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Special Interests - Groups & Societies => The Barracks => Topic started by: Books OToole on April 25, 2014, 09:26:12 AM

Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Books OToole on April 25, 2014, 09:26:12 AM
Dave:  I don't like hearing that, either!   You two take care, please!

I was hoping there would be a veritable British Empire "contingent" numbering as many as four at this Muster, with you and I as the "old campaigners", plus Ned and his new Australian mounted infantry impressions, and Garry James as a British officer .....

(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i219/GrantRCanada/Internet%20stickies/british-flag-waving-buddy-icon.gif)

I have a co-worker from Nepal who has expressed an interest in learning to shoot.  Are you thinking what I'm thinking?


Books
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Guns Garrett on April 25, 2014, 12:01:21 PM
From Nepal?  It would be cool to have a Gurkha...Hard-core badass mofo's...
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Niederlander on April 25, 2014, 02:49:51 PM
That's sort of what I was thinking!
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: RattlesnakeJack on April 26, 2014, 02:31:29 PM
Yes, indeed!

(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i219/GrantRCanada/Gurkhas/GurkhasandGordonsatDargai_sm_zpsc12ffc58.jpg)
Gordon Highlanders and Gurkhas assaulting the Dargai Heights, Afghanistan, 1897

(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i219/GrantRCanada/Gurkhas/GurkhasandGordonsafterDargai_zpsbb096e95.jpg)
Gurkhas and Gordon Highlanders photographed together following the successful assault
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Drydock on April 26, 2014, 04:53:29 PM
Gee, all them fellers sure look angry at that bagpipe guy . . .
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Niederlander on April 26, 2014, 06:06:38 PM
Important safety tip for musicians;  STAY BEHIND THE RIFLEMEN!!!!
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Texas Lawdog on April 26, 2014, 06:24:09 PM
I pity the man who doesn't hear the PIPES!
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Guns Garrett on April 26, 2014, 07:58:47 PM
We once needed a musical accompaniment, and wanted a pipe band, but no one new how to play.

As a "field expedient" we put an accordion in the dryer...

Lacking an accordion, several cats will do.
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Niederlander on April 26, 2014, 09:06:05 PM
Maybe we can convince Steff to come out and play for us.  He not only plays the pipes, he BUILT the pipes he plays!  I really need to see if I can convince him to come out at some point!
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: RattlesnakeJack on April 26, 2014, 09:37:16 PM
Gee, all them fellers sure look angry at that bagpipe guy . . .

Not angry with the piper, of course .... but supremely pissed at the Afghanis who shot him!  That painting is an overly romanticized rendering of the incident during the battle in which Piper Findlater, severely wounded in both ankles, continued to play where he fell, spurring the Gordons (and Gurkhas) on to a successful attack, after two precious assaults by other line regiments had failed. He played until he lost consciousness .... and was awarded the Victoria Cross - http://www.craigcross.co.uk/History/Findlater/Index.html (http://www.craigcross.co.uk/History/Findlater/Index.html)

This painting more accurately depicts the scene, as Findlater was shot down well back on a stretch of open ground which the attackers had to cross to reach the slope -  

(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i219/GrantRCanada/Scottish/PiperFindlaterVC_zps0405bd1e.jpg)
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Delmonico on April 27, 2014, 09:35:13 AM
We need some of those knives, maybe a Gurkha attack on a position consisting of Eastern Red Cedar (Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae) with Gurkha knives only of course.   ;D
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: RattlesnakeJack on April 27, 2014, 10:55:51 AM
We need some of those knives, maybe a Gurkha attack on a position consisting of Eastern Red Cedar (Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae) with Gurkha knives only of course.   ;D

Well, "Have Khukuris, Will Travel" ....

(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i219/GrantRCanada/Gurkhas/khukris_zps73762e66.jpg)

By the way, that is the proper Nepali word - "khukuri" (खुकुरी .... khukri, kukri)
..... "knife" doesn't quite capture the concept, somehow .... ;)

But if Jerry has some stands of cedar he wants cut back, and wants to write your suggestion into the course of fire, khukuris would sure work!
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: River City John on April 27, 2014, 11:20:09 AM
From what I've read, you did not want to tangle with a Gurkha wielding his khukri when his blood is up! :o

RCJ
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Texas Lawdog on April 27, 2014, 01:53:15 PM
Them knives look Sharp!
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Pitspitr on April 27, 2014, 03:46:25 PM
Well, there are a few less cedars than there were a week ago. We had a prescribed burn Monday. It got all of the cut tree piles, and some of the standing trees. We'll have to wait to see how many of them actually die, but usually the ones that are mostly or all orange are dead.

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/gbZyR-hOvcHgwCvNA1W0jps4wIKT0LqNQ48iysdiHSs=w288-h162-p-no)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/swYs8XorbhomHQfyEFVOXPLafee1uu8f3Wz-D3rPOA8=w288-h162-p-no)
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: pony express on April 27, 2014, 05:09:38 PM
We need some of those knives, maybe a Gurkha attack on a position consisting of Eastern Red Cedar (Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae) with Gurkha knives only of course.   ;D
I attack them on a regular basis, but I prefer a more Scandinavian tool instead of Nepalese. My preferred red cedar tool is an 18" Husqvarna.....

Also works on thorny Locust trees(gleditsia triacanthos), but THOSE can fight back!
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Niederlander on April 27, 2014, 09:20:40 PM
Pony, that's one thing I DON'T miss about that part of the world!
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Pay Dirt Norvelle on April 27, 2014, 10:38:41 PM
I have a pair of Khukuris that I ordered from Nepal/  They are nice and hefty and very, very sharp.
Title: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Mustang Gregg on April 29, 2014, 02:02:24 PM
Those Gurka blades well work for cedars?

I prefer a M&M Engineering cutter on my Mustang 2076 skidsteer.
It works great for 2" to 12" trunks.  Smaller or bigger takes more work.

Mustang Gregg
Title: Re: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Pitspitr on April 30, 2014, 06:29:42 AM
This thread kind of took on a life of it's own so I gave it one.

Those Gurka blades well work for cedars?

I prefer a M&M Engineering cutter on my Mustang 2076 skidsteer.
It works great for 2" to 12" trunks.  Smaller or bigger takes more work.
MG is M&M Marshall? Marshall lived in Sargent when he invented his tree cutter.
Title: Re: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Trailrider on April 30, 2014, 11:20:06 AM
I have often thought that those pipers were the bravest fellows in the world! I mean it is one thing to go into battle holding a rifle, but when your only "weapon" is a set of pipes... :)  I don't know if it true or Hollyweird, but there was a piper leading the British paratroopers in "The Longest Day". MGEN Harry Collins, CG of the 42nd Inf "Rainbow" Division had a bagpipe band. But that was for garrison duty stateside. I don't believe anyone was playing the pipes when the Rainbow went into combat just after "The Bulge" in '45.
Title: Re: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Gus Walker on April 30, 2014, 02:10:06 PM
 ;D  Fellers ya might want to remember when a Gurka blade is drawn it cannot be resheathed till it tastes blood.  :o
Title: Re: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Pitspitr on April 30, 2014, 02:44:37 PM
;D  Fellers ya might want to remember when a Gurka blade is drawn it cannot be resheathed till it tastes blood.  :o
Does it matter if it's human or cedar blood?
Title: Re: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Delmonico on April 30, 2014, 03:31:36 PM
Clean the Cedar sap off it and loan it to the cook, he can draw blood.   :o

(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/Delmonico_1885/DOMM%202013/Picture062_zps5b01dabc.jpg) (http://s72.photobucket.com/user/Delmonico_1885/media/DOMM%202013/Picture062_zps5b01dabc.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: RattlesnakeJack on May 01, 2014, 10:06:55 PM
Actually, I believe the "must taste blood" thing relates to Sikh swords .... no such tradition that I am aware of regarding the khukuri, which is as much a tool as it is a weapon .....  

Otherwise, there would have to be a lot of bloodletting following kit inspection in a Gurkha unit -

(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i219/GrantRCanada/Gurkhas/Gurkhakitinspection_zps8cc1aa19.jpg)

As for effectiveness of the khukuri (or, in any event, of Gurkhas however armed) this terse report  of a raid by a Gurkha unit in North Africa during WWII appears in "Military Anecdotes" (Geoffery Reagan):  

Quote
Enemy losses: ten killed, ours nil. Ammunition expenditure nil.

 ;D
Title: Re: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Pitspitr on May 02, 2014, 09:50:58 AM
I received this in an e-mail from Kit Peak Kid

Hi Grant,



My father was with the 109th Combat Engineers, 34th Division beach landing at Tunisia, fighting at Hill 609 and Kasserine Pass. He said the Gurkhas would cut the ears off German soldiers, put the ears on strings and wear them around their necks.




Kendal (Kit Peak)


Title: Re: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Delmonico on May 02, 2014, 10:08:10 AM
I've heard that before.
Title: Re: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Drydock on May 02, 2014, 02:48:40 PM
There was a detachment of Gurkhas attached to 5th fleet security Baharain, seconded from the Royal Navy liason.  Wonderfull people, deadly as hell, and to a man, they HATE that old story!!!   ::)

(And yes, they have to draw blood when they pull out that knife.  I used to tell my people to please not ask to see the things, as they would nick their own thumbs before sheathing it.  One curious guy did, however, offer his own thumb to be nicked.)
Title: Re: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Mustang Gregg on May 02, 2014, 09:21:24 PM
Col Pitspitr:

Yes, it may well be the same family.  I think the last time I spoke to them (before my deployment), I was talking to a Mr. Marshall.

MG
Title: Re: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Pitspitr on May 03, 2014, 06:02:00 AM
That's what I thought. Lonnie lived in Sargent when he invented his tree cutter. In this area just about every tree saw is a Marshall
Title: Re: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Mustang Gregg on May 04, 2014, 06:04:13 PM
Mine is not a saw type.  More of a monster bolt cutter.
Title: Re: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Pitspitr on May 04, 2014, 07:42:03 PM
Yeah,  I looked them up and they aren't the same company
Title: Re: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Grapeshot on May 07, 2014, 07:08:57 PM
IIRC there were a lot of Japanese who lost their heads to the Gurkahs' Khukuris during the Second World War. 
Title: Re: Cedar Trees and Gurkahs or Don't Pi$$ off the Piper
Post by: Oregon Bill on May 10, 2014, 02:54:40 PM
Grant, the post about Piper Findlater and his V.C. choked me up.  Thank you.