THE GURKHAS by Farwell, Byron

New York, 1984, Norton, US first edition, hard bound in dust jacket, , VG/VG condition , 6 x 9, 317 pages, illus. , bibliog, index. ----------------------------------------------------------The Gurkha regiments in the British army are, quite simply, the finest infantrymen in the world. Recruited in the kingdom of Nepal since the early nineteenth century, these short, wiry hillmen have served the kings and queens of Britain with such loyalty, tenacity, and incredible bravery that often the sound of their battle cry Ayo Gurkhali! (roughly translated as "Here come the Gurkhas!") has caused enemy soldiers to flee.------------------------------------------------------------The Gurkhas fought beside the British in the Indian Mutiny, in France and Mesopotamia during World War I, and in every theater during World War II. They have fought as well in countless small wars-"the savage wars of peace"-including the Northwest Frontier of India, Malaya, Borneo, and, most recently, the Falkland Islands. Their courage is legendary. Since 1911, when they first became eligible, thirteen Gurkhas have been awarded the Victoria Cross, an unmatched record.This book will tell who the Gurkhas are and where they come from. It will describe their manners, customs, and character, and their history as soldiers, with special attention to their unique skills and remarkable valor. Their story is as colorful and as romantic as that of the French Foreign Legion, and yet it has never been fully or adequately told.