- SURNAME
Tul Bahadur Pun
- FORENAME
- UNIT
3 Bn 6th Gurkha Rifles (77 Ind.Bde) (B Company)
- RANK
Rifleman
- NUMBER
10119
- AWARD
Victoria Cross
- PLACE
Burma 1944
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 23.3.1923 Banduk Village, Parbat District, Nepal
Indian Army 1941
3/6 Gurkha Rifles
WIA 23.6.1944 Mogaung,Burma
promoted Havildar 1945
6th Gurkha Rifles regimental centre
2 Bn 6th Gurkha Rifles 1947
served Malaya 1950s (reaching rank of WOI (RSM))
retired May 1959
awarded honorary rank of Lieutenant (Queen's Gurkha Officer)
married 2nd wife Punisara Pun
2 sons and 8 daughters
died 20.4.2011 (Aged 88)
Cremated, ashes scattered Kali Gandaki River, Nepal
CITATION:
Victoria Cross : 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 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.
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.
WEB LINKS:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tul_Bahadur_Punhttps://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36785/supplement/5129
FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68715337/tul-bahadur-pun
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