Pic: Joanna Lumley at The King's School, Canterbury in 2005 (photo by NEJ)
Glorious victory - well deserved - for both Joanna lumley and the veteran Gurkhas. 36,000 Gurkhas, who served with the British Army before 1997, will now be allowed to apply to live in the UK and bring with them their spouses and children under the age of 18. The Government backed down under intense media pressure, headed up by Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley, and made a u-turn.
* Who are the Gurkhas? The Gurkhas have been part of the British Army for nearly 200 years. Originally enemies of the British East India Company army, their impressive fighting in the Gurkha War led the British to not only make Nepal a protectorate, but to allow them to fight as mercenaries (now soldiers) for their own Army.
Recruited from Nepal, these soldiers are known for their bravery and strength; an astounding 13 Gurkhas have been awarded the Victoria Cross, an honour given 'for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.' Every Ghurka carries a kukri, a curved Nepalese knife.
More than 45,000 Gurkhas have died defending British interests, with a further 150,000 injured in the line of duty.
Since the handover to Hong Kong in 1997, all Gurkhas with four years service were automatically entitled to live in Britain.
Partial source: The Sun
