Prince Charles pays tribute to courage of Gurkhas

Published on Friday 28 January 2011 18:16

The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to Gurkha soldiers who were killed and horrifically injured in a hard-fought tour of Afghanistan.

Charles presented campaign medals to members of 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles (1RGR) who recently returned from six months in Helmand Province.

Wounded troops on crutches and in a wheelchair lined up alongside their comrades on a bitterly cold parade ground at Sir John Moore Barracks in Folkestone, Kent.

Addressing the men, the Prince said they had endured "yet another gruelling tour" in Afghanistan but had left the country a better place.

He said progress in Helmand had come at a "terrible cost", with 16 members of 1RGR's wider battle group killed during the deployment from April to November last year and 110 wounded.

Charles highlighted the extraordinary courage of the injured soldiers in battling their way to recovery.

He said: "I know only too well that at the end of the day it is your unwavering will power and determination to get on with your lives that sees you through.

"You are without doubt a shining inspiration to us all and we can only wish you the speediest of recoveries."