View Full Version : Gurkhas / petition for British citizenship
percy toboggan
19-Mar-08, 19:06
I'm not sure if there's an aitch in Gurkha! Forgive me if I am wrong.
What I am sure of is that any man connected to the regiment..and their spouses and children should be granted the right of residency in the UK.
In times when we allow enemies and 'antipathetics' through the front and back doors, these loyal, brave, disciplined and worthy ex-troops should be garlanded as they are ushered in.
We need friends. The Gurkha's have proved their allegiance on countless occasions...I am barely fit to lac eany of their boots....the Government should hang their heads in shame.....let them come...let them contribute....let them thrive. Above all, let them 'belong'
No argument from me - maybe deny some of the wasters who sneak into the UK and let a proud Gurkha and his family have their place....
If they are willing to serve our country and they have been proven through all the years to be trusted and loyal friends - a definite yes.
George Brims
19-Mar-08, 19:27
For once in my life i agree 100% with Percy. Oh well, I suppose I'll get over it. No, wait, not quite 100%. I agree it would be an act of gratitude and good faith to let Gurkha Servicemen and their families come to live in Britain. But what would then be the effect on their communities in Nepal? They would lose some of their best and brightest.
Here is an example of the sort of bloke Britain should be proud to welcome. You might have to go through some kind of sign-up to see this article if you haven't read the Telegraph online before.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/news/2008/03/04/db0401.xml
NickInTheNorth
19-Mar-08, 19:30
The only thing I will disagree with on this one Percy is that they should not get rights of residency.
The should be given full citizenship and British passports.
A better addition to Britain I cannot think of.
Most definately....They should be given right of country for being loyal soldiers.....You should look up a place called Dharan, in eastern nepal. training camp for the Gurkhas, beautiful place..bottom of the Himalayan Mountains....Nepalese are wonderful people..I have had the pleasure of meeting a few...
I too agree wholeheartedly with Percy.
I wonder if I may share this poem with you? I found it recently and have submitted it to the Commonwealth Wargraves Project, and I'm told it will added to Captain Gore's Notes.
To Sidney
by Katharine Adams.
A well-worn coat, a pipe, his gun,
A letter written just before -
Resting now, the warfare done,
His cheery message comes no more.
He was a soldier first and last;
You're thinking of his sunny smile,
Now that his gallant soul has passed
And left you wearying, the while.
He always, always played the game;
He was so simple and so fine,
He never even thought of fame,
The deed he did was half divine.
He only knew the soldier's part,
He braved the awful shell to save,
A black man, and his faithful heart
Is stilled deep in a glorious grave.
In memory of Captain A St J Gore
Gurkha Rifles, killed in action age 29yrs, June 1915.
( son of Lt. Col. C W Gore.)
I am with you and I think all service personell past and present would agree. They fought for us and along side us for many years, give them full citizenship rights
Dog-eared
19-Mar-08, 20:46
I agree. And I think it was a long overdue issue for them to get their pensions sorted out at last.
I don't respect many folk, but the Gurkha?; first class people. Having been with them at their training camp in Malaysia (Kluang) and on exercises with them in various parts of South East Asia I'd trust them with my life..
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said ministers would listen "carefully" to what the protesters had been saying. Hope she bloody well does!
Peter Carroll, one of the march organisers, said it was "morally outrageous" for people to serve Britain and then be told "they are not allowed to stay" - Too true!
Well said Percy, if anyone deserves the right.......
With you 100%, Percy. An appalling state of affairs and a real slap in the face for some fine soldiers and their families.:confused
100 % agree,thought this would be under racial discrimination.
Boozeburglar
19-Mar-08, 22:29
I am sure the Govt. will get this right, eventually.
Of course, many ex servicemen from other places should equally be welcome.
:)
Tighsonas4
19-Mar-08, 22:52
THE GURKAS
during the war years they were as fine a regiment that was going
in this country is it a case of use them and then dump them
tony
Couldn't have put it better Percy.
"We" should think shame of ourselves for using these people and their families then just discarding them when it suits us. So publically too, everybody can see "us" sliding away from our moral obligations.
percy toboggan
20-Mar-08, 18:09
100 % agree,thought this would be under racial discrimination.
Why would you think that?
The UK is not obliged to take in all and sundry, although you may have gained that impression of late.
This has nothing to do with 'race' It is about gratitude...and a Government which despises most things military...In times when those who want to hurt Britian are amongst us in their hundreds, perhaps thousands then a few staunch defenders, and loyal servants are to be welcomed with open arms.
I don't respect many folk, but the Gurkha?; first class people. Having been with them at their training camp in Malaysia (Kluang) and on exercises with them in various parts of South East Asia I'd trust them with my life..
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said ministers would listen "carefully" to what the protesters had been saying. Hope she bloody well does!
Peter Carroll, one of the march organisers, said it was "morally outrageous" for people to serve Britain and then be told "they are not allowed to stay" - Too true!
My father served with the Gurkha's in Burma WW2 he said they were excellent fighters and good people, thank god they are on our side, now we need to be on their side, why doesnt this government and past governments support these people our friends.
Ashes
ciderally
20-Mar-08, 21:22
http://www.gurkhas.com/ShowArticle.aspx?ID=221 (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.gurkhas.com/ShowArticle.aspx?ID=221)
this is a link to make your vote on this very important issue....they have supported the uk for many a year...it is our time to support them now...
dont know if this is on here already...
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk:80/Gurkha-soldiers/
I'm not sure if there's an aitch in Gurkha! Forgive me if I am wrong.
What I am sure of is that any man connected to the regiment..and their spouses and children should be granted the right of residency in the UK.
In times when we allow enemies and 'antipathetics' through the front and back doors, these loyal, brave, disciplined and worthy ex-troops should be garlanded as they are ushered in.
We need friends. The Gurkha's have proved their allegiance on countless occasions...I am barely fit to lac eany of their boots....the Government should hang their heads in shame.....let them come...let them contribute....let them thrive. Above all, let them 'belong'
Too true. These men were good enough to put their life on the line for the UK, that counts a lot more for me than some pishy oath of allegiance to the Queen.
I have had the privilege of serving with them on a few occasions and I wholeheartedly agree, they SHOULD be allowed to live here as they are really a british regiment. They fought and died for us in many places.
ciderally
20-Mar-08, 21:51
this is the petition link for the gurkha that percy has drawn our attention to
here it is again incase anyone missed it
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk:80/Gurkha-soldiers/
hope you dont mind me doing that percy...just thought incase the ones that have already posted wont read them all again....
Thanks, have just signed it.
Well done Percy. Have also signed. The Govt. should be thoroughly ashamed but I doubt if they will be.
percy toboggan
20-Mar-08, 23:14
http://www.gurkhas.com/ShowArticle.aspx?ID=221 (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.gurkhas.com/ShowArticle.aspx?ID=221)
this is a link to make your vote on this very important issue....they have supported the uk for many a year...it is our time to support them now...
dont know if this is on here already...
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk:80/Gurkha-soldiers/
The only prob I have with the wording of the petition is 'The British Government should give citizenship'
I think it should be offered, if requested.
Wording is important , that's why I haven't signed it.
percy toboggan
20-Mar-08, 23:17
Well done Percy. Have also signed. The Govt. should be thoroughly ashamed but I doubt if they will be.
I didn't post the link badger...but have no problem with it in a general sense.
northener
21-Mar-08, 09:19
The Gurkhas are held in high regard by fighting forces around the world.
They command respect wherever they go and are a credit to Nepal and Britain. It's not often I feel ashamed of my own country, but I am very ashamed by our governments long-term disregard for these honourable and decent men.
If any groups deserve the right to live in Britain, it is those foreign nationals who choose to serve our country - especially the Gurkhas.
.
Where I now live we have a gurkha garrison (and also in the next town), they are warm friendly people who never cause trouble, non soldier family members have set up thier own businesses etc, and don't rely on handouts - more than can be said from some closer to home !!!
Ciderally thanks for link have now voted for Gurkhas to be allowed to become British Citizens when they leave service if they so wish.
Subject: Gurkha petitions
if you read the front page of the Daily Mail on Friday 21st March you WILL sign this.
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Gurkha-soldiers/
Hope as many people sign as wish to benefit from these men fighting for our country.
According to the BBC they have earned more Victoria Crosses than any other "group" in the armed forces.
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