Some new acquisitions

J

Johan van Zyl

Joined
Oct 11, 2000
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372
Hi guys! After a period of relative inactivity due to ongoing pressure at work, I got hold of some new acquisitions. Besides a regulation khukuri stamped NEPAL and dated 1998, I got a book "The Gurkhas" by W B Northey & G J Morris, published in 1928 by John Lane The Bodley Head Ltd, London. Also a "Gurkha hat" which I will try to describe. It looks brand-new, is cylindrical in shape, made of a black felty material, with a red pom-pom on top in the centre, and a black patent leather chin strap. Seven inches in diameter and three inches high.

I'd be very grateful if someone could tell me more about the "Gurkha hat". Is it an officer's hat or that of an enlisted man? What does the uniform look like that goes with the hat? I pride myself for knowing a little bit about the khukuris themselves, but the accoutrements are still new to me. Shows you, you need to keep on learning! :D
 
Johan,
Your book sounds interesting. I hope it contains some good reference material that you can pass along.

The 'hat' you describe is also known as a "pillbox" and was common in the British Military for more than a century. The red pommel could represent a few different regiments depending on the attached badge (if there is one). The patent leather strap would probably make it post 1960 and could be either an officer's, NCO or enlisted ranks cover. These style hats go as far back as the mid 1800s in one form or another for the Gurkha Regiments.

picture from Chappell's booklet shows uniforms from the 5th GR and the 10th GR from around the late 60s.
View
 
First of all, thanks very much to John for giving information about my newly-acquired pillbox “hat”. I really appreciate your trouble. I did notice some little holes in the material in the side of the hat, obviously where the badge was affixed. (I’m sorry to have to say “WAS affixed”. Now I’ll have to look for a genuine Gurkha badge to take its place!)

I scouted around in the book “The Gurkhas” which I also acquired, and found the following facts pertaining to khukuris (old hat to some):

Page 77: “On this occasion buffaloes and goats are sacrificed by means of decapitation with a khukri.......” “.......with one stroke of the khukri is a feat demanding no ordinary strength and skill...”

Page 102: “In former times it was the custom for a husband, whose wife had been found unfaithful, to cut down the seducer with a khukri.” (The wife seemed not to have suffered as much as the suitor!)

Page 103: “This summary khukri execution, however, is not now (1928) allowed.”

Page 228: “...round the waist is worn a white or coloured cloth, usually several yards in length. Into this is tucked a khukri, a weapon the Gurkha is seldom without.”

In this book are many illustrations and black-and-white photos, but only on two photos opposite page 184 are persons seen wearing khukris.One shows a typical Thakur (caste) with a long khukri tucked in his cloth belt. Probably a villager-type khukri, must be about 18 inches long. The other is a photo of a Magar Havildar (non-commissioned officer) of the Nepalese Army; however, the “uniform” looks quite civilian to me, but the khukri (somewhat shorter than in the other photo) is there, tucked in his white cloth belt. Looks like a SN1 with its black (?) scabbard, but this book was published in 1928, and we all agreed there were no SN1's then!!!!

Hope these extracts from the book are of interest. :D
 
Hi Johan,

This is a bit off topic, but I was wondering where in South Africa you are. Next month, from Nov.29-Dec.1, I am scheduled to go to Potschefstroom, near Johannesburg, to deliver a presentation at a linguistics conference. Are you anywhere near there?
 
That would be neat; would certainly help to know somebody over there. My only South African friend said she would go with me if she could, but is trapped States-side due to some strange situation with her passport, etc. :(
 
It would be neat. When Broken Arrow met up with Satoshi in Japan they had a hell of a time together.
 
Ruel, what a shame! Potchefstroom is a university city (Yanks'll probably call it a very big town) about the same size as Bloemfontein, the city where I live. The two cities fall in different provinces, putting Potch about 350 km from me. Your dates fall smack-dab in our exams, and the weekend I've got the end-of-year reenactment shoot. We'll be blasting Tommies with our Martini-Henry's.

Guess what - I've been dreading that khukuri friends come to South Africa to an inaccessible place and at an impossible time. Cause I can't really handle the disappointment of not being able to get together after all we've been up to together on the forum. :(
 
Ah, that is an unfortunate concidence. But maybe it's a good thing --I might have been tempted to skip the conference and hang out there instead...! There'll be other chances, I hope. Our university has an Africa Program that I might apply for next summer -- a two-week all expenses paid research tour. Hard to beat!
 
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