BRAVEST of the brave, most generous of the generous, never had country more faithful friends than you. So wrote Sir Ralph Lilley Turner about his Gurkha soldiers during the First World War.

The long relationship between the fearless Nepalese and Britain dates back 200 years to the Gurkha War of 1814–1816 between the Gorkha Kingdom in Nepal and the East India Company. The British were so impressed by these Gorkhali soldiers that in the ensuing peace treaty it was agreed they could be recruited under contract in the company’s army.

Since then they have served this country with tenacity, courage and loyalty. So it is only fitting that the Queen’s Gurkha Signals, based at Imphal Barracks, has been granted the Freedom of the City of York.

The soldiers will first exercise the right on September 8, but instead of marching through the streets with “drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed”, they will be carrying traditional khukri knives. What a wonderful spectacle it will make.

This is not the only honour for the regiment. Next month, they will be providing the guard at Buckingham Palace – the first time that the Queen has been guarded by foreign nationals.

Her Majesty’s safety couldn’t be in better hands.