THE MYTH OF GURKHA RIFLEMAN CARRYING PRIVATE

[sirupate]

Gav; Was it perhaps because of pressure from the riflemen of the units during the war years who did have to carry private purchase Kukri at one time or another?

Hello Gav,
Gurkha rifleman didn't carry private issue kukri in WW2 at all, and in WW1 (except GO's & BO's) information supplied from the following highly esteemed Gurkha and British Gurkha Officers, and Gurkha historians;

Authorative people;
1. Lt. Col. JP Cross British Gurkha Officer; WW2, Malaya and Borneo, Gurkha Historian and author, who was heavily involved in the book for British Gurkha Officers 'Nepal and the Gurkhas'.

2. Captain C. McCalla; WW2 British Gurkha Officer, who whilst out on patrol took pictures of of his men.

3. QGO Bakansing Gurung; joined in 1933 1/6 GR served in WW2
"That none of his contemporaries had ‘private kukri’, all carried issued kukri".

4. QGO Bhaktasing MC, served in WW2 "They have not taken their own village kukri to the regiment. He has not taken any his own kukri from Nepal.
As far he concerned those days the strong iron and better kukris are made in Dehradoon and Kunraghat by Nepali expert Ironsmith for the Gurkhas issued kukri"

5. Major Deny’s Drayton Gurkhas Officer; WW2, N.Africa and Italy

6. Major-General Mike Callan; WW2 Gurkha Officer

7. Col. Horsford; WW2 Gurkha Officer

8. Captain D Harding; post WW2 Gurkha Officer and regimental historian and archivist for 10th GR, and weapons expert for the Gurkha Museum in Winchester, and heavily involved in the book '10th Gurkha Rifles, One Hundred Years'

Gav; Did Mr Davies elaborate on why this became vogue in the 50's?

Major Gerald Davies (a specialist in Jungle Warfare) the Curator of the GM had this to say quote; 'Damaged issue kukris could be replaced through equipment exchange for free – however, numbers available for exchange were limited.
Varied between units, but in the 1950's tended to see changes to rules.'

Captain Curd; Captain R. V. W. Curd he mentions the ordering of kukri, “Part of my duties was to order replacement kukris from one of our officers stationed in Northern India whose job it was to buy them locally from makers in the area.” He aslo said this “The Gurkhas in Malaya at that time seemed to be wanting too frequent replacements for worn out knives"

I do not know the exact reason, so this is only supposition on my part, but I expect it was down to costing, or something like that, but as I say, no one has told me that was the reason, so that is guess work.