This is why i love Gurkas

[Clinton Huxley]

These chaps are awesome, despite being treated consistently badly by HMG

[JimC]

These chaps are awesome, despite being treated consistently badly by HMG

But recently, they have gained the right to settle in Britain upon retirement, have they not?

With no small thanks to the efforts of the delicious Ms Lumley, daughter of a British Colonel of Gurkhas...

The memoirs of the redoubtable John Masters have informed me well about Gurkhas...

[MrJonno]

Through I always found it a bit morally dubious that the British Army uses 3rd world mercenaries even if they are tought nuts

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Through I always found it a bit morally dubious that the British Army uses 3rd world mercenaries even if they are tought nuts

"Colonial" soldiers are nothing unique to the British. The Foreign Legion, for example, served France well. The US (used to anyway) have quote of Filipinos who could join the USN. On retirement with 20 years of service they were granted US citizenship. I served with more than a few of them.

[normal]

Imagine the chaos if women were taught kukri instead of cookery!

[Clinton Huxley]

Through I always found it a bit morally dubious that the British Army uses 3rd world mercenaries even if they are tought nuts

3rd world mercenaries have always been used as shock troops by the British Army, be they Nepalese or Scottish.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Through I always found it a bit morally dubious that the British Army uses 3rd world mercenaries even if they are tought nuts

3rd world mercenaries have always been used as shock troops by the British Army, be they Nepalese or Scottish.

Gallipoli?

[Clinton Huxley]

Through I always found it a bit morally dubious that the British Army uses 3rd world mercenaries even if they are tought nuts

3rd world mercenaries have always been used as shock troops by the British Army, be they Nepalese or Scottish.

Gallipoli?

Ok, smartypants, sometimes we used 4th world troops...

[MrJonno]

Just because its always been done doesnt make it any more dubious?

Using empire troops was a different matter, they were effectively citizens of the empire (even if they didnt want to be). Didn't Australia/NZ/Canada declare war independently of the UK?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Through I always found it a bit morally dubious that the British Army uses 3rd world mercenaries even if they are tought nuts

3rd world mercenaries have always been used as shock troops by the British Army, be they Nepalese or Scottish.

Gallipoli?

Ok, smartypants, sometimes we used 4th world troops...

I was thinking "Underworld".

[Svartalf]

Through I always found it a bit morally dubious that the British Army uses 3rd world mercenaries even if they are tought nuts

3rd world mercenaries have always been used as shock troops by the British Army, be they Nepalese or Scottish.

Gallipoli?

Ok, smartypants, sometimes we used 4th world troops...

Those were the Irish IIRC? Was enough of a massacre to be remembered in some songs that went about the 1916 rising...

[mistermack]

I thought the Taliban regularly cut people's heads off.
Maybe it was what they found in his sandwiches which caused offence ?

[Jason]

Through I always found it a bit morally dubious that the British Army uses 3rd world mercenaries even if they are tought nuts

3rd world mercenaries have always been used as shock troops by the British Army, be they Nepalese or Scottish.

Scotland is not a third world country, though it ought to be a country.

Anyhow, Highland infantry have been the elite troops of the British Army for hundreds of years. Why? Because the Scots aren't pussies.

[MrJonno]

Through I always found it a bit morally dubious that the British Army uses 3rd world mercenaries even if they are tought nuts

3rd world mercenaries have always been used as shock troops by the British Army, be they Nepalese or Scottish.

Scotland is not a third world country, though it ought to be a country.

Anyhow, Highland infantry have been the elite troops of the British Army for hundreds of years. Why? Because the Scots aren't pussies.

Could also argue at the military generally recruits from those who are economically at the bottom of society (with the exception of officers) that their main reason for joining is economic anyway

[Jason]

Through I always found it a bit morally dubious that the British Army uses 3rd world mercenaries even if they are tought nuts

3rd world mercenaries have always been used as shock troops by the British Army, be they Nepalese or Scottish.

Scotland is not a third world country, though it ought to be a country.

Anyhow, Highland infantry have been the elite troops of the British Army for hundreds of years. Why? Because the Scots aren't pussies.

Could also argue at the military generally recruits from those who are economically at the bottom of society (with the exception of officers) that their main reason for joining is economic anyway

No doubt. But that doesn't make them good troops ip so facto.