Services will be held around the borough this Sunday to remember those who gave their lives in battle, including the 45,000 Gurkhas killed in the First and Second World Wars. Chief reporter DAN HODGES spoke to two old soldiers in Acton about the fight for former Gurkhas to get the recognition they deserve, including the right to live and work in the UK

FAMED for their great courage and fearsome skill in battle, the Gurkhas' place in UK military history is beyond doubt.

Tens of thousands have laid down their lives since the early 19th century, building a reputation for unwavering loyalty which remains in those serving today.

But less impressive is the way in which veterans of the Nepalese regiment who served and survived have been treated by our government, with many of the injured or discharged prevented from settling in the UK, and given pensions which are a fraction of those awarded to other British soldiers.

Among them is Major Krishna Ale, who served as a Gurkha for 31 years before moving into private security for the Sultan of Brunei. Last month he had a sudden change of career, entering the restaurant business at the age of 57 with the launch of his all-you-can-eat So Asia buffet in Acton High Street.

It was a necessary step for Major Ale, a fourth generation Gurkha who despite his long and distinguished service receives a pension of only around £550 a month - a third of that handed to other British Army officers of the same rank and experience.

He has few complaints, but is keenly aware of the difficulties faced by many of his former comrades.

"Moneywise I'm all right," said Major Ale. "But it can be different for other soldiers who served so many years.

"My 82-year-old father was a captain who served the British army for almost 35 years, and he gets £350 to £400 a month.

"People say that if he stays in Nepal, maybe he won't have to work, but the situation there is not good; there are lots of strikes and the price of every-thing is going up. That's why all the Gurkhas are fighting for their rights.

"We are part of the British Army and we have served the Queen. Some of us have given our lives. We should have the privilege of being able to come here, and if the younger Gurkhas wa nt to stay, the y should be able to stay."

One reason former Gurkhas are attracted to the UK is because retirement rules mean they can work until at least the age of 65, according to the major, who is hoping to hand over his new business to his son once it turns a profit.

He said: "I find that the solider's life is much easier than being in business. As a soldier you work very hard, but in the evening you can relax and have a drink. In business it's the other way around.

You invest quite a lot of money and to recoup that money takes time.

"This restaurant is a very good concept. With l i t t l e mone y you can eat as much as you want. I couldn't tell you exactly how

successful this business is going to be, but judging by the way it's going now I think it will be okay."

The campaign for fairer treatment for Gurkhas - backed by actress Joanna Lumley, whose father served alongside the regiment - was given a boost in September when a High Court judge ruled that immigration laws excluding those who retired before July 1, 1997 were unlawful and in urgent need of a review.

A bill promising to scrap the condition had its third reading in the House of Lords in October, but must still gain the approval of MPs.

In the meantime, the fight for fairer pensions continues, and thousands of former soldiers are left waiting to discover whether they will be allowed back in to the country for which they put themselves in the line of fire.

Ashok Shrestha, another former Gurkha behind the So Asia brand and 20 other successful businesses in the UK, is confident the soldiers' strong work ethic would have an entirely positive impact in this country.

"Every Gurkha in this country works and pays tax. We don't feel good taking money without working," said the 47-year-old, whose five-year army career was cut short by a knee problem.

"We didn't have a problem dying for this country - you just have to go back to the First and Second World Wars to see how many people died.

"All those without legs, without hands and without eyes were just sent back home.

There are not many people left and not many of them want to come at all.

"They have a problem with recruiting for the police and the army at the moment.

"Why not give certain duties to the former Gurkhas? If not front line jobs, they can do the behind the scenes work.

"If you can let hundreds of thousands of refugees into this country and pay them benefits, why not do the same for a few thousand Gurkhas.

"It's so sad. We haven't been treated very nicely."