No More Uncertain: The Future of the Gurkhas in the British Army

Abstract

Nepalese soldiers, known as the Gurkhas, have been serving in the British Army for over 200 years and have become to be considered an integral part of this military organization. Their long history of service includes participation in the two world wars, as well as the more recent combat missions in the Middle East. However, some call the existence of their military participation a colonial legacy of British imperialism. The aim of this paper is to answer the question on the future of the Nepalese soldiers in the United Kingdom. The study is primarily based on the findings of the 1989 Defence Committee Report regarding the situation and prospects of the Brigade of the Gurkhas, which is juxtaposed with the most recent dispatches and research dealing with the British Army in general and with the Gurkhas themselves.