brief title

Four members of the Royal Gurkha Rifles are on tactical manoeuvres on heathland above Farnborough airfield, England. These Nepali-born boys belong to an elite Regiment of the British army. Every year 60,000 boys attend recruiting sessions in villages and towns in the Himalayan Kingdom but only 150 are selected each year to serve on active duty across the world. They fly to the UK for basic soldier training where they learn the skills required for infantry, transport, communications or clerical duties. Their reputation as a fierce but intensely loyal fighting force and many Victoria Crosses were won for bravery during World War 2. Here they are seen cradling modern SA-80 rifles while dressed in camouflaged helmets with oak leaves. The nearest to the camera points his weapon past the viewer with a yellow blank cover attached. .

Filename

army04-15-12-2007 .jpg

Copyright

© Richard Baker. No copying, screen grabbing, transmission or publication without permission.

Image Size

5414x3544 / 4.4MB

UK health warfare test soldiers rigorous recruit professional pressure peak military limit fitness exertion exercise self-esteem endurance confidence challenge basic training army MoD British army gurkhas Nepali Aldershot infantry blanks portrait rifle weapon SA-80 firearm camouflage undergrowth duty training practice foot soldiers Regiment telescopic fierce reputation manoeuvres posed Royal Gurkha Rifles tactical proud loyalty pride oak leaves blank cover menacing menace Nepalese

Contained in galleries

Army, Navy, Air Force, Gurkha Selection