Description
A remarkable Military Medal for Burma of Lance Naick Lalbahadur Thapa, 4th Battalion 1st Gurkha Regiment, with a fine citation of bravery including behind enemy lines reconnaissance and blowing up 4 bunkers.
Military Medal, GVI, 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, WW2 War Medal, India WW2 Service medal.
The group has been display mounted, MM is officially impressed as issued, the remainder unnamed.
Military Medal Officially impressed: “15339 L-Nk Lalbahadur Thapa, GR”
Award announced in the Supplement to the London Gazette, 6th June 1946, Page 2739.
Awarded with the following recommendation for his gallant service between November 1944 and August 1945 in Burma:
“During the period under review this man has distinguished himself on several occasions.
Once he volunteered for an extremely hazardous 1 man patrol into an enemy defended locality and spent the whole of 1 night in this position returning the next day with valuable information including the exact location of 4 Bunkers and many other trenches.
He later led his section in an attack on this position and his section destroyed 3 of the Bunkers that he had located.
During this attack he was wounded for the 2nd time in 9 months but despite his wound he continued to lead his section until the task had been completed.
More recently, having returned from Hospital he volunteered for another difficult patrol which was successful in killing 8 Japs.
On every possible occasion this man has been to the forefront of his Company setting an example of a very high order.
He has been an inspiration to his section who have brought off many very successful Actions.”
The award was initially recommended by his CO, Lt Col Albert George Hiatt, in command of the 4th Bn 1st King George V’s Own Gurkha Regiment.
Signed off by Brigadier J.S. Vickers, commanding the 33rd Indian Infantry Brigade, and approved by Major General in Command of the 7th Indian Division, G.C. Evans.
Lance Naik Lalbahadur Thapa, was a Nepalese Gurkha who came from the village of Dhega Chap in Nepal, near to Kyagmi.
You can view the village of Dhega Chap on Google maps by clicking this link
“The 4th Battalion earned a high reputation for aggressive patrolling and skilful probing of the enemy defences. It drew
its first blood (four enemy killed) on the day following its night advance, and its tally mounted steadily.” – History of the 1st Gurkhas.
During World War 2, the 4th Battalion of the 1st Gurkhas Regiment, with whom Lance Naik Lalbahadur Thapa served, saw signficant services, having been highly trained in jungle warfare.
Notably just before the period of the award, the unit fought in the Battle of Kohima from April to June 1944.
