With the Gurkhas in the Falklands - Softcover

Seear, Mike

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1526721260 ISBN 13: 9781526721266

Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Synopsis

Regarded by many as the world's finest infantry soldiers, the Gurkhas' fierce reputation for battlefield aggression and stealth combined with the adroit use of their famed kukri knife, injected great fear into the occupying Argentine troops on the Falkland Islands in 1982. As the British Task Force's largest unit, the 711-strong 1st Battalion, 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles embarked on board the Cunard liner RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 on 12 May to depart from Southampton to the South Atlantic with the remainder of 5 Infantry Brigade. But even before their departure, the Gurkhas' reputation had been working overtime, and was already causing an increasingly debilitating psychological concern amongst their 'dush' (enemy). The Argentine media spun a plethora of totally untrue stories about these Nepalese troops during the next few weeks. Even today the latter's perceived 'bestial' reputation continues to live a life of its own in Argentina. As a result, the Gurkhas' operations were to be affected profoundly when, after twenty days at sea, they landed at San Carlos, East Falkland to participate in the land campaign's final fourteen days.Written by one of their British officers, this book conveys the Gurkhas' impressive professionalism as well as the personal and emotional aspects of his deployment on Operation Corporate. It provides a unique insight into a legendary fighting force surrounded by mystique and which exercised an uncompromising Regimental 'kaida' (the way things are done). This is both a serious and light-hearted account of the Gurkhas' intensive training for war on land and at sea, transition to operations, preparations for battle, involvement in combat, and the cessation of hostilities' aftermath.

About this title

About the Author:

As a Light Infantry officer, Mike Seear was seconded to this Gurkha Battalion one month before Argentina 're-took' the Falkland Islands by military force on 2 April 1982. His initial appointment was the Battalion Operations and Training Officer, with a secondary role of Battalion Public Information Officer. Directly involved in planning the Battalion's training, handling the media and working in Battalion Tactical HQ on exercise and in the South Atlantic Theatre of Operations, he was ideally qualified to write this book post-war. After twenty-one years of service, Seear retired from the British Army in 1988 with the rank of Major. Since then he has lived in Norway, initially being employed as the Scandinavian Airlines Security and Emergency Response Manager. Further capitalizing on his military experiences in the Northern Ireland 'Troubles' and with the Gurkhas in the Falklands War, Seear today is an international crisis management consultant specializing in the civil aviation industry. His work includes the design, construction and delivery of realistic exercises to airlines, airports and other organizations. He is also the co-editor and author respectively of two other books on the Falklands War.

About this edition

• Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
• ISBN 10: 1526721260
• ISBN 13: 9781526721266
• Binding: Paperback