Joanna leads hell of a tribute to 200 years of Gurkha gallantry
THEY must be the two most welcome (or unwelcome) words on any battlefield: ‘Ayo Gorkhali!’ – ‘The Gurkhas are coming!’ For two centuries, they have been revered by their allies – and their enemies’ worst nightmare.
So it was quite a party last night as the Brigade of Gurkhas celebrated 200 years of unswerving loyalty to the Crown with a spectacular pageant in front of the Queen, the Sultan of Brunei, the Prince of Wales and other members of the Royal Family at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
The home of the Chelsea Pensioners has known a few military legends in its time. But even by its noble standards, this was a hell of a display in a specially constructed outdoor arena. As dusk fell, troops from the Royal Gurkha Rifles re- enacted one of the most famous VC-winning moments in regimental history – watched by the last surviving Gurkha holder of the Victoria Cross – whereupon the band played Sunset. Powerful stuff.
As the Gurkhas’ most famous cheerleader, Joanna Lumley, admitted, it was very hard ‘not to start blubbing’ at such a moment. A daughter of the regiment, whose father had served with the Gurkhas throughout his long Army career, she was among the presenters of last night’s pageant to honour the men of what she calls her ‘family’. ‘I’m obviously crazy-mad about them, so proud of them and of our country for this extraordinary friendship,’ the actress said beforehand. ‘For 200 years, they have sweated their way down from those hills in the hope of joining the British Army. Talk about an audition!’
The famously demanding recruitment and selection process for the 3,000-strong brigade featured prominently in the show, as did Gurkha culture, music and dancing (assisted by 45 regimental wives in their finery). On every mind, though, was the earthquake which struck Nepal in April, killing more than 8,000. Its epicentre was the Gorkha district, the brigade’s spiritual home. The disaster touched every member, past and present; two riflemen are still in Nepal on compassionate leave, helping their families rebuild their flattened homes. Proceeds from last night’s event, which opened with a minute’s silence, will go to earthquake relief and the Gurkha Welfare Trust, of which the Prince of Wales in patron.
BuTnothing was to overshadow the central theme of this performance – the enduring, unwavering bond between the Army and the indomitable Nepalese mountain men they first encountered in the early 19th Century. The 1,650strong crowd – a mix of old comrades, regimental families and paying public – heard how this historic marriage had been forged in bloody but inconclusive battles between troops of the British East India Company and the military machine created by ruthless Gurkha king Prithvi Narayan Shah.
Neither side won the Nepal War of 1814-16 – and Nepal would never be part of the British Empire. But the fighting prowess of the Gurkhas and respectful treatment of captured foes by the British generated a strong mutual admiration. Senior British officers realised they would be much better off with these Nepalese warriors on their side. Thereafter, Britain would respect Nepal’s new boundaries and her men could join the British Army. The Gurkhas were soon proving their worth during the Indian Mutiny of 1857. They would go on to suffer more than 40,000 casualties fighting fearlessly at Britain’s side in two world wars. In total, the brigade has won 26 Victoria Crosses.
Last night’s crowd were shown how Rifleman Bhanubhagta Gurung won his in 1945. Following a suicidal, singlehanded assault on five Japanese trenches, he finally took out a bunker, killing all its occupants with just the blade of his kukri (and went on to live to the ripe old age of 86).
After a lot of theatrical explosions, the scene cleared to reveal Captain Rambahadur Limbu VC, 76, walking on stiffly but proudly. He won his Victoria Cross fighting insurgents in Borneo in 1965. All rose to their feet. The Gurkhas may not be the chattiest of troops, nor the tallest. But they march faster than anyone. And they can still make the loftiest Guardsman walk several inches taller.
Just talk to those who witnessed the dawn departure of the QE2 for the Falklands in 1982.
The Scots Guards and Welsh Guards were already aboard when the entire ship’s company came out on deck, lined every railing and erupted in an almighty roar. The final contingent was on the quayside, about to march aboard. The Gurkhas were coming! And who would you rather have alongside you if you were heading off to war?
As Prince Harry observed after serving alongside the Royal Gurkha Rifles in Afghanistan, there is ‘no safer place’ on Earth than being next to a Gurkha.