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Guard Duty

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Elkstone (U3836042) on Thursday, 14th May 2009

  Most servicemen seem to hate guard duty and it is often used as a punishment. However I was told by a squaddie it is the direct opposite for the Gurkhas where it is a honour to do it and everybody volunteers. I haven't been able to find any info on this, does anyone know where this tradition originates? Any idea why the rest of the services do not follow suit?

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• Message 2

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  Posted by lindavid (U10745308) on Thursday, 14th May 2009

  I served in a Gurkha Unit and with Gurkhas within units.
  
  I neaver heard any Gurkha declare the guard duty was an honour but they would do thier duty,
  I would put forward the theory that your informant was covering the fact that Gurkhas pulled more duties than other servicemen (partically at weekends suprise surprise)and this policy of using Gurkhas for the mundane tasks (They could not go home for the weekend etc) was an abuse based on racial grounds.
  
  

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• Message 3

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  Posted by Elkstone (U3836042) on Tuesday, 19th May 2009

  Dont they have Gurkha officers who would make a stand against any such abuses? Or are all, or most, the officers from the Light Division and theirfore English/British, which is why it happens? I do recall in the 80s Prince Charles commenting on the absense of non white faces in the household division. That led to the Bernard Manning type jokes of '..(not) trooping the colour'.
  
  I do not want to open a can of worms, but if there was a racial problem as implied in the Gurkhas, surely it would have been raised by now. Most of the country are on their side in the current citizenship/residency dispute with the government. Even the BNP have been quiet and wouldn't dare do any rabble rousing against them

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• Message 4

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  Posted by lindavid (U10745308) on Wednesday, 20th May 2009

  Whilst serving with the Gurkhas we had both white British Officers and Gurkha Officers.
  
  as to them making a stand i found that they also praticed the Caste system within the unit and your promotion prospects also were linked to your family name. Limbu, Rai etc.
  
  my main point was and still is that i found the treatment by fellow white british non commissioned officers of Gurkhas was distasteful and should not be happening, to which i was told to shut up not rock the boat and that as i would find once having served years with the Gurkhas that they are not as efficient and hard working as they appear.
  
  i did challage all this whilst serving in a gurkha unit which cost me an nonmination for an MBE and since i left them i have raised funds for the Gurkha Welfare Trust.
  
  One of my gurkha staff has been commissioned as a direct result of my intervention on his behalve by reporting on his confidential report in an honest manner, this man would have been discharged on pension when hong kong was handed back in 97 otherwise.
  
  

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• Message 5

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  Posted by Elkstone (U3836042) on Wednesday, 20th May 2009

  "to which i was told to shut up not rock the boat and that as i would find once having served years with the Gurkhas that they are not as efficient and hard working as they appear."
  
  So they are no different to the average British squaddie, hence the beasting and bullying stories, neccessary to keep them in line?

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  Posted by petaluma (U10056951) on Wednesday, 20th May 2009

  Elkstone, I was in the British Army Infantry (before the Welfare State) and never heard of being put on Guard Duty for Official Punishment unless a whim of a NCO or something like that. Most Troops hated Guard Duty I did, but knew it was essential at times and helped to keep Troops in line. Its a sure bet after every Guard someone would say, "Another one the King will not know about", don't know when that line was started seemed universal in all Regiments.

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• Message 7

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  Posted by petaluma (U10056951) on Wednesday, 20th May 2009

  lindavid, I never served with the Gurkhas but in India 1945-1947 the Gurkhas were highly regarded by all British Infantry Regiments, was told if put on extra duty as punishment would throughly enjoy it as they loved Army life, and for punishment would have their Kukri taken off them, thus making them an outcast to their fellow Gurkhas. Granted times have changed and things are not always as thought or what they seem. I was told of Racism in the Indian Army. A Kashi (mountain people) Corporal ex-ray technician said had he been Plains Indian he would be an officer. Then added, "When the British quit India I will go back home and come down to the Plains and Rob these people". Then added, that was their vocation in any way.

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• Message 8

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  Posted by Elkstone (U3836042) on Thursday, 21st May 2009

  I heard that the Gurkhas prefer to join the British Army rather than the Indian or Nepalese, because the pay and conditions are much better. They tend to be oversubscribed for places with over 100 applying per place,(or higher) so the British army would get the elite recruits with competition so fierce. So isnt it unlikely they would get lazy or inefficient guys inthe UK army.
  
  Another point I forgot to add. Was falling asleep on guard duty during wartime court marshall offence? Did the British shoot guys for that in WW1? Did the Russians and Germans do that in WW2

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• Message 9

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  Posted by lindavid (U10745308) on Thursday, 21st May 2009

  News just in, Gurkhas who served at least 4 years prior to 1997 can now apply to settle in the UK.
  
  This is good news as i said before, those sent on pension at the end of 97, after Hong kong was handed over did not qualify before, half of my unit was discharged at this time purley on grounds of line serial numbers ( Vacant posts on a units establishment table).
  
  These men were young, fit, hard working Engineers.

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• Message 10

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  Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Friday, 22nd May 2009

  Funny question?
  Guard duty to my knowledge was never used as a punishment, you would be more likely to end up in the cook house tin washing room, among a pile of dirty greasy dixies that had to shine like the midday sun as the cook Sergeant would say.
  Garrison guards in infantry regiments usually consisted of static and mobile stags as we called them. You did one two hour stretch at the camp gate outside the Guard room and the next two stags patrolling the perimeter inside and out.
  The static stag was the one where you could move ten paces doing your arms drill then back standing at ease but very watchful for Officers sneaking up on you as a bad joke. Failure to salute in the appropriate way was punishable.
  The engineering units I later joined where no different in this procedure until we went overseas.
  I then did mobile guard duties in armed vehicles. Standby duties where you got some sleep but had to be ready to rush to any point on a very long perimeter if trouble arose. Two hours or more in a listening post where imagination can run riot and forward slit trenches where one of you may get some shut eye.
  I never enjoyed any of it though I did not hate it, dislike would be the word for a duty that had to be done for your own and your mates safety.
  I was at Crookham with the Ghurkas and they were very hard working smart keen soldiers, I am glad they won their battle to stay here.
  Frank.

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• Message 11

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  Posted by Snezzypeanut (U13980840) on Saturday, 23rd May 2009

  Hi everyone, I'm a newcomer to the site, so please bear with me. In relation to guard duty, I tended to get it when I hadn't shaved properly,remembered to bring extra choc' rations when doing o/p and such like. For me it was never an honour to do guard, for example no sleep, spending the night with five other cow pat's plus red caps. What good we were armed with a pick elf, torch and whistle, I'll never know. One night, around 0350 hrs, whilst on patrol, I heard a "familiar" noise comeing from the side of the NAFFI, upon investigation I found the RSM in a compromising position with a female NCO !! for some strange reason I was excused guard for that W/E and had a well earned 24 hr leave at a local hostelry!! so you could say life had it's compensations!
  
  Such is life in the army, in those distant good old days of the early 80's

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