Thats very true Tim, I wonder if it points to a different original origin or developmental process?
Thanks Rick, I will have to get that book.{easier to find than the swords!}
Just been checking the 5th Gurkhas regimental history & some other stuff & my past notes & have come to this conclusian at the time bieng. {more info is always still usefull of course.}
The king {khan} of Afghanistan as you say was our allie then, & we didnt as far as I can see have any garrison inside Afghanistan, But we may have had" obsevers" there watching the Russians & possibly doing "special forces"type stuff though. {as "observers" often do.}
We attached Gurkha officers to ther Japanese army when they were fighting the Russians etc. so I guess we would use Gurkha officers attached to the Afghans if the wanted or rather accepted that.
Wazitistan, Chitral etc, were Gurkhas fought at that time against Afghani tribsmen were NWF of India.
So I think Gurkha officers as Special forces observers attached to Afghan army seems a possiblity.
No proof though. Just conjecture.
Guess a few of these swords must have gone back to Russia as well... mmmm I realy want a couple!
Spiral