Gurkhas bound for Bosnia

A UNIT of British Army Gurkhas, who until last year were serving in Hong Kong, will be sent to Bosnia today. An advance party of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles, will leave their base at Church Crookham, Hampshire, in the first operational deployment of Gurkha troops since the Falklands conflict in 1982.

They will be followed later by the remaining 100 soldiers whose task will be to provide security and protection for a divisional headquarters.

The news of the move was greeted with delight by the men, who have spent the past few days preparing for the move.

Many previously served in the territory based at Gallipoli Lines near Fanling.