THE GURKHAS: The Inside Story of the World's Most Feared Soldiers.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.[Complete number line 10 - 1 descending.] FINE/FINE.No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp, clean,glossy laminated,colour photographic illustrated front panel of dw/dj with gilt+white lettering,rear panel with b/w+colour photographs; with negligible shelf-wear or creasing to edges and corners - no nicks or tears present.Top+fore-edges bright and clean; contents bright, tight,clean,solid and sound - pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners, appears unread - apart from my own collation. Bright,crisp,clean,sharp-cornered, publisher's original plain black cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt letters to spine/backstrip,and immaculate plain white endpapers.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,vii-xvipp+ 7-276pp [paginated] includes acknowledgements,a glossary,a prologue,Pts 1-3 comprising 18 chapters,16pp contemporary b/w photographs in 2 blocks of 8pp apiece,between pp84/5 and pp180/1 respectively,Units of the Brigade of Gurkhas,appendices (I-IV which also includes a select bibliography),an index; plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages,contents list/table,2 b/w maps and individual Pts separator pages.
THE GURKHAS.
Their ferocity is as legendary as their loyalty to the British monarch; their regimental histories,spanning almost two centuries, are crammed with acts of incredible bravery and sacrifice.And their battle honours include an unprecedented twenty-six VCs.The Gurkhas' particular reputation as fearsome fighting men remains unmatched anywhere in the world and was no better demonstrated than in the Falklands conflict in 1982.There the mere threat of their kukri knives put fear into the hearts of the Argentines and probably encouraged their swift surrender at Port Stanley and saved far greater loss of life.
The Gurkhas have been on the British frontlines since 1815.More than 200,000 enlisted for the First World War,and a tenth of their number were killed or injured. In the Second World War,250,000 Gurkhas fought the Germans in famous battles such as Monte Cassino and Torbruk and ruthless Japanese soldiers in the Far East,again suffering heavy casualties. 'Better to Die than to Be a Coward'.That is the motto of the hill men recruited into the British Army.But that system - which plucked thousands of youths from tiny, impoverished villages,trained them and showed them the world - is in crisis.Today there are 300 applicants for every vacancy and some who fail commit suicide rather than face the disgrace they bring upon their families. John Parker discovered the depth of this commitment when he travelled to Nepal,met surviving VCs and talked to many former Gurkha officers and soldiers whose accounts of service in the British Army are filled with excitement . . . and pride.John Parker's book is a fascinating testimony to a fighting force that stands dramatically apart in British military history. See also,my book IDs' rja496514 and rja578415 for other Gurkha-related titles/books in my NAVAL/MILITARY catalogue. Want more Victoria Cross-related titles? Please search my SIGNED, NAVAL/MILITARY,GENERAL and BIOGRAPHY catalogues - using keywords: Victoria Cross_VC. Please contact rpaxtonden@blueyonder.co.uk ,because of the weight/value of this item for correct,insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! ** N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always.