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Gurkhas fly to Nepal on road-building project
Seventy soldiers, the main body of men from 67 Gurkha Independent Field Squadron, Queen's Gurkha Engineers (QGE), fly out to Nepal this week to begin work on a major road building project.
As part of Exercise Holdfast, and under the command of Major Alistair Sheppard, they will join an advance party of 50 soldiers to assist the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) build the first proper road to the capital of the Everest region. Remaining there until March, they will carry out work on the Katari to Okhaldhunga Road, in Sagarmatha, east Napal.
This is the second year that Gurkhas from 67 Independent Field Squadron, QGE, have returned to their homeland to assist the RNA in what is destined to be a 10- year project.
During their stay they will live in a self-built base camp in the Himalayas, south of Mount Everest.
Exercise Holdfast, which aims to practice and develop the Squadron's engineering and construction skills, will also provide significant benefits for the Nepali people.
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Royal Marines raise funds for children
A 10-man detachment of Royal Marines, which will return to the United Kingdom in early February, are giving up their spare time to raise money for two charities- the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children, and the Hong Kong branch of Save the Children.
The event, to be called "Rent-a-Royal", is to take place from January 19 to 23.
It will run along the lines of the traditional boy scouts "Bob-a-Job" where the Royal Marines will be available to do various jobs around the house such as washing up, walking the dog, or helping with the shopping.