Soldiers march 100km with weighted packs to honour ancestors on Commonwealth Day
British Army soldiers from countries around the Commonwealth have marched 100 kilometres as part of a special Commonwealth Day service in London.
It marked the 75th anniversary of the Commonwealth of Nations and 80 years since the Battles of Kohima and Imphal.
Personnel from Army units based in the UK carried 15kg weighted bergens to honour their Commonwealth forebears who fought alongside the British Army during the two world wars.
The troops taking part in the march came from nations including Ghana, Mauritius, Nigeria, Bangladesh and India.
The uniformed march began at the Chattri Memorial just outside Brighton after dawn on Friday 8 March and finished at the Commonwealth Memorial Gates in London on Monday, Commonwealth Day.
While the Balfour Declaration created the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1926, the current Commonwealth of Nations was formally constituted 75 years ago by the London Declaration in 1949, finally establishing all member states as "free and equal".
'We all have stories to tell'
Sergeant Major Sarvjit Singh, from India, who has served in the British Army said: "My family is so very proud of me and what I'm doing.
"They were impressed I was doing the march for the Commonwealth. We all have stories to tell, but it's our moral responsibility to tell those stories because if we don't then who will?
"I wanted to do the 100km march because I wanted to understand why people in the past would leave their homeland, travel thousands of miles and fight for another country.
"Taking part has not just been an education, it’s made me feel valued in the way all those people 80 years ago felt part of something so much bigger than them. We are all united by a common goal: fighting for justice."
'One big family'
Lance Corporal Maryam Uddin, from 101 Operation Systems Brigade, was born and brought up in London, but her family are from Bangladesh.
She said: "I wanted to do the 100km march because I wanted to learn more about what Commonwealth soldiers did in the wars.
"During the march, each soldier told their country's story.
"Doing a march like this teaches you so much about working as a team and cohesion. We couldn't leave anyone behind! By the end, we were like one big family and we've got friends for life."
Viscount Slim laid a wreath on behalf of all those who fell at the Battles of Imphal and Kohima.
Wreaths were also laid by representatives of all the High Commissions and Foreign Ministers and by representatives of the Ministry of Defence and wider government.
The Band of the Household Cavalry and a piper from the Brigade of Gurkhas provided a musical accompaniment to the Commonwealth Service.
Booker Prize-winning Nigerian author Ben Okri read a poem and the Commonwealth Youth Choir sang songs for the Commonwealth.
'Valued part of the fabric'
The British Army said: "The 100km march was physically challenging for all taking part, but its rewards were manifold. It allowed time for each soldier to share their cultural heritage with the group and broaden understanding.
"This collaborative event commemorating the significant contributions of each Commonwealth nation to past wars and conflicts has created a powerful shared experience and deepened the sense of unity among all the participants which they will each take back to their respective units.
"Around 1,350 Commonwealth troops are allowed to join the British armed forces each year of which around a thousand join the army. They are an important and valued part of the fabric of the British Army."
Commonwealth Day was marked across the forces, and the Prince of Wales also attended a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey alongside the Queen.
Missing was the King, who continues to receive treatment for cancer, but in his annual address to the family of nations, the King pledged to continue to serve the Commonwealth "to the best of my ability".
His address highlighted how diversity was the Commonwealth's core strength, and the union of 56 member countries was a precious source of strength, inspiration and pride to him.
King Charles said in the video message: "In recent weeks, I have been most deeply touched by your wonderfully kind and thoughtful good wishes for my health and in return can only continue to serve you, to the best of my ability, throughout the Commonwealth."
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