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Thirteen Victoria Crosses have been won by Gurkha regiments.
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Twenty-Six, Victoria Crosses have
been won by Gurkha Regiments. The Victoria Cross is the most honored and
prestigious award for valor and heroism in the line of duty awarded by the
British Government. Nepali Gurkhas have won thirteen Victoria Crosses, including
countless other military awards. Below are extracts taken from some of these
citations. |
Gurkha VC holders with
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles |
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 Rifleman
Kulbir Thapa:
3rd Queen Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Rifles
Fauquissart, France, September 1915
For most conspicuous bravery
during operations against the German Trenches south of Fauquissart, when himself
wounded, on the 25 September 1915, he found a badly wounded soldier of the 2nd
Leicestershire Regiment behind the first lone German trench, and through urged
by the British soldier to save himself, he remained with him all day and night.
In the early morning of the 26th September, in misty weather, he brought him out
through the German wire, and leaving him in a place of comparative safety
returned and brought in two wounded Gurkhas one after the other, He then went
back in broad daylight for the British soldier at most points under the enemy’s
fire
Karna Bahadur Rana (Magar)
3rd Queen Alexandra’s
Own Gurkha Rifles
El. Kefr, Egypt
10 April 1918
On 10 April 1918 at El. Kefr, during an attack, Rifleman Karan Bahadur Rana and
a few other men crept forward with a Lewis gun under intense fire to engage an
enemy machine-gun. No. 1 of the Lewis gun team opened fire but was shot almost
immediately, whereupon the rifleman pushed the dead man off the gun, opened
fire, knocked out the enemy gun crew and then silenced the fire of the enemy
bombers and riflemen in front of him. During the remainder of the day he did
magnificent work and finally assisted with covering fire in the withdrawal,
until the enemies were close on him.
Date and Place of Birth: 21 December 1898;
V. Mangalthan, Gulmi, Nepal; son of Dalbir Rana
Enrolled: 21 December 1916
Exact from VC Holder Reference books
 Subedar
Lal Bahadur Thapa (Magar)
2nd King Edward VII’s Own Gurkha Rifles
Resse-es- Zouai, Tunisia,
N. Africa April 1943
On the night of 5-6 April, during the silent attack on the Resse-es-Zouai,
Subadar Lal Bahadur Thapa was Second-in-Command of D Company….
The garrison of the outer posts were all killed by Subadar Lal Bahadur Thapa and
hi men by kukri or bayonet in the first rush and the enemy then opened very
heavy fire straight down the narrow enclosed pathway and steep arena sides.
Subadar Lalbahadur Thapa led his men on and fought his way up the narrow gully
straight through the enemy’s fire, with little room to manoeuvre, in the face of
intense and sustained machine-gun concentrations and the liberal us of grenades
by the enemy.
Next the machine-gun posts were dealt with, Subadar Lal Bahadur Thapa personally
killing two men with his kukri and two more with his revolver. This Gurkha
Officer continued to fight his way up the narrow bullet-swept approaches to
thecrest. He and two riflemen managed to reach the crest, where Subadar Lal
Bahadur Thapa then secured the whole feature and covered his company’s advance
up the defile ………..
Extract from London Gazette
June 1943
 Havildar
Gaje Ghale
5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (FF)
Chin Hills, Burma (Myanmar) May 1943
….while preparing for the attack the platoon came under heavy mortar fire
but Havildar Gaje Ghale rallied them and led them forward.
Approaching to close range for the well-entranced enemy, then latoon came under
withering fire and this NCO was wounded in the arm, chest and leg by an enemy
hand grenade. Without pausing to attend to his serous wounds and with no heed to
the intensive fire from sides, Havildar Gaje Ghale closed hi men and led them to
close grips with the enemy when a bitter hand to hand struggle ensued.
Havildar Gaje Ghale dominated the fight by his outstanding example of dauntless
courage and superb leadership. Hurling hand grenades, covered in blood from his
own neglected wounds, he led assault after assault, encouraging his platoon by
shouting the Gurkha’s battle cry.
Spurred on by the irresisitible will of their leader to win, the platoon stormed
and carried the hill by a magnificent all out effort and inflicted very heavy
casualties on the Japanese.
Extract from London Gazette
September 1943
 Rifleman
Ganju Lama
7th Gurkha Rifles
Ninthoukhong, Burma June 1944
… B Company, 7th Gurkha Rifles, was ordered to counter-attack and restore
the situation. Shortly after passing the starting line it came under heavy enemy
medium machine-gun and tank machine-gun fire at point blank range, which covered
all lines of approach. Rifleman Ganju Lama, the No.1 of the PIAT gun, on his own
initiative, with great coolness and complete disregard for his own safety,
crawled forward and engaged the tanks single handed. In spite of a broken left
wrist and two other wounds, one in his right hand and one in his leg, caused by
withering cross fire concentrated upon him, Rifleman Ganju Lama succeeded in
bringing his gun into action within thirty yards of the enemy tanks and knocked
out first one and then another, the third tank being destroyed by an anti-tank
gun. In spite of his serous wounds, he then moved forward and engaged with
grenades the tank crews, who now attempted to escape. Not until he hand killed
them all, thus enabling his company to push forward, did he allow himself to be
taken back to the Regimental Aid Post to have his wounds dressd…….
Extract from London Gazette
September 1944
 Rifleman
Tul Bahadur Pun
3rd Bn. 6th Gurkha Rifles
Moguang, Myanmar (Burma)
23 June 1944
Rifleman Tul Bahadur Pun then seized the Bren gun and firing from the hip as
he went, continued the charge on this heavily bunkered positioned alone, in the
face of the most shattering concentration of automatic fire, directed straight
at him. With the dawn coming up behind him, he presented a perfect target to the
Japanese. He had to move for thirty yards over open ground, ankle deep in mud,
through shell holes and over fallen trees.
Despite these overwhelming odds, he reached the Red House and close with the
Japanese occupants. He killed three and put five more to flight and captured two
light machine-guns remainder of his platoon which enabled them to reach their
objective.
Extract from London Gazette
9 November 1944
Born: Banduk Village, Nepal,
23 March 1923
 Rifleman
(Acting Nak) Agam Singh Rai
5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (FF)
Bishenpur, Burma June 1944
…... This position was now under intense fire from the .37 millimeter gun in
the jungle and from “Water Piquet” Naik Agam Sing Rai at once advanced towards
the gun, his section without hesitation following their gallant leader. Intense
fire reduced the section to three men before half the distance had before half
the distance had been covered but they pressed on to their objective. Arriving
at close range, naik Agam Singh Rai killed three of the crew and his men killed
the other two. The pary then returned to “Mortar Bluff” where the rest of their
platoon were forming up for the inal assault on “ Water Piquet” In the
subsequent advance heavy machine-gun fire and showers of grenades from an
isolated bunker position caused further causalities. Once more, with indomitable
courage, Naik Agam Singh Rai, covered by his Bren gunner, advanced alone with a
grenade in one hand and his Thompson sub-machine gun in the other. Through
devastating fire he reached the enemy position and with his grenade and bursts
from his Thompson sub-machine gun killed all four occupants of the bunker……
Extract from London Gazette
September 1943
A/Subadar Netra Bahadur Thapa (Magar)
5th Gurkha Rifles in 2nd World War
Bishenpur, Myanmar (Burma)
25-26 June 1944
On 25/26 June 1944 at Bishenpur, Subadar Netrabahadur Thapa was in command of a
small isolated hill post, when the enemy attacked in force. The men, inspired by
their leader's fine example, held their ground and the enemies were beaten off,
but casualties were very heavy and reinforcements were requested. When these
arrived some hours later they too became casualties, but the subadar,
undeterred, retrieved the ammunition himself and took the offensive with
grenades and kukris, until he was killed.
Exact from VC Holder Reference books
Rifleman Sher Bahadur Thapa (Chhettri)
9th Gurkha Rifles in 2nd world War
San Marino, Italy
18-19 September 1944
On 18 and 19 September 1944 at San Marino, Italy, when a company of the 9th
Gurkha Rifles encountered bitter opposition from a German prepared position,
Rifleman Sher Bahadur Thapa and his section commander, who was afterwards badly
wounded, charged and silenced an enemy machine-gun. The rifleman then went on
alone to the exposed part of a ridge where, ignoring a hail of bullets, he
silenced more machine-guns, covered a withdrawal and rescued two wounded men
before he was killed.
Date and Place of Birth: 20 November 1921,
Ghalecchap village, Thamu tehsil, Nepal, son of Ramdhoj Thapa
Enrolled: 20 November 1942
Exact from VC Holder Reference books
 Rifleman Thaman Gurung
5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (FF)
Monte San Bartolo
Italy, November 1944
… By skillful stalking both scouts reached the position undetected…
Releasing that if the enemy opened fire the section would sustain heavy
casualties, Rifleman Thaman leapt to his feet and charged. The enemy completely
taken by surprise surrendered with out opening fire.
He then crept to summits from which he saw a party of Germans well dug in of the
reverse slopes… Rifleman Thaman crosses Ed the bare skyline firing his Tommy
gun, thus allowing the forward section to reach the summit.
Soon afterwards, due to heavy enemy machine-gun fire, the fighting patrol was
order to withdraw. Rifleman Thaman then again crossed the skyline-alone firing
burst upon burst of Tommy gun fire until his ammunition ran out. Having thrown
two grenades he rejoined his section, collection two more grenades and crossing
the skyline for the third time hurled them at the remaining Germans.
The diversion enabled both rear sections to withdraw. Meanwhile the leading
section was still on the summit, so Thaman seized a Bren gun, ran yet again to
the skyline, emptied two magazines into the enemy position and then with the
remaining section well in its way to safety turned to follow them, and at that
very moment spun and fell with a bullet through his throat.
Extract from London Gazette,
February 1945
Lance Naik Bhanbhagta Gurung
3rd Bn, 2nd King Edward VII’s
Own Gurkha Rifles
Tamandu, East Myanmar (Burma)
5 March 1945
…. Rifleman Bhanbhagta without waiting for orders dashed forward alone to attack
the first foxhole. With two grenades he killed both occupants and without
hesitation rushed on to clear three more foxholes single handed with bayonet and
grenade. Realizing that a light machine gun now firing on him would hold up not
only has own platoon behind him but another approaching from the west,
Bhanbhagta for the fifth time advanced alone under heavy enemy fire to knock out
this position.
Doubling forward he leapt on to the roof of the bunker from where, his hand
grenades being finished, he flung two smoke and Bhanbhagta promptly killed then
both with his Khukuri. Japanese inside the bunker was still firing the gun
holding up the advance of the platoon, so Bhanbhagta crawler inside, killed this
remaining gunner and captured gun.
Extract from London Gazette
5 June 1945
Date and Place of Birth: September 1921
Phalbu Village, Nepal,
 Havildar Lachhiman Gurung
8th Gurkha Rifles
Taungdaw, Myanmar (Burma)
12-13 May 1945
… Before assaulting, the enemy hurled innumerable grenades at the position
from close range. Once grenade fell on the lip of Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung’s
trench; he at once grasped it and hurled it back at the enemy. A second grenade
landed in his trench. Again this Rifleman snatched to throw it back but it
exploded in his hand, blowing off his finger, shattering his right arm and
severely wounding him in the face body and right leg. His two comrades were also
badly wounded and lay helpless in the button of the trench.
The enemy, screaming and shouting, now formed up shoulder to shoulder and
attempted to rush the position by sheer weight of numbers. Rifleman Lachhiman
Gurung, regardless of his wounds, fires and loaded his rifle with his left hand,
maintaining a continuous and steady rate of fire. Wave after wave of fanatical
attacks were thrown in by the enemy during the next four hour and all-were
repulsed with heavy casualties…
Extract from London Gazette
27 July 1945
Date and Place of Birth: 30 December 1916
Dawakhani, Nepal
 Lance
Corporal (Captain) Ram Bahadur Limbu
10th Princess Mary’s
Own Gurkha Rifles
Gunong Tepol, Indonesia,
21 November 1965
… Rushing forward he hurled himself in the ground beside one of the wounded
and calling for support had now come up to his fight in support he picked up to
the man and carried him to safety out of the line of fire. Without hesitation he
immediately returned to the top of the hill determined to complete his
self-imposed task of saving those for whom he felt personally responsible. It
was now clear from increase weightof fire being concentrated on the approaches
to and in the immediate vicinity of the remaining casualty the enemy was doing
all they could to prevent and further attempts at rescue. However, despite this,
Lance Corporal Ram Bahadur Lambu again moved out into the open for his final
effort. In a series of short forward rushes, once being pinned down for some
minutes by the intense and accurate automatic fire which could be seen striking
the ground all round him, he eventually reached the wounded man. Picking him up
and unable now to seek cover he carried him back as fast as he could through the
hail of enemy bullets. For all but a few seconds this young NCO has been moving
alone in full view of the enemy and under the continuous aimed fire of their
automatic weapons. That he was able to achieve what he did against such
overwhelming odds without being hit is miraculous.
Extract from London, Gazette
21 April 1966
Date and Place of Birth: July 1939, Chyangthapu Village, Nepal,
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