Nelson's troops reburied in Egypt

Nelson's 1798 victory re-established UK command of the Mediterranean

Thirty Britons who died in Egypt in battles over 200 years ago are to be reburied in a full military service, the British embassy in Cairo has said.

The soldiers' and sailors' remains were found on Nelson Island and will be buried on Monday in nearby Alexandria.

The men died during the 1801 British expeditionary landings and at the 1798 Battle of Abu Qir.

Lord Nelson defeated a Napoleonic fleet in the battle, also known as the Battle of the Nile.

The embassy said the remains would be reburied at the Military and War Memorial Cemetery at Al-Shatby in Alexandria.

HMS Chatham will "undertake a suitable ceremony by the Commanding Officer Ship's Company to rebury these soldiers and sailors", it said.

Full military funeral

The service "will in effect be a full military funeral to be conducted by a chaplain", said the statement.

Royal Marine buglers are being flown out to play Reveille and the Last Post around a two-minute silence, and an Egyptian navy band will also play at the ceremony.

An Italian archaeologist found the remains of the soldiers and sailors while searching for Greek-Roman artefacts.

Only one body has been identified, that of Royal Navy Commander James Russell.

One of his descendants will attend Monday's service, the embassy said.