Gurkhas from Queen’s Gurkha Signals are in Latvia supporting Exercise Joint Protector 24 for the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).
Whilst the exercise kept the Signallers at a high paced tempo throughout, they still managed to carve out time to celebrate Tihar. An exercise tent was obtained and transformed into a festival location where food, traditional games and dance were overseen by the Hindu Chaplain (Pundit Ji) to the UK Armed Forces, Jagdish Paudel.
Gurkhas and other soldiers were able to enjoy the respite from exercise to receive a Tika (blessing) and light celebratory candles. During the celebration the Officer in Charge of the contingent of 30 Signals, Captain Debendra Gurung, took time to thank everyone who had supported the celebrations, including JEF Commander, Major General Tom Bateman CBE.
The JEF is coalition of ten like-minded Northern European nations, who share a commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. It is separate to NATO but aligns closely with it to conduct exercises and activities which supports the defence of the High North, the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea Region. For Joint Protector 24 more than 300 personnel from the ten nations deployed to Latvia and worked seamlessly with further staff at Permanent Joint Headquarters, Northwood in the UK.
