might have the money..

I'm glad the Ghurkas have won this..

_________________
Pfc Glenn Allen ,
1st Batt. 69th Regiment,
Homers Hero's..
Drops so Far.... 29 and counting