THE DEATH HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED OF LIEUTENANT TULBAHADUR PUN, 6TH QUEEN ELIZABETH'S OWN GURKHA RIFLES, WHO EARNED HIS VICTORIA CROSS IN BURMA DURING WWII.
20 April 2011



The death has been announced of Lieutenant Tulbahadur Pun VC, aged 88, 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles. In 2007 Tulbahadur Pun moved from his native Nepal to live in the United Kingdom settling in Hounslow, to which he was formally welcomed at a ceremony led by the mayor and the council. He attended many functions of the Nepalise communities in Hounslow, Chiswick and elsewhere.

Tulbahadur Pun died at Banduk, Nepal, on Wednesday, 20th April 2011, where he had gone to be present at the opening of a new secondary school.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 9 November 1944 ], Mogaung, Burma, 23 June 1944, Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun, 3rd Bn, 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles.

In Burma on 23rd June 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 badly 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 were beyond praise.

Tulbahadur Pun was invested with his Victoria Cross by the Viceroy of India, Lord Wavell, at the Red Fort, New Delhi, on the 1st January 1945.


Medal entitlement of Lieutenant Tulbahadur Pun - 3rd Bn, 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles

  • Victoria Cross
  • 1939-45 Star
  • Burma Star
  • War Medal ( 1939-45 )
  • India Service Medal ( 1939-45 )
  • General Service Medal ( 1918-62 )
    • 1 clasp:
    • "Malaya"
  • Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal ( 1953 )
  • Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal ( 1977 )
  • Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ( 2002 )
  • Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
    • clasp: "Regular Army"
  • Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal ( 2005 )

VC Deaths

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Iain Stewart, 22 April 2011