In 1815, the British Army tried to conquer Nepal. But it was easily defeated by Nepal's warriors: the Gurkhas. So the British officers decided that, if they couldn't beat them, they'd get the Gurkhas to join them. A peace agreement ceased all British conquest in Nepal, and the Gurkhas agreed to be recruited into the Crown's military. The Gurkhas have fought in several wars, including both world wars and the Falklands War. Known as some of the most skilled and fiercest warriors in the world, the Gurkhas have impressed (and terrified) everyone around them. On the 200th anniversary of their service, here are some of the bravest soldiers and stories to ever come out of the Gurkha ranks.
20.3k
Dipprasad Pun 1
Gajendera Angdembe, Dhan Gurung, and Manju Gurung 2
Lachhiman Gurung 3
Bhanubhakta Gurung 4
Agansing Rai 5
Ganju Lama 6
Gaje Ghale 7
Peter Jones 8
Bishnu Shrestha 9
Rambahadur Limbu 10
Why Old Blimps and Biplanes Are the Secret to Tomorrow's Drone Motherships Air Force's Secret Space Plane Set to Blast Off Again
Watch the Army Test Robots It Doesn't Know What to Do With Yet The Navy Is Working on Underwater Wireless Charging Stations for Robot Subs
Uh-Oh. Here Come the Sniper Drones. Watch This F-14 Tomcat Spin Out of Control
Experimental Defense Unit Funds New Tech But Faces Skeptics U.S. Army Troops to Get New Sci-Fi Helmet
Photographer Accidentally Gets Front Row Seat to Secret Chinese Missile Test The Navy's Railgun Is About to Get Faster and More Powerful
MORE FROM RESEARCH
Newsletter Digital Editions
About Us Media Kit
Press Room Contact Us
Community Guidelines Advertise Online
About Our Ads Customer Service
Subscribe Other Hearst Subscriptions
Give a Gift Events & Promotions
Giveaways Being Green
Why Did I Get This Ad? BestProducts
©2017 Hearst Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy Your California Privacy Rights Terms of Use Site Map A PART OF HEARST DIGITAL MEDIA
Popular Mechanics participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means Popular Mechanics gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. SUBSCRIBE HOW-TO SHOP AWESOM
In Afghanistan in 2010, Acting Sergeant Dipprasad Pun single-handedly fought off 30 Taliban soldiers. As Pun was keeping guard on the roof of a checkpoint, the attackers came at the complex from all sides with rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47s.
It took less than an hour for Pun to kill them all. He went through all of his ammo—400 rounds and 17 grenades, as well as a mine that detonated—to defeat each attacker. When he ran out of ammo, a Taliban soldier climbed up to the roof, only to be hit with a machine-gun tripod that Pun threw at him.
Pun's valor was rewarded with a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, the second highest British military decoration awarded for brave
