Family 'devastated' by death of Gurkha in Afghanistan

Sapper Ishwor Gurung, 21, from the Queen's Gurkha Engineers, was helping to build a new sentry post at a base in Nad-e-Ali, Helmand Province, on Friday when his troop came under insurgent attack.

His grieving mother Sunkumari said: "He loved the Army and was very proud to be a Gurkha. I am proud that my son served in the British Army and that he died doing a job that he loved."

The tributes came as the body of murdered British aid worker Dr Karen Woo was brought back to the UK from Afghanistan.

Dr Woo, 36, was killed alongside nine colleagues on August 5 as the group returned from delivering medical supplies to poor Afghans in remote mountain communities.

Her family said the public reaction to the tragedy had been "overwhelming and generous" and thanked wellwishers for their expressions of sympathy and support.

Meanwhile, a former soldier blown up by a grenade during the 2003 Iraq War is hoping to set up a charity to support the wives and partners who care for injured servicemen when they return home.

Leeds man Adam Douglas, who faced a four-year battle for an enhanced war pension which reflected the terrible injuries he suffered, says his wife Maria put her life on hold to care for him but that there was very little support for her.

He has set up a charity, the Forgotten Heroes, to provide advice and help.

Before he can register the charity and become eligible for outside funding he needs to show he can raise 5,000 a year.

His first major fund-raising event is a 1940s fancy dress night at the Dewsbury Road Social Club in Beeston, Leeds, on October 16. Tickets priced 3 are available at the club and on 0113 229 0555.

Mr Douglas, 43, a former Royal Dragoon Guard, said: "In my eyes you wear the uniform and everybody says you're the hero. But I'm not, my wife Maria is the real hero who put her life on hold to care for me.

"There's no real support for people like her and I want to change that."

The father-of-two suffered internal and back injuries when a rocket-propelled grenade exploded close to where he was standing during a firefight on the outskirts of Basra in March 2003.

For details go to www.theforgottenheroes.co.uk