THE DEATH HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED OF THE GURKHA VICTORIA CROSS HOLDER HON HAVILDAR LACHHIMAN GURUNG, 8TH GURKHA RIFLES. |
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12 December 2010 |
For the award of the Victoria Cross: [ London Gazette, 27 July 1945 ], Taungdaw, Burma, 12-13 May 1945, Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung, 8th Gurkha Rifles.
At Taungdaw, in Burma, on the west bank of the Irrawaddy, on the night of 12th / 13th May 1945, Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung was manning the most forward post of his platoon. At 0120 hours at least 200 enemy assaulted his Company position. The brunt of the attack was borne by Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung's section and by his own post in particular.
Lachhiman Gurung was invested with his Victoria Cross by Lord Louis Mountbatten at a parade at the Red Fort, New Delhi, on the 19th December 1945.
After the action which won him the Victoria Cross, Gurung was evacuated to hospital, but lost his right hand and the use of his right eye. He continued to serve with the 8th Gurkha Rifles but transferred to the Indian Army after Independence in 1947. He retired with the rank of havildar ( the equivalent of sergeant ) in the same regiment.
Medal entitlement of Hon Havildar Lachhiman Gurung - 8th Gurkha Rifles
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Iain Stewart, 16 December 2010