other interviews about gurkhas and gurkha achievements
The Royal Gurkha Rifles (RGR) was formed on 1 July 1994 when the existing Gurkha regiments amalgamated to form a single Gurkha regiment of three battalions. Although the RGR has only existed for 25 years, it carries the traditions and history of its antecedent Gurkha regiments and has already established itself as a formidable fighting force in its own right. With a Foreword by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and more than 500 photographs, the book provides a visual history of this elite unit. It also includes lots of new quotes about Gurkhas which you might find of interest and was an Amazon best-seller in the 'Nepal' category on both the 16 October and 29 December 2019, earning the coveted 'best-seller' accolade!
HOW TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE GURKHAS
GURKHAS - A brief illustrated History of Britain's Gurkha Soldiers
1815 was a defining year in British military history. Not only did Wellington finally defeat Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo but the British East India Company also began recruiting Gurkha soldiers, a tradition that has now continued uninterrupted for over 200 years. This page provides a start point from which to explore this remarkable story. To make it more digestible, the rich history of Britain's Gurkhas is broken down into a number of separate sections (just click on the descriptions below to take you to the appropriate page). If you want to know even more about these remarkable warriors from Nepal, and their famous kukri fighting knife, then you might find my Gurkha books of interest. You can find out more about the most recent one at the bottom of this page, or click on this hyperlink or the 'Books and Articles' tab at the top of the page. If you don't want to read anything, then go to the bottom of this page and have a quick look at the videos, including a recent talk I gave (in July 2021) for the Gurkha Museum, explaining about the Gurkhas' 200+ years of Service to the British Crown. You can also watch an interview I recently gave on BBC News as part of the #VJDay75 commemorations (on 15 August 2020) and a short interview I gave to Forces TV a few years ago which summarises the Gurkha story in about 3 minutes.
tALK ON THE GURKHAS' 206 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CROWN - 13 JULY 2021
It was a real privilege on Saturday 15 August 2020 to talk to Lukwesa Burak on BBC News about the role of Gurkhas in the Far East Campaign and, in particular, as part of General Bill Slim's so-called 'Forgotten Army' in Burma. The interview formed part of the BBC's coverage of VJ Day 75, the formal commemorations of the 75th anniversary of the defeat of Japan at the end of the Second World War. Not many people realise the enormous contribution that Gurkhas made in the Far East Campaign, with 35,000 soldiers deploying in 27 infantry battalions, including two parachute battalions. Gurkhas also took part in the two Chindit Operations, the first of which took place in February and March of 1943 with the second taking place from March to July 1944. In the first Chindit Operation, 1,289 of the 3,000 strong force were Gurkhas. During the Burma Campaign, Gurkhas were awarded 9 Victoria Crosses, a quite remarkable achievement. Click on the image to watch the interview. See more Gurkha facts at this link.
CLICKING ON A SECTION WILL TAKE YOU TO THE APPROPRIATE WEB PAGE
The Gurkhas march down the Mall during the celebrations to mark 200 years of Gurkha service to the British Crown in 2015
The centenary of the 5th Gurkhas in 1958
On 13 July 2021, Craig was honoured to give a talk for the Gurkha Museum on the Gurkhas' 206 years of service to the British Crown, including their 20 years in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban. The talk, which was the third in the Museum's innovative 'Ghar ma Sunnu' ('Listen at Home') series, was followed by a lively question and answer session facilitated by the Director of the Gurkha Museum. The Q&A explored the future of the Gurkhas, as well as leadership, discipline, female Gurkha recruitment and lots of other interesting subjects.
You can watch the talk by clicking on the 'Who Are The Gurkhas?' image or the clicking the button below the image. The talk lasts for about 50 minutes and includes nearly a hundred fascinating images of Gurkhas from the last two centuries. The talk is available FREE, though there is an opportunity to make a donation to the Gurkha Museum if you wish to.
other short films about gurkhas
Craig Lawrence talking about the Gurkhas' 200 years of service to the Crown on Forces TV in 2015
JUNGLE WARRIORS: GURKHAS IN MALAYA, BRUNEI, BORNEO AND AFGHANISTAN
This section describes Gurkha operational deployments from the end of WW2 up until today and includes their campaigns in Malaya, Brunei, Borneo, the Falklands, the Balkans and Afghanistan.
After the publication of my first Gurkha history, I was asked to give a very brief summary of the Gurkhas' 200 years of service to the British Crown on Forces TV. The interviewer was particularly interested in what made the Gurkhas so special. To try and illustrate this, I talked about their role in the so-called 'Indian Mutiny' of 1857 when, despite enormous pressure, they remained loyal to the Crown and their remarkable service during the two World Wars. To watch the interview, click on the image above.
out now - GURKHA: 25 YEARS OF THE ROYAL GURKHA RIFLES
'As I reflect upon the Regiment's first quarter century, it is sometimes difficult to remember exactly just how much has been achieved. This is why this book is invaluable - carefully researched, and with hundreds of fascinating images, it will perhaps help the reader to understand my deep personal pride in being Colonel-in-Chief.' His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales
gurkhaS - A BRIEF HISTORY
AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF BRITAIN'S GURKHA SOLDIERS
the brigade of gurkhas today
This section gives an overview of the current Brigade of Gurkhas, including recruiting and the role of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. It concludes with a brief look at the 25th Anniversary Celebrations of The Royal Gurkha Rifles which took place this year (2019).
This collection of short films about Gurkhas should give you a sense of what these remarkable warriors have achieved over the years.
The award of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross to A/Sgt Dipprasad Pun
GURKHAS IN THE WORLD WARS
This section describes the role that Gurkhas played in the two World Wars, including their famous contribution to the Burma Campaign and the Chindit Operations of Brigadier Orde Wingate. It also covers the award of the first Victoria Cross to a Gurkha.
THE LEGACY (BOOK 1 IN THE HARRY PARKER GURKHA ACTION ADVENTURE SERIES)
the british east india company meets the gurkhas
This section starts with the first meeting between the British East India Company and the Gurkhas of Bhim Sen Thapa, which occurred when the expansionist 'John Company' met the equally expansionist Nepalese in 1814, and goes on to describe the Gurkhas' service up until WW1, including their role in the Indian Mutiny of 1857.
Decorated for bravery but now tired of violence, Gurkha veteran Harry Parker has settled in Nepal, seeking a quieter life. But a chance encounter with a beautiful academic soon shatters the tranquillity he craves and launches him on a high-stakes adventure to unravel a deadly conspiracy with the City of London at its heart.
'Think dogs of war and Bourne Series.' Michael Jecks, best-selling author and critic
'...a hard-to-put-down adventure that contains just the right mix of mystery, romance and intrigue. Verdict: This absorbing yarn should appeal to all tastes.' Soldier Magazine (the magazine of the British Army), September 2015
'A first-class debut novel...the plot is pacey, imaginative and intricate, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing as to what might happen next.' Goodreads Review