writes:
Get out your khukris!
You know, there's nothing quite like putting the wind up your World War Two Axis opponent when muttering the words "That unit? Oh - those are my Gurkhas." Finely rendered in all their 15mm ferocity by sculptor Mike Broadbent, these feared warriors of Nepal and faithful servants of the British Crown are all ready to join your Commonwealth forces. Can you order these figures with khukri drawn? Of course you can! "Jai Mahakali, Ayo Gorkhali"
In the scramble for control of India and its regions the British, or more precisely - The British East India Company Army, ran up against the Gurkhas in 1814. The British were impressed, and wisely decided these indomitable warriors of Nepal would make much better allies than enemies. So a long association between the Gurkhas and the British Army began - still unbroken to this day.
The Gurkhas formed 12 battalions in the British Army at the beginning of World War Two which rapidly expanded to over 50. They served with great distinction in Syria, Greece, North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and the jungles of Burma (where they formed one of the core units of the famous Chindits force) - respected and even feared by the German, Italian and Japanese opponents who encountered them. The Gurkhas only became eligible for the award of Victoria Crosses in 1911. Since then 26 VC's have been awarded to them - 13 of them to Nepalese nationals.
Our multi variant range gives you the choice between Gurkhas in helmets or wearing the famous Slouch hat, and both types are available wielding the infamous khukri - the large curved bladed knife and preferred close quarter side arm of all Gurkhas. Stickler for detail that he is (even in this scale), Mike Broadbent has also provided them with No1 Mk3 rifles (early war) or No1 Mk 4 rifles (later war) depending on your preference. Everything you need to form your Gurkha battalion is here, including Vickers MMG's, Bren LMG's, Sten and Thompson SMG's, PIAT's, and Boyes anti-tank rifles. The majority of Gurkha officers were British, and these have been sculpted with a little more stature than their more compact Nepalese rank and file, but Gurkhas served as officers too (usually rising up through the ranks - rather than by direct commission) so a Gurkha officer is also represented in the range.
"Jai Mahakali, Ayo Gorkhali" translates as "Glory be to the Goddess of War, here come the Gorkhas!"
Here are the catalogue details for the new miniatures:
NEW 15mm World War Two Gurkhas
Sculpted by Mike Broadbent
Number in parenthesis denotes the number of variants. Variants are supplied randomly
300WWT201 Gurkha infantry with No1 Mk4 rifle, in slouch hat (4)
300WWT202 Gurkha infantry with No1 Mk3 rifle, in slouch hat (4)
300WWT203 Gurkha infantry with No1 Mk4 rifle, khukri drawn, in slouch hat (4)
300WWT204 Gurkha infantry with No1 Mk3 rifle, khukri drawn, in slouch hat (4)
300WWT205 Gurkha infantry with Thompson SMG, in slouch hat (2)
300WWT206 Gurkha NCO with Sten SMG, in slouch hat (2)
300WWT206a British NCO with Sten SMG, in helmet (2)
300WWT207 Gurkha Vickers HMG and crew, in slouch hat - 2 figures (1)
300WWT208 Gurkha Bren LMG and crew, in slouch hat - 2 figures (1)
300WWT209 Gurkha with PIAT,in slouch hat (1)
300WWT210 Gurkha radio operator, in slouch hat (1)
300WWT211 Gurkha 2" mortar and crew, in slouch hat - 2 figures and mortar (1)
300WWT212 Gurkha infantry with No1 Mk4 rifle, in helmet (4)
300WWT213 Gurkha infantry with No1 Mk3 rifle, in helmet (4)
300WWT214 Gurkha infantry with No1 Mk4 rifle, khukri drawn, in helmet (4)
300WWT215 Gurkha infantry with No1 Mk3 rifle, khukri drawn, in helmet (4)
300WWT216 Gurkha infantry with Thompson SMG, in helmet (2)
300WWT217 Gurkha NCO with Sten SMG, in helmet (1)
300WWT217a British NCO with Sten SMG, in helmet (1)
300WWT218 Gurkha Vickers HMG and crew, in helmet - 2 figures (1)
300WWT219 Gurkha Bren LMG and crew in helmet - 2 figures (1)
300WWT220 Gurkha with Boyes A/T rifle, in helmet (1)
300WWT221 Gurkha 2" mortar and crew, in helmet - 2 figures and mortar (1)
300WWT222 Gurkha with Boyes A/T rifle, in slouch hat (1)
300WWT223 Gurkha Officer (1)
300WWT223a British Officer of Gurkhas (1)
300WWT224 Gurkha with Boyes A/T rifle, in slouch hat (1)
All these miniatures can also be ordered in the U.K. from Fighting 15s, and in the U.S.A. from Eureka Miniatures U.S.A.