The Kulbir Thapa Story

Thapa was a 26 year-old Rifleman in the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles, British Indian Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. On 25 September 1915 in Fauquissart, France Rifleman Kulbir Thapa, having been wounded himself, found a wounded soldier of The Leicestershire Regiment behind the first-line German trench. Although urged to save himself, the Gurkha stayed with the wounded man all day and night. Early next day, in misty weather, he took him through the German wire, within spitting distance from the Germans, and, leaving him in a place of comparative safety, returned and brought in two wounded Gurkhas, one after the other. He then went back, and, in broad daylight, fetched the British soldier, carrying him most of the way under enemy fire.

Such an incredible act of faith and courage had by now attracted a good deal of attention, and when he emerged from his trench for the third time with one more wounded comrade over his shoulder, the German soldiers actually clapped their hands to encourage the Gurkha on. Only this time, the Gurkha walked right across the No-Mans-Land back to his own side.

The German High Command, it is believed, in recognition of that exemplary courage and self-sacrifice, wrote a citation offering to honour the anonymous Gurkha. The British Army would of course, have nothing to do with German sentiments, but when the story reached London by words of mouth, His Majesty King George V expressed a desire to see the Gurkha soldier himself in person. Accordingly, in due course of time, the Gurkha was ushered into the Buckingham Palace, where, in a rare expression of royal prerogative, the King Emperor personally decorated Rifleman Kulbir Thapa with Britain's highest military honour, the Victoria Cross.