Gurkha, 87, who won the VC returns war medals...after being refused free hospital care

[UK] Daily Mail ^ | June 25, 2008 | By Staff

[Wonder Warthog]

Yup-—that’s the one.

[ViLaLuz]

“I certainly will let you know if I discover a fund in the UK to help this WW11 hero.”

Thanks. I also forwarded this thread to my former-Ghurka friends. I’m sure they’d want to help, too.

[socialismisinsidious]

Socialized Medicine aka Universal Health Care PING LIST

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[Gunner RA]

Ex Gunner Royal Artillery. Hi Guys I have just come across your forum while browsing the net. I noticed the various post’s regarding the
Brigade of Ghurkhas. And would like to bring you all up to date. Members of the Brigade of Ghurkhas were granted rights to citizenship, the right to live an
d work in the UK, and the same penision as British Servicemen. if they retired after 1997. The reason given for this annomaly
was prior to the hand over of Hong Kong, were the Brigade of Ghurhas were station, no Ghurkhas had been based in the UK, this is the reason why
this goverment are saying that the Ghurhas have no strong links to the UK. It is just away of evading the obligations that they should honour.

On Thursday 20th of November 2008 I alongside
Ex Ghurkha veterans, Ex British servicemen and the British public attended a meeting on the green
opposite the Houses of Parliement the cradle of British democracy. This was to present to the British Goverment a petion demanding not asking
demanding that all Ex Ghurkhas be granted all the rights and privilledges afforded to all British EX servicemen.
I would like to make clear that the welfare of Ex Ghurhas is very much in our hearts. They are loved and admired by the vast
majority of British people. And we will never give up our fight untill we right the terrible injustice that these brave
loyal warriors from Nepal have enjured under various British goverments. One poster mentioned Ex Rifleman Tul Bahadur Pun,
I had the honour and privilledge
of shaking hands with Ex Rifleman Tul Bahadur and another Victoria Cross winner Ex Ghurkha Lachhiman Gurung.
I can tell you guys it was one of the
proudest days in my life.

Another poster inquired if there is any orginisation that helps these wonderful people yes
it is called GAESO here is a link
http://www.gaeso.org.uk/. The high profile person leading the campaign is a much loved English actress called Joanna
Lumley who’s father commanded the Ghurkhas in Burma during the Second World
War, and in fact Joanna’s dad’s life was saved by Ex Ghurkha Tul Bahadur Pun VC. Joanna gave us all a rousing call to arms and ended
her emotive speech with a raised clenched first and the Ghurkhas battle cry: “AYO Ghurkhali” which translates to
The Ghurkhas are coming. My father served with Ord Wingate’s Chindits in Burma a large part of this force were Ghurhas. He told me that not only were they
formible fighters, but what he remembered most was their smilling, happy faces, as they faced the hardship of fighting behind enermy lines

I would like to end by enclosing two quote’s which highlight the debt of honour we own to the Ghurkhas.
The first one is from the Prime Minister of Nepal to a request from the British Goverment in
1940, asking for permission to raise more Ghurkha Battalions. This was his reply:
“Does a friend desert a friend in time of need? If you win, we win with you. If you lose we lose with you.”
And one from Professor Sir Ralph Turner, MC, who served
with the 3rd Queen Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Rifles in the First World War, He wrote of the Gurkhas:
“As I write these last words, my thoughts return to you who were my comrades, the stubborn
and indomitable peasants of Nepal. Once more I hear the laughter with which you greeted every hardship.
Once more I see you in your bivouacs or about your fires, on forced march or in the trenches, now shivering with
wet and cold, now scorched by a pitiless and burning sun. Uncomplaining you endure hunger and thirst and wounds;
and at the last your unwavering lines disappear into the smoke and wrath of battle. Bravest of the brave,
most generous of the generous, never had country
more faithful friends than you. “

The Gurkhas’ links with the British Army date back to 1814, when British forces fought a fierce war against Nepal, during which the adversaries
developed a deep mutual respect, and admiration for their opponent’s fighting abilities. And both decided that they would rather fight on the same side. Yet these are the people deemed by the goverment to have no close ties to our country?
Sorry for the long first post but I hope if clarifies some of the questions raised
Yours Sincerly Ex British service man