by Tricia Jamieson

There were emotional scenes when Gurkhas returning from Afghanistan were reunited with their families on Sunday.

Excited wives and children clapped and cheered as coaches carrying around 100 men from the Royal Gurkha Rufles pulled on to the parade ground at Shorncliffe Barracks, Folkestone.

The members of Foxtrot Company, from the 1st and 2nd battalions, had been away for six months in Helmand Province.

One of the most touching reunions was between Hari Rai and his five-month-old daughter Rhasee.

“She was only 10 days old when I left for Afghanistan,” he said and he hugged her and wife Seema. “She has grown so much.”

Maj Chris Conroy, officer commanding , said they had been mentoring the Afghan police.

“We have been patrolling with them and working alongside them,” he said. “It was hard being a long way from home and they were very difficult working conditions with temperatures of up to 50C.”

Several of the Gurkhas were injured during the tour and one, Cpl Kumar Pun, was killed in a suicide bomb attack.

Maj Conroy said they would be visiting Cpl Pun’s grave to pay their respects.

For full story and picture special, see this week’s Kentish Express.