Gurkhas in World War II
Gurkhas in World War II - And how these WW2 heroes are treated badly today.
Gurkha warrior Tul Bahadur Pun won Victoria Cross during the Second Chindit Expedition in Burma in 1944
Tul Bahadur Pun, a Gurkha soldier who won the Victoria Cross while serving with the Second Chindit Expedition in Burma in 1944 and later became the figurehead for a campaign on Gurkha's rights to settle in the UK, has passed away at 88.
On May 27, 1944, the 77th Indian Brigade was ordered to capture the Japanese supply centre of Mogaung. After almost a month of fierce fighting, the 3rd Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles was ordered to attack the railway bridge at Mogaung. Pun's section - apart from himself, the section commander and one rifleman - was wiped out. The commander led his two remaining riflemen in a charge on The Red House, but he was at once severely wounded. Pun and his comrade continued the charge - but the latter, too, fell badly wounded. Pun then seized the Bren gun and, firing from the hip as he ran, continued the charge on the heavily bunkered position capturing two machine guns.
(telegraph.co.uk)
Lachhiman Gurung: Gurkha Victoria Cross winner fought Japanese soldiers and later British injustice
Lachhiman Gurung, a Gurkha who won the Victoria Cross for holding Japanese soldiers at bay alone in a trench after a grenade exploded injuring him badly, has passed away at 93. He was heard shouting "come and fight a Gurkha" by injured comrades, whose lives he saved by preventing the Japanese advance in Burma in 1945. In recent years, Gurung became a prominent figure in the campaign to allow Gurkhas the right to live in Britain.
(dailymail.co.uk)
Victoria Cross winner Gurkha fights for granddaughter carer to be allowed to stay in UK
A hero Gurkha who lost his arm and sight in one eye fighting for Britain has appealed to the Queen and the PM for his granddaughter to be allowed to stay in UK to care for him. Lachhiman Gurung won the Victoria Cross after he single-handedly beat back a Japanese attack for 4 hours despite horrific injuries. In May 1945 Rifleman Gurung fended off a Japanese attack on his post at Taungdaw, Burma. He twice tossed back grenades that had been thrown in but a third one exploded causing grave injuries. "I have paid a great price for Britain, but I do not complain as I love this country... I would give my arm again, if Britain called me to fight to defend the British people."
(telegraph.co.uk)
Gurkhas win right to stay in Britain
Gurkhas celebrated a victory in their battle for the right to settle in Britain. Hundreds of the Nepalese soldiers and their families cheered outside the Royal Courts of Justice after a High Court judge ruled the Government's immigration policy excluding them was unlawful. They were joined by actress Joanna Lumley, whose father fought with the Gurkhas in Burma during World War II. The judge in the case, Mr Justice Blake, quoted from the military covenant that soldiers are expected to make personal sacrifices and put the needs of the nation above their own, and in return should expect fair treatment and be respected.
(independent.co.uk)
Gurkhas digging in for the last battle - They won 13 VCs but still unwanted by UK
They held union flags and pictures of the Queen, and wore rows of military medals. The banners spelled out the issue: "Gurkhas won 13 Victoria Crosses but still unwanted by UK". Hundreds of Gurkha veterans gathered outside the High Court in London to mark the beginning of a battle against the Government's refusal to grant settlement to those who retired from the regiment before 1997. The actor Joanna Lumley explained: "My father served alongside the Gurkhas for 30 years. I am a daughter of the regiment. He would be absolutely overwhelmed with shame and fury that we have behaved this way to the Gurkhas, our most loyal and constant friends."
(theage.com.au)
Imperial holdover: Gurkhas flock to British army - Britain's mercenaries
Young men are drawn from Himalayan hills to fight for another man's country far away. The Gurkhas are a British recruiter's dream: Last year 17,349 applied, and after exhausting tests 230 were accepted. These warriors could be viewed as Britain's mercenaries. But ask any Gurkha soldier, and he is likely to talk of history and a tradition of being among the world's finest infantrymen. This reputation was won in the 19th century, and from those days the cry of "Ayo Gurkhali!" has sent enemies shaking. Some have even surrendered rather than face a charge by the rugged soldiers and their kukri knives.
(usatoday.com)
Gurkhas -It's better to die than be a coward
Rifleman Thaman Gurung knew only two existences. One was the little village in Nepal. The other was the British Army. He had no special interest in what had brought him to Italy in 1944. His life was about loyalty to comrades and courage in battle. Thaman had just turned 20 when a company of the 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles sent a patrol to Monte San Bartolo. As he was working his way towards the summit, he came across German troops in a slit trench preparing to open fire. Seeing that his comrades could not retreat without heavy casualties, he charged with his kukri - a knife similar to a scythe.
(dailymail)
Gurkha restaurant cannot fly regiment's flag
Asbahadur Gurung, whose family served in the Army for 70 years, wanted to show his regiment's colours above his restaurant, called "The Gurkha". But council said the flag was a form of advertising and denied him permission. But they notified him that he can run up the flag of any country, the UN or the EU. The decision has infuriated Gurung, whose father Mambahadur fought in the Battle of Kohima in Burma in World War II. "I was proud to serve the British Army for 28 years as was my father before me... we thought a lot of people would appreciate the regiment flag." Gurung spent 28 years in the Queen's Gurkha Signals, reaching the rank of captain.
(telegraph.co.uk)
Indian Gurkha soldiers show little interest for British compensation
Unlike former Gurkha soldiers living in Nepal, Gurkha soldiers in India have shown little interest in collecting compensation for being taken prisoner by the Japanese during the Second World War. In the 5 months since the British set up an office in Kathmandu to make payments of 10,000 pounds each to former Gurkha soldiers who were POW in the Far East, it has got 1, 400 requests. Of these 890 were interviewed by 3 teams from the British defence department headed by James Gondelle around Nepal and 101 Gurkhas were compensated.
(hindustantimes)
WWII Gurkha hero now wants his Victoria Cross medal back
World War Two Gurkha hero Tul Bahadur Pun is now trying to get his Victoria Cross medal back from the British authorities, who took it away from him 30 years ago because it required "safekeeping." Pun, who came to Britain from Nepal for medical treatment, went to see his medal on display in a case at the Gurkha Museum in Winchester. Museum chiefs use a picture of Pun on their leaflet - but when asked if he could hold the medal, they refused. A sad Pun said: "It is mine. I want it back. I must have it back." He won Victoria Cross in Burma in 1944 after he charged a Japanese machine gun nest that had wiped out his platoon.
(andhranews.net)
Victoria Cross hero Gurkha banned from living in Britain "no strong ties"
Gurkha Tul Bahadur Pun's courage in the face of almost certain death - almost all his comrades were wiped out - earned him the Victoria Cross medal as he single-handedly stormed Japanese machine-gun positions during World War 2. His extraordinary act of valour won him royal admirers and he was invited to the Queen's Coronation and had tea with the Queen Mother. Yet, despite his glorious record, his application to live in Britain has been refused. The old soldier was told: "You have failed to demonstrate that you have strong ties with the UK."
(politic.co.uk)
Battle of Monte Cassino tribute to World War II Gurkha soldiers
Military buffs of the North East Hobby Militia group are climbing Helvellyn to re-enact the fight to hold a hilltop position during the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy, 1944. Despite suffering heavy losses a Gurkha battalion held Hangman's Hill for 16 days against a German division. Members will climb the 950m summit on 21 July carrying 2 wooden period ammunition boxes to raise cash for the Gurkha Welfare Trust. "We have been shocked by how little support the welfare trust is given, even though the force has served in almost every major conflict of the 20th Century and has 13 Victoria Crosses to its credit."
(-bbc)
Commando group -- The 326th First Air Command Airdrome (Article no longer available from the original source)
Lee Lowery was shipped overseas with an air commando group to fight the Japanese. "We went in by glider hocked up to an airplane and were dropped in by parachutes. When we went to get the first spot for our ammunition, we got ambushed by a Japanese squad. We got all of them without firing a rifle or gun, with our bayonets, because we didn't want to give our whereabouts away." "I had 25 GIs under my command, and 25 Gurhka soldiers under my command. The Gurkhas didn't like rifles. They would take the rifles and throw them away. They used their handmade swords, which they also used to sacrifice goats, which was part of their religion."
(suburbanchicagonews)
Gurkhas and VC ceremony - Solo stand against 200 soldiers
Two Nepalese Gurkha Victoria Cross (VC) winners have attended a ceremony to mark the 150th anniversary of the medal. 4 of 12 living VC holders are Gurkhas from Nepal. Gurkha soldiers were first recruited by imperial Britain in 1815, and are admired for their fearlessness. Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung made a solo stand against 200 Japanese troops during the Second World War after being blinded in one eye. In recent years, some Gurkhas have been involved in disputes over retirement issues. Captain Limbu led a group petitioning British PM to demand the same rights as British-born soldiers.
(bbc)
