He
was 27 years old, and a Rifleman in the 4th Battalion, 8th Gurkha Rifles, in
the Indian Army during World War II when the following deed took place in May
1945 for which he was awarded the VC.
His
Battalion was part of the 89th Indian Infantry Brigade of 7th Indian Infantry
Division, which was ordered to cross the Irrawaddy River and attack Japanese
forces to the north of the road from Prome to Taungup. The Japanese withdrew
towards Taungdaw, where Gurung was part of the two companies of the 4th
Battalion, 8th Gurkha Rifles waiting, when the Japanese attacked in force in
the early morning.
On
12/13 May 1945 at Taungdaw, Burma [now Myanmar], Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung was
manning the most forward post of his platoon which bore the brunt of an attack
by at least 200 of the Japanese enemy. Twice he hurled back grenades which had
fallen on his trench, but the third exploded in his right hand, blowing off his
fingers, shattering his arm and severely wounding him in the face, body and
right leg. His two comrades were also badly wounded but the rifleman, now alone
and disregarding his wounds, loaded and fired his rifle with his left hand for
four hours, calmly waiting for each attack which he met with fire at point
blank range. Afterwards, when the casualties were counted, it is reported that
there were 31 dead Japanese around his position which he had killed, with only
one arm.
He
received his Victoria Cross from the Viceroy of India, Field Marshal Lord
Wavell at the Red Fort in Delhi on 19 December 1945.
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