RAF veteran digs deep for Gurkhas (From Echo)

RAF veteran digs deep for Gurkhas

6:00pm Thursday 21st May 2009 in News By Emma Palmer

Dharmanbikram Sanwar thanks Alec Milne

A PENSIONER was so moved by the plight of the Gurkhas he has given £1,000 from his own pocket to help the hundreds of Nepalese soldiers and their families.

Alec Milne, 74, from Basildon, made the donation because he thinks the Gurkhas have got a “bum deal” when it comes to their controversial handling by the Government.

Mr Milne, a former RAF engineer, served with a regiment of Gurkhas when he was stationed in Singapore in the Sixties.

He said: “I read a feature about the Thurrock Gurkhas in the Echo, and it really touched me to see what they were going through.

“I just wanted to do something to show them we do care.

“They’ve got a bum deal by this Government.

“When I was in Singapore, it was the Gurkhas’ job to protect our air base. I remember them as the most professional soldiers you could wish to work with – they had a job to do and you could be sure they would do it.”

Netra Limbu, secretary of the Thurrock Nepalese and Gurkha Community, told Mr Milne: “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

“We have had so much support and this is a fantastic donation. This has made us very proud and happy.”

The donation will go towards buying sporting equipment and organising events for the group’s youth organisation.

And the group’s chairman, Dharmanbikram Sanwar, told Mr Milne: “We would like to make you an honorary member of our association in recognition of this donation.

“We are so grateful for your support.”

As a thank you, Mr Milne was also presented with a formidable khukuri, a curved knife which is synonymous with the valour of Gurkha soldiers.

The famous knife is carried by Gurkhas in battle, and it was said that once a khukuri was drawn in battle, it had to “taste blood” – if not, its owner had to cut himself before returning it to its sheath.

Gurkhas have faced a drawn out fight to get better settlement and pension rights for some time.

However Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to do a U-turn later today and announce that all Gurkhas who have served with the British Army can remain in the UK.

Netra added: “We will have something to celebrate once the Prime Minister makes his announcement – fingers crossed.”

Billericay MP John Baron, who was in the Army for 15 years, added: “I served with the Gurkhas, and they deserve all of our support. The Prime Minister got this so wrong.

“Anyone who serves in the armed forces and risks their lives for this country should be allowed to stay.”