John P Cross, a legend amongst the Gurkha community.

After serving the British Army for over 39 years, he became the first Englishman to become a Nepali citizen.

He’s a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists in Nepali, and can also speak Urdu, Malay, Cantonese, Temiar, Iban, Thai, Vietnamese, Lao, and French.

He has an MBE, an OBE, and has 21 books published, in UK, USA, India, Nepal, Malaysia Singapore, Poland and Czech Republic.

Please subscribe to our monthly podcast if you would like to hear more stories from the brave veterans we help, along with exclusive interviews with others like JPX.

If you’d like to learn more about The Gurkha Welfare Trust then visit gwt.org.uk where you’ll find everything you need to know.

Support the show

An interview with Kulman Rai, a 97 year-old Gurkha veteran who bravely served during World War Two.

Like many other Gurkha veterans before him, Kulman faced a life of hardship when he returned to Nepal after the war.

Thanks to donations from our wonderful supporters, we have been delivering a pension to Kulman’s home so that he has enough money to get by along with any medicine and medical care he needs. We also built Kulman a brand new earthquake-resilient home to protect him against natural disasters and monsoon rain.

Presented by Georgia Oliver from The Gurkha Welfare Trust.
Translated by Kushal Thapa and Bishnu Pun from The Gurkha Welfare Trust.
Title music from The Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas.

Support the show

Introducing Rifleman Rana Bahadur Limbu, a 96 year-old Gurkha veteran who valiantly served in the Parachute Regiment at the end of World War Two.

At just 16 years-old, Rifleman Rana Bahadur Tamang was recruited to be a Gurkha from his home in Darbang, west Nepal. He went on to train for two years, learning how to shoot, how to fight and how to survive in the jungle.

Music: The Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas

Support the show