--- title: "These 4 Gurkha stories will make you want to forge your own kukri knife" description: "/pp.go90mob{display: none;}br /@media only screen and (min-device-width:32px) and (max-device-width: 559px) {.go90video{display: none;} .go90mob{display: block;}}br /" date: "2019-01-28" modified: "2020-10-22" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/these-4-gurkha-stories-will-make-you-want-to-forge-your-own-kukri-knife/" categories: - "History" --- # These 4 Gurkha stories will make you want to forge your own kukri knife ![]() /pp.go90mob{display: none;}br /@media only screen and (min-device-width:32px) and (max-device-width: 559px) {.go90video{display: none;} .go90mob{display: block;}}br / --- Nepal, a tiny Himalayan country country bordering India and Chinese Tibet, was one of many countries invaded by the British Empire. But the British were never able to colonize tiny Nepal. The reason the largest Empire in history couldn't completely subdue a small mountain country? Gurkhas. Gurkhas have long been known as the world's fiercest and most skilled warriors, earning the respect (and often fear) of friend and foe alike. Even the British, who decided that trying to fight more Gurkhas wasn't worth the effort, wanted the Gurkhas on their team, and Nepalese warriors have been fighting for the crown ever since. ## 1. Afghan Ambush The Gurkhas have been fighting with the United Kingdom for 200 years. Today's war in Afghanistan is no exception. In 2008, a team of Gurkha warriors were crossing an open area when they were ambushed by Taliban fighters. One of their own Yubraj Rai, was shot and wounded. Like many armies, the Gurkhas don't leave men behind. In the face of overwhelming enemy fire, [Captain Gajendera Angdembe, Rifleman Dhan Gurung, and Manju Gurung]() carried their buddy across 325 feet of open ground. One of them even used a dual wield with his rifle to return enough fire for the group to get out of there. ![]() *Rifleman Dhan Gurung returned fire using two rifles at the same time.* ## 2. WWII Burma In 1944, [Agansing Rai](), a Gurkha fighting the Japanese in Burma, came across a ridge as his platoon moved through the countryside. The ridge was designed to be protected from any combination of armor and infantry. Leading up to the ridge was an open field and on the ridge were dug-in Japanese defenders, hiding in dense Jungle. ![]() *Agansing Rai was award the Victoria Cross for his actions and leadership that day.* Rai led his platoon against the heavy machine guns and a number of 37mm anti-tank emplacements, knocking them all out while taking some serious casualties. A ridge designed to stop tanks and infantry couldn't stop a small Gurkha force. ## 3. A Commander Joins His Gurkhas Colonel Peter Jones was fighting in Tunisia with his Gurkha battalion in 1943. As his frenzied men charged the Nazi German-manned machine guns at Enfidaville, [Jones started taking out the positions with a Bren gun](). The Gurkhas charged the Nazis with their Kukri knives and fought them in hand-to-hand combat. They killed 44 Nazis, breaking the German lines and causing them to flee before advancing further. ![]() *Yeah, I'd flee too.* ## 4.The Cold War Turns Hot in Borneo Indonesia, supported by Communist China and the Soviet Union, was opposed to the creation of Malaysia by the Western powers, especially the United Kingdom. So Gurkhas patrolling the island jungles were ready for anything the Communists were willing to throw at them — especially the Gurkhas. ![]() *Gurkha troops patrolling the dense Borneo jungles circa 1965.* [Captain Rambahadur Limbu]() was in enemy territory when he and his unit met an enemy advance. He repelled them using only grenades, then went back into friendly territory to alert his superiors about the advance. With one of his friends dead and the other wounded, Limbu went into the enemy-controlled area of the battlefield, back and forth across 100 yards of no man's land — twice — to pull out the wounded and retrieve his dead friend. Learn more about these ferocious fighters in the [video at the top](). ### Watch More Elite Forces: ### [This is what made ancient Roman gladiators so fierce]() ### [This is how Rome's Praetorian Guard held so much power]() ### [This is why Cossacks are Russia's legendary fighting force]() ### [These are the slave soldiers that defeated the Mongols]() ### [This is the legend of the Knights of the Round Table]() ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()