“Better to die than to be a coward.” This is the official motto of the Gurkhas, skilled soldiers from Nepal known for their bravery, loyalty, and honesty. When the British invaded the Gurkhas’ homeland in 1814, they came face to face with these fiercely disciplined warriors and were impressed by their courage. After signing a peace treaty with Nepal, Britain wasted no time in recruiting their former opponents to serve the British Crown.

Over 100 years later, the Gurkhas were still fighting for Britain, this time as riflemen, special servicemen, and even parachutists in World War II. But unlike other soldiers, they had a secret weapon—the kukri. This 18-inch curved blade was the perfect tool for hand-to-hand combat. One glimpse of the razor-sharp knife had their enemies running in fear.

When the war began, Gurkha soldiers were sent all over the world to places mostly foreign to them. Some went to the Western Desert of North Africa where they fought German and Italian troops. Others traveled to the jungles of Burma where they used their kukris to slice through the dense underbrush and prevent the Japanese from invading India. Of the 120,000 Gurkhas who served in the war, nearly 30,000 were injured or lost their lives.

Twelve Gurkha soldiers and British officers of the Gurkha regiments received Victoria Crosses for their bravery in World War II, yet despite all their sacrifices, not all Gurkha veterans were allowed to live in the country for which they had fought so dearly. It wasn’t until 2009, after a long campaign supported by actress Joanna Lumley, that they were finally able to settle in the United Kingdom with their families.