One of Britain's newest traditions was carried out again today.
Since 2007, the tiny town of Wooton Bassett in Wiltshire turns out to welcome home military heroes from Iraq or Afghanistan.
But, sadly, those heroes have all come home in coffins.
Since 2007, RAF Lyneham, near the town, has been the main base for repatriated service personnel.
So when their hearses pass slowly through the streets, members of the public and military personnel (both serving and former) line the streets in silence, the military personnel saluting as the hearses pass by.
Tragically, since 2007, this new tradition has been carried out 72 times. Today the town welcomed back four heroes, including a Ghurka.
Those who returned home today are Sergeant Ben Ross, of the Royal Military Police; Rifleman Adrian Sheldon, of 2nd Battalion The Rifles; Corporal Sean Binnie of Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland; and Corporal Kumar Pun, of 1st Battalion The Royal Ghurka Rifles.
This loss comes a time when actress Joanna Lumley is campaigning to allow the Ghurkas, Britain's greatest allies, to live in Britain.
Crowds pay silent tribute to four fallen soldiers killed in bloodiest day in Afghanistan for nearly a year
By Daily Mail Reporter
13th May 2009
Daily Mail
Ghurka veterans stood alongside fellow soldiers and members of the public today to pay tribute to a fallen comrade and three British servicemen whose bodies were flown home from Afghanistan.
Hundreds of mourners stood in respectful silence as Corporal Kumar Pun, 31, was repatriated through the Wiltshire town of Wootton Bassett.
The Nepalese-born soldier, who served Britain with 1st Battalion The Royal Ghurka Rifles, died last Thursday at the hands of a suicide bomber.
He was killed alongside Royal Miliary Police Sergeant Ben Ross, 34, Rifleman Adrian Sheldon, 25, of the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, and Corporal Sean Binnie, 22, from Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Enlarge
Veterans and members of the public in the Wiltshire town of Wootton Bassett salute as the bodies of four British servicemen are brought from nearby RAF Lyneham
Enlarge
The hearses carrying the bodies proceed through the Wiltshire town
The four brave soldiers died in a single day of bloody fighting in troubled Helmand Province.
The last time there was such large a loss of life for British forces in a single day was in June 17 last year, when four soldiers were killed.
The servicemen's bodies were flown back to the UK in a Hercules aircraft, which landed at RAF Lyneham, Wilts, at around 10am.
A procession then made its way along the A3102 - the road now dubbed the 'Highway for Heroes' - following a fly-by and memorial service at the base.
The High Street was brought to an emotional standstill at 2.45pm as the four coffins, draped with Union flags, were paraded slowly past.
Military personnel console each other as the cortege passes
Preceded by a police escort, the hearses stopped for a minute's silence at the town's war memorial where regiment banners were lowered and church bells rang in respect.
Today's repatriation was the 72nd in the town since April 2007, when nearby RAF Lyneham became Britain's main air base for repatriated servicemen.
Cpl Pun's commander, Colonel David Haye, of the Ghurka Brigade, said: 'Kumar was a very distinguished man who was quiet yet extremely competent.
'He was a very self assured leader and I'm sure he'll be solely missed by all those who knew him.
'This is a very important ceremony and it shows the British public that the Ghurkas fight alongside British troops and, like them, are making the ultimate sacrifice.
'We have to be very grateful to Wootton Bassett for turning out in such large numbers.'
Among the mourners were former Gurkha Rajan Chhetri, who served Britain for 17 years with the 2nd and 6th Battalions of the Royal Gurkha Rifles.
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Members of the public bow their heads and servicemen salute as the cortege passes by
Enlarge
An elderly woman dabs her eyes as the hearses pass by and a soldier from the Royal Gurkha regiment salutes
He said he was immensely 'proud' of Cpl Pun and the regiment - and said his memory should not be marred by the fierce debate about Gurkha settling in Britain.
Mr Chhetri said: 'I feel very sad today. But I'm very proud and I'm here today to pay my last tributes to my brother, friend, and other three comrades.
'They gave their life for this country. We are very proud of all our colleagues, friends and we are here to remember them today.'
He added: 'I don't want to get involved in any political issues. What I want to say today is that equality is right.
'Everybody knows about this, especially the British people - we have served two hundred years.'
Corporal Pun was among four British soldiers to be killed within 12 hours in three separate incidents.
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Enlarge
Killed: Corporal Sean Binnie (top) and Sergeant Ben Ross
He died alongside Sergeant Ben Ross when their patrol in Helmand Province was targeted by a suicide bomber.
Corporal Binnie died from a gunshot wound sustained during a patrol with the Afghan army near Musa Qala last Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, Rifleman Sheldon was killed when his Jackal patrol vehicle was hit by a bomb near Sangin.
Corporal Pun leaves behind wife Parbati, who is in her 20s, and their two daughters Klaudine, six, and Petrina, 18 months.
He was the third Ghurka soldier to lose his life Afghanistan following the deaths of Colour Sergeant Krishnabahadur Dura and Rifleman Yubraj Rai last November.
Mrs Pun, who lives in Dover, Kent, was told by the UK Border Agency that she is allowed to stay in the UK.
Harka Gurang, 44, retired from the Ghurkas after 20 years of service in 2005.
He said: 'I was Kumar's sergeant in 1999 to 2000 and got to know him well.
'He was a very intelligent man, extremely trustworthy, and had the respect of everyone who met him.
'It's important we show his wife and two young daughters that we are thinking of them.'
Another Ghurka veteran, Min Thapu, 42, said the turnout proves that the British public are in support of the campaign.
Enlarge
Tragedy: Rifleman Adrian Sheldon (top) and Corporal Kumar Pun
Mr Thapu, who retired in 2000 after 15 years' service, said: 'This is a very encouraging turnout and shows that Ghurkas are dying alongside the British troops.'
More than 20 from the Wiltshire Nepalises Association also turned out to show their support.
Matt Fairholme, 32, who lives in Wootton Bassett, said: 'What a great turnout. It's good to see everyone is paying their respects to Ghurkas as well as our British troops.'
Gordon Brown today led tributes to the servicemen killed during a bloody week for British forces in Afghanistan.
At Prime Minister's question time, Mr Brown said the UK was determined to be a 'force for good' in Afghanistan.
In a sombre statement, Mr Brown said: 'I have been fortunate enough to witness at first hand the bravery and the professionalism and the dedication of our soldiers from every battalion fighting for us in Afghanistan.
'We are determined to ensure that we can be a force for good in helping the people of Afghanistan and protecting the security of people in Britain and the wider world.
'These men, and all of those who have lost their lives in conflict, deserve our profound gratitude and their service will never be forgotten.'
Tory leader David Cameron added his tribute, and referring to the May 7 casualties said: 'Such a tragic loss of life in one single day should remind us of all the bravery that all of our service men and women show every day.
'They have all made sacrifices on behalf of our country and we must never forget them.'
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg added his condolences and highlighted the death of Cpl Pun 'who it's worth remembering adds his name to the over 45,000 Gurkha soldiers who have died serving this country over the years'.
It was a Liberal Democrat motion on Gurkha settlement rights which led to the Prime Minister's embarrassing defeat in a Commons vote last month.
The new Mayor of Wootton Bassett, Steve Bucknell, took the opportunity to question Government policy on Gurkhas, as the town honoured Cpl Pun's service.
He said: 'It is all very, very sad. I said in my inaugural speech that I hoped we wouldn't have to do this again. It is also galling that here we are welcoming a Gurkha back while a lot of us don't understand the Government's attitude to Gurkhas who have served this country.
'The Government appears to let others live here, but not the Gurkhas.
We'd rather have Gurkhas than shirkers.'
But ex-Royal Gurkha Rifleman Maita Limbu, 44, said it was not the place to discuss politics but to honour the dead.
'It's not about politics here. We are just saying thank you and welcome home.'
The last time there was such large a loss of life for British forces in a single day was in June 17 last year, when four soldiers were killed.
dailymail.co.uk
Since 2007, the tiny town of Wooton Bassett in Wiltshire turns out to welcome home military heroes from Iraq or Afghanistan.
But, sadly, those heroes have all come home in coffins.
Since 2007, RAF Lyneham, near the town, has been the main base for repatriated service personnel.
So when their hearses pass slowly through the streets, members of the public and military personnel (both serving and former) line the streets in silence, the military personnel saluting as the hearses pass by.
Tragically, since 2007, this new tradition has been carried out 72 times. Today the town welcomed back four heroes, including a Ghurka.
Those who returned home today are Sergeant Ben Ross, of the Royal Military Police; Rifleman Adrian Sheldon, of 2nd Battalion The Rifles; Corporal Sean Binnie of Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland; and Corporal Kumar Pun, of 1st Battalion The Royal Ghurka Rifles.
This loss comes a time when actress Joanna Lumley is campaigning to allow the Ghurkas, Britain's greatest allies, to live in Britain.
Crowds pay silent tribute to four fallen soldiers killed in bloodiest day in Afghanistan for nearly a year
By Daily Mail Reporter
13th May 2009
Daily Mail
Ghurka veterans stood alongside fellow soldiers and members of the public today to pay tribute to a fallen comrade and three British servicemen whose bodies were flown home from Afghanistan.
Hundreds of mourners stood in respectful silence as Corporal Kumar Pun, 31, was repatriated through the Wiltshire town of Wootton Bassett.
The Nepalese-born soldier, who served Britain with 1st Battalion The Royal Ghurka Rifles, died last Thursday at the hands of a suicide bomber.
He was killed alongside Royal Miliary Police Sergeant Ben Ross, 34, Rifleman Adrian Sheldon, 25, of the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, and Corporal Sean Binnie, 22, from Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Enlarge
Veterans and members of the public in the Wiltshire town of Wootton Bassett salute as the bodies of four British servicemen are brought from nearby RAF Lyneham
Enlarge
The hearses carrying the bodies proceed through the Wiltshire town
The four brave soldiers died in a single day of bloody fighting in troubled Helmand Province.
The last time there was such large a loss of life for British forces in a single day was in June 17 last year, when four soldiers were killed.
The servicemen's bodies were flown back to the UK in a Hercules aircraft, which landed at RAF Lyneham, Wilts, at around 10am.
A procession then made its way along the A3102 - the road now dubbed the 'Highway for Heroes' - following a fly-by and memorial service at the base.
The High Street was brought to an emotional standstill at 2.45pm as the four coffins, draped with Union flags, were paraded slowly past.
Military personnel console each other as the cortege passes
Preceded by a police escort, the hearses stopped for a minute's silence at the town's war memorial where regiment banners were lowered and church bells rang in respect.
Today's repatriation was the 72nd in the town since April 2007, when nearby RAF Lyneham became Britain's main air base for repatriated servicemen.
Cpl Pun's commander, Colonel David Haye, of the Ghurka Brigade, said: 'Kumar was a very distinguished man who was quiet yet extremely competent.
'He was a very self assured leader and I'm sure he'll be solely missed by all those who knew him.
'This is a very important ceremony and it shows the British public that the Ghurkas fight alongside British troops and, like them, are making the ultimate sacrifice.
'We have to be very grateful to Wootton Bassett for turning out in such large numbers.'
Among the mourners were former Gurkha Rajan Chhetri, who served Britain for 17 years with the 2nd and 6th Battalions of the Royal Gurkha Rifles.
Enlarge
Members of the public bow their heads and servicemen salute as the cortege passes by
Enlarge
An elderly woman dabs her eyes as the hearses pass by and a soldier from the Royal Gurkha regiment salutes
He said he was immensely 'proud' of Cpl Pun and the regiment - and said his memory should not be marred by the fierce debate about Gurkha settling in Britain.
Mr Chhetri said: 'I feel very sad today. But I'm very proud and I'm here today to pay my last tributes to my brother, friend, and other three comrades.
'They gave their life for this country. We are very proud of all our colleagues, friends and we are here to remember them today.'
He added: 'I don't want to get involved in any political issues. What I want to say today is that equality is right.
'Everybody knows about this, especially the British people - we have served two hundred years.'
Corporal Pun was among four British soldiers to be killed within 12 hours in three separate incidents.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Killed: Corporal Sean Binnie (top) and Sergeant Ben Ross
He died alongside Sergeant Ben Ross when their patrol in Helmand Province was targeted by a suicide bomber.
Corporal Binnie died from a gunshot wound sustained during a patrol with the Afghan army near Musa Qala last Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, Rifleman Sheldon was killed when his Jackal patrol vehicle was hit by a bomb near Sangin.
Corporal Pun leaves behind wife Parbati, who is in her 20s, and their two daughters Klaudine, six, and Petrina, 18 months.
He was the third Ghurka soldier to lose his life Afghanistan following the deaths of Colour Sergeant Krishnabahadur Dura and Rifleman Yubraj Rai last November.
Mrs Pun, who lives in Dover, Kent, was told by the UK Border Agency that she is allowed to stay in the UK.
Harka Gurang, 44, retired from the Ghurkas after 20 years of service in 2005.
He said: 'I was Kumar's sergeant in 1999 to 2000 and got to know him well.
'He was a very intelligent man, extremely trustworthy, and had the respect of everyone who met him.
'It's important we show his wife and two young daughters that we are thinking of them.'
Another Ghurka veteran, Min Thapu, 42, said the turnout proves that the British public are in support of the campaign.
Enlarge
Tragedy: Rifleman Adrian Sheldon (top) and Corporal Kumar Pun
Mr Thapu, who retired in 2000 after 15 years' service, said: 'This is a very encouraging turnout and shows that Ghurkas are dying alongside the British troops.'
More than 20 from the Wiltshire Nepalises Association also turned out to show their support.
Matt Fairholme, 32, who lives in Wootton Bassett, said: 'What a great turnout. It's good to see everyone is paying their respects to Ghurkas as well as our British troops.'
Gordon Brown today led tributes to the servicemen killed during a bloody week for British forces in Afghanistan.
At Prime Minister's question time, Mr Brown said the UK was determined to be a 'force for good' in Afghanistan.
In a sombre statement, Mr Brown said: 'I have been fortunate enough to witness at first hand the bravery and the professionalism and the dedication of our soldiers from every battalion fighting for us in Afghanistan.
'We are determined to ensure that we can be a force for good in helping the people of Afghanistan and protecting the security of people in Britain and the wider world.
'These men, and all of those who have lost their lives in conflict, deserve our profound gratitude and their service will never be forgotten.'
Tory leader David Cameron added his tribute, and referring to the May 7 casualties said: 'Such a tragic loss of life in one single day should remind us of all the bravery that all of our service men and women show every day.
'They have all made sacrifices on behalf of our country and we must never forget them.'
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg added his condolences and highlighted the death of Cpl Pun 'who it's worth remembering adds his name to the over 45,000 Gurkha soldiers who have died serving this country over the years'.
It was a Liberal Democrat motion on Gurkha settlement rights which led to the Prime Minister's embarrassing defeat in a Commons vote last month.
The new Mayor of Wootton Bassett, Steve Bucknell, took the opportunity to question Government policy on Gurkhas, as the town honoured Cpl Pun's service.
He said: 'It is all very, very sad. I said in my inaugural speech that I hoped we wouldn't have to do this again. It is also galling that here we are welcoming a Gurkha back while a lot of us don't understand the Government's attitude to Gurkhas who have served this country.
'The Government appears to let others live here, but not the Gurkhas.
We'd rather have Gurkhas than shirkers.'
But ex-Royal Gurkha Rifleman Maita Limbu, 44, said it was not the place to discuss politics but to honour the dead.
'It's not about politics here. We are just saying thank you and welcome home.'
The last time there was such large a loss of life for British forces in a single day was in June 17 last year, when four soldiers were killed.
dailymail.co.uk
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