IT is utterly disgraceful that Tory leader Michael Howard would not back the Gurkhas quest for citizenship if they wanted it after finishing their service in the Army. Since 1826 the Gurkhas have been Britain's most dependable and fiercely brave ally, 26 VCs says it all.
They have been treated shoddily by all Government political parties with regards to the Army pension they receive, a pittance in comparison to their British counterparts. Are their lives worth less than the British squaddie even though they do the same job? I think not.
Here in Britain, regiments struggle to recruit personnel of the right calibre so the Army is understrengh while the potential Gurkha recruit regards service in the British Army as an honour and is often following family tradition.
It is high time these soldiers and their families were looked after in a proper manner for their unbending service to this country.
Bob Waite,
Windmill Rise,
York.
Updated: 11:23 Wednesday, October 06, 2004
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