Gurkhas

A quarter of a million Gurkas served in the Second World War - recruited from the British Empire's colony of Nepal into over 40 battalions. They fought in Syria, North Africa, Italy, Greece, as well as in Burma against the Japanese. Each Gurka carries a traditional Nepalese knife known as a Khukuri or Kukri. This heavy, curved blade is a fearsome close-combat weapon, as well as being useful for more mundane tasks such as clearing a path through dense jungle terrain. The men of 3rd Battalion of the 6th Gurkha Rifles fought in ferocious heat and stifling humidity after marching more than 160 miles through almost impenetrable jungle. The battle was to cost more than 100 lives, and see two men awarded the Victoria Cross for their quite exceptional bravery. Pack contains 10 man section, 3 man command group and 8 man charging section.