The London Gazetteof Tuesday, the 7th of November, 1944
War Office, 9th November, 1944
War Office, 9th November, 1944
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to :-
No. 10119 Rifleman Tullbahadur Pun, 6th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army.In Burma on June 23rd, 1944, a Battalion of the 6th Gurkha Rifles was ordered to attack the Railway Bridge at Mogaung.
Immediately the attack developed the enemy opened concentrated and sustained cross fire at close range from a position known as the Red House and from a strong bunker position two hundred yards to the left of it.
So intense was this cross fire that both the leading platoons of 'B' Company, one of which was Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun's, were pinned to the ground and the whole of his Section was wiped out with the exception of himself, the Section commander and one other man. The Section commander immediately led the remaining two men in a charge on the Red House but was at once badly wounded. Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun and his remaining companion continued the charge, but the latter too was immediately wounded.
Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun then seized the Bren Gun, and firing from the hip as he went, continued the charge on this heavily bunkered position 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 closed with the Japanese occupants. He killed three and put five more to flight and captured two light machine guns and much ammunition. He then gave accurate supporting fire from the bunker to the remainder of his platoon which enabled them to reach their objective.His outstanding courage and superb gallantry in the face of odds which meant almost certain death were most inspiring to all ranks and beyond praise.
And some tosspot of a beancounter said about this man that he "failed to demonstrate strong ties with the UK"
More here: http://www.vchero.co.uk/
If you would like to support the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Organisation (GAESO) and Howe & Co Solicitors' campaign to allow Mr Pun VC and his fellow Gurkhas the right to come and settle in the UK, then sign the petition on the 10 Downing Street website, here: Petition.
Good bit in the Mirror about Joanna Lumley throwing in her support for this and apparently this brave chap saved her dad's life: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_method=full&objectid=19223807&siteid=89520-name_page.html
previous posts:http://newportcity.blogspot.com/2007/05/vc-hero-refused-permission-to-stay-in.html and http://newportcity.blogspot.com/2007/05/tul-bahadur-pun-post-2.html and http://newportcity.blogspot.com/2007/05/tul-bahadur-pun-vc.html
**I hear that they have let him stay, well done on that and I hope that his last years are spent in some comfort and far better than what he has had to put up with so far, but we still need the worthless cock who said he had no ties with the UK to be fired.
**I hear that they have let him stay, well done on that and I hope that his last years are spent in some comfort and far better than what he has had to put up with so far, but we still need the worthless cock who said he had no ties with the UK to be fired.
Tags:VC, Gurka, Tul Bahadur Pun
**Update: WHEN I ARRIVE IN THE UK I WILL NOT LEAVE MY GURKHA COMMRADES BEHIND
2 June 2007
Pokhara Nepal
First of all, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the British people for granting me the privilege to come and live amongst them in a country which I have fought for and love. I am overjoyed to learn that I have finally been allowed the right to settle and live in the UK. I could not sleep last night, as I was so happy with the news that Great Britain would be allowing me to come and get the medical treatment which is so lacking for many veteran Gurkhas in Nepal.
I would also like to make it clear that this victory would not have been made possible without the overwhelming and generous support of the Great British Public; my brothers and sisters in arms in the British Armed Forces both past and present; the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Organisation (GAESO); Joanna Lumley; Jay Miller; the British press and media; and my solicitors Howe & Co . I am humbled by the thousands of emails in support of me and the Gurkhas, that continue to flood into the website set up for me: www.vchero.co.uk .
I have been moved of the accounts of the very many the telephone calls and letters of support sent by those, who like me, do not have access to computers.I will never forget the 45,000 Gurkhas killed in battle fighting along side our British friends, nor will I ever forget my British brothers and sisters who have laid-down their lives fighting alongside the Brigade of Gurkhas in numerous theatres of war over the last 200 years. In life it is the greatest honour to be a Gurkha, because it is the greatest honour to serve the British people and our Brigade. When I come to be with the British people, I will do my best to be a credit to Britain and to help the plight of my fellow Victoria Cross winners who live in poverty in Nepal. It is saddening that so many brave men of my Brigade have to rely on charity to get their basic living and health needs.
I do not ask anything of Britain, or its people, save to help me get a little medical care now that I am old. However, I do have one request for your country, a country which I love so much, and that is to ask if your great country can please look at the plight of my veteran Gurkha comrades in arms, and the injustices they continue to face when asking for their rights to come to Britain and the continuing injustice of unequal pensions for those, like me, who have fought for British freedom against the forces of tyranny but happened to have retired from the British Army before 1997.
I never left any of my comrades on the battlefield, British or Gurkha, and I will not abandon my veteran Gurkha comrades now in their hour of need, when I come to live in Great Britain.From the bottom of my heart, I am deeply touched by the support shown to me by the people of Great Britain, and across the world, and I give you my most solemn thanks.
Sincerely,Tul Bahadur Pun VC
Pokhara, Nepal
**Update: WHEN I ARRIVE IN THE UK I WILL NOT LEAVE MY GURKHA COMMRADES BEHIND
2 June 2007
Pokhara Nepal
First of all, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the British people for granting me the privilege to come and live amongst them in a country which I have fought for and love. I am overjoyed to learn that I have finally been allowed the right to settle and live in the UK. I could not sleep last night, as I was so happy with the news that Great Britain would be allowing me to come and get the medical treatment which is so lacking for many veteran Gurkhas in Nepal.
I would also like to make it clear that this victory would not have been made possible without the overwhelming and generous support of the Great British Public; my brothers and sisters in arms in the British Armed Forces both past and present; the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Organisation (GAESO); Joanna Lumley; Jay Miller; the British press and media; and my solicitors Howe & Co . I am humbled by the thousands of emails in support of me and the Gurkhas, that continue to flood into the website set up for me: www.vchero.co.uk .
I have been moved of the accounts of the very many the telephone calls and letters of support sent by those, who like me, do not have access to computers.I will never forget the 45,000 Gurkhas killed in battle fighting along side our British friends, nor will I ever forget my British brothers and sisters who have laid-down their lives fighting alongside the Brigade of Gurkhas in numerous theatres of war over the last 200 years. In life it is the greatest honour to be a Gurkha, because it is the greatest honour to serve the British people and our Brigade. When I come to be with the British people, I will do my best to be a credit to Britain and to help the plight of my fellow Victoria Cross winners who live in poverty in Nepal. It is saddening that so many brave men of my Brigade have to rely on charity to get their basic living and health needs.
I do not ask anything of Britain, or its people, save to help me get a little medical care now that I am old. However, I do have one request for your country, a country which I love so much, and that is to ask if your great country can please look at the plight of my veteran Gurkha comrades in arms, and the injustices they continue to face when asking for their rights to come to Britain and the continuing injustice of unequal pensions for those, like me, who have fought for British freedom against the forces of tyranny but happened to have retired from the British Army before 1997.
I never left any of my comrades on the battlefield, British or Gurkha, and I will not abandon my veteran Gurkha comrades now in their hour of need, when I come to live in Great Britain.From the bottom of my heart, I am deeply touched by the support shown to me by the people of Great Britain, and across the world, and I give you my most solemn thanks.
Sincerely,Tul Bahadur Pun VC
Pokhara, Nepal
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2 people have spoken:
I have always endorsed the premise that the Gurkhas, who served Britain during crises be given all honours afforded to all regulars in the British Armed Forces. This should also include full British citizenship and all the benefits that it entails. Their service to Britain would demand nothing less. And I'm glad that the visa stand-off has been solved and Tul Bahadur Pun, the World War II veteran, has been allowed to enter UK. I wish him all the best.
Hurrah and I hope this fine gent spends his last years in the comfort that he earned defending the United Kingdom.
Lets see some justice for the rest of the Gurkas.
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