Gurkhas march to remember their fallen comrades

Two hundred Gurkhas have gathered in London today to remember comrades who have sacrificed their lives for Britain over the last 200 years.

The soldiers marched from Wellington Barracks past Buckingham Palace and along the Mall before arriving at the Gurkha memorial statue in Whitehall.

It was a particularly poignant event as the death toll continues to rise in the Gurkhas homeland Nepal following the devastating earthquake.

Gurkha Major Dev Gurung said: "The tragedy in Nepal has slightly overshadowed what we were planning for some years.

"But we are still here as a family of both serving and retired Gurkhas and also our families to commemorate our service to the Crown and the country.

"As a regiment and as a nation we have suffered this natural disaster of unthinkable magnitude.

"Of course the road will be long but we are very hopeful that we will prevail", he added.

The brigade carried the Queen's Truncheon, a bronze and silver ceremonial staff awarded to the 2nd Gurkhas by Queen Victoria in recognition of its loyalty during the Indian Mutiny of 1857.

Wreaths were laid at a memorial service at the Gurkha statue, with new plaques honouring those who have taken part in recent operations - the first since the statue was unveiled in 1997.