A New History of the Gurkhas
While existing books on the Brigade of Gurkhas focus heavily on the history, impact and fighting skill of the Nepalese soldier, to my knowledge, few authors have concentrated on the Gurkha and his way of life from his point of view.
Military historian John Sadler has filled this gap with The Gurkha Way. In a narrative encompassing over 200 years of history, brought to life by fascinating personal insights and quotes, Sadler documents the Gurkhas’ origins in the British Army, their various campaigns and the reasons why they continue to serve in the 21st century, including the Nepalese soldiers’ mindset, culture, service and experience in combat theatres around the globe.
Presented as ‘a new history’, Sadler’s book is published at a point when, for the first time since 1947, the Brigade of Gurkhas is being expanded, gaining more infantry battalions, engineer squadrons, signals and logistic regiments. Thus it is appropriate that a sizeable portion of this book is dedicated to ‘the modern Gurkha’ and his service within the British Army with an entire chapter detailing the unit’s actions in Afghanistan during Operation Herrick (2002-2014).
Alongside documentation of the 21st…
