Ghurka Rifleman PUN VC. Triumph! (Merged)
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The VC stuck to his chest has earned him the right to park his arse in Great Britian for however long he likes and 'demand' all the bleedin medical care that we can currently get in to him.
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I've forwarded details of this mess to three weblogs and all have posted them.
If he can't go to Britain, I'd like to see him and his colleagues here in Australia. We could do with all of them.
I've never seen better servicemen. Carrying GPMG's all day without raising a sweat when I was black with it and exhausted...... Sending "naughty postcards" to the CO back in Hong Kong......Finding a frog in ones bedding courtesy of a "thoughtful" Gurkha.
Please send them here.
If he can't go to Britain, I'd like to see him and his colleagues here in Australia. We could do with all of them.
I've never seen better servicemen. Carrying GPMG's all day without raising a sweat when I was black with it and exhausted...... Sending "naughty postcards" to the CO back in Hong Kong......Finding a frog in ones bedding courtesy of a "thoughtful" Gurkha.
Please send them here.
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There will be a dedicated petition on the Downing Street website shortly...assuming the civil servants don't try and wriggle out of it!
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to allow Victoria Cross holder Tul Bahadur Pun to live in the United Kingdom
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/list/open?cat=911
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to allow Victoria Cross holder Tul Bahadur Pun to live in the United Kingdom
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/list/open?cat=911
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Good on you YesTAM
Here is the link to the Radio 5 live phone in yesterday
http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/programmes/nolan.shtml
You need to fast forward to about 2 hours 9 minutes onwards for the relevant bit.
45 000 Gurkhas have died for this country.
150 000 Gurkhas have been seriously injured fighting for this country
Listening to this program, and it is well worth 40 minutes of your time i personally find it an emotional roller coaster. I don't know if i was crying whilst listening to it through sheer anger, or through sadness
Here is the link to the Radio 5 live phone in yesterday
http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/programmes/nolan.shtml
You need to fast forward to about 2 hours 9 minutes onwards for the relevant bit.
45 000 Gurkhas have died for this country.
150 000 Gurkhas have been seriously injured fighting for this country
Listening to this program, and it is well worth 40 minutes of your time i personally find it an emotional roller coaster. I don't know if i was crying whilst listening to it through sheer anger, or through sadness
Last edited by Tigs2; 26th May 2007 at 14:04.
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I have emailed the whole saga to BBC News 24, so we wait and see.
In the mean time here is an extract from the Nepali Times who interviewed Mr Pun on what happened that day. These are his words.
Pun single handedly fought off dozens of Japanese defenders, even while the rest of his platoon was wiped out. This and other testimonies of living Gurkha soldiers are taken from Lahurey ka Katha by Dev Bahadur Thapa, published by Himal books, and translated for Nepali Times in this space every week.
So a man presented the VC by Lord Mountbatten Viceroy of India does not possess sufficiently strong ties with the UK to warrant our appreciation and assistance in his time of need.
In the mean time here is an extract from the Nepali Times who interviewed Mr Pun on what happened that day. These are his words.
Pun single handedly fought off dozens of Japanese defenders, even while the rest of his platoon was wiped out. This and other testimonies of living Gurkha soldiers are taken from Lahurey ka Katha by Dev Bahadur Thapa, published by Himal books, and translated for Nepali Times in this space every week.
"I was pulling out my gun again when our commanding officer, a short man, appeared and said, “Well done, Pun”. He asked if I was all right, and I replied that everything was not all right. I told him that there were quite a lot of enemies inside the trench.
He promised to send the flame-thrower, then vanished. On the lower side there was a British regiment which sent a flame-thrower. The flame even keeps burning on water, and if it falls on stone or iron it just turns them into soil. This weapon is best for trench warfare. The fire is so dangerous that if it falls on cloth or a piece of flesh, it just sticks to the skin.
Many enemies were roasted alive. Others fled through the passage that we had kept open. However, they didn’t get far. Most only took a few steps and then fell down. The enemy troops were wiped out and we entered the town.
There we saw that the enemy troops and our own men in hand-to-hand combat, making it impossible to fire powerful weapons. Some of the soldiers started firing, while others began fighting with their hands like people under the influence of alcohol and a few were buried under stones and bricks. A few were struck with sticks or rifle butts. There was a sense of the confusion one sees during a festival.
This was followed by the harsh sound of a whistle blown by their commander. They stopped fighting and ran away. A whole lot of soldiers who had been taking shelter in the town started escaping by jumping into the river. The water carried about half of them away, but the rest managed to reach the other side. For a while the whole river was covered with human bodies. The civilians had already abandoned the town, and following the flight of the enemy soldiers, we captured the town.
In the evening we had an assembly, when respective commanders discussed strategies for the next day and also assessed who had fought well and which tactics had worked. Reports were collected on who did best in that day’s capture of the town. Our platoon sergeant reported that except for two men, the rest of our platoon had been killed. He mentioned my name, and told them that I had done excellently during the siege of the bridge and also mentioned that I was the first to get into the enemy camp. The commander added that he was present at the time and had seen the event with his own eyes. A strong recommendation letter was written and dispatched to the war office.
On one day I had been assigned to bring the rations, which were carried by mules. When I arrived at the headquarters, a message had arrived from the war office. The clerk on duty took me aside and said, “Pun, one of the soldiers from your company has done an excellent job. I have collected the message. In all probability he will get a gallantry award.” He gave me the message and told me to give it to the company. I glanced at it, and saw my name on it.
The following day, the commander sent for me. I saluted him, and then he patted me on the back and told me he had received the reply to his letter. “Well done!” he said, “You will receive a gallantry award, but I can’t say right now what class of award it will be. Probably you will receive a very high order gallantry award.” At the time, I was an ordinary rifleman. He told me that I had been elevated to the rank of sergeant and asked me to collect soldiers and form a section.
Our assault on the town had taken place on 23 June, 1944. I was awarded the Victoria Cross for our assault on the town that day. Captain Elmond also got a Victoria Cross. A few months later, I received the gallantry award in Delhi from Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was the viceroy of India and the supreme commander of the allied forces in Asia at the time.
The day after the fighting, the camp was cleaned and an inquiry of how many were killed in the assault took place. The attack on the town had cost us the lives of 11 British officers, 17 Gurkha officers and 773 others below the rank of jamadar (Gurkha lieutenant). After this, we reassembled at Dehara Dun and then went home on a two-month paid leave."
He promised to send the flame-thrower, then vanished. On the lower side there was a British regiment which sent a flame-thrower. The flame even keeps burning on water, and if it falls on stone or iron it just turns them into soil. This weapon is best for trench warfare. The fire is so dangerous that if it falls on cloth or a piece of flesh, it just sticks to the skin.
Many enemies were roasted alive. Others fled through the passage that we had kept open. However, they didn’t get far. Most only took a few steps and then fell down. The enemy troops were wiped out and we entered the town.
There we saw that the enemy troops and our own men in hand-to-hand combat, making it impossible to fire powerful weapons. Some of the soldiers started firing, while others began fighting with their hands like people under the influence of alcohol and a few were buried under stones and bricks. A few were struck with sticks or rifle butts. There was a sense of the confusion one sees during a festival.
This was followed by the harsh sound of a whistle blown by their commander. They stopped fighting and ran away. A whole lot of soldiers who had been taking shelter in the town started escaping by jumping into the river. The water carried about half of them away, but the rest managed to reach the other side. For a while the whole river was covered with human bodies. The civilians had already abandoned the town, and following the flight of the enemy soldiers, we captured the town.
In the evening we had an assembly, when respective commanders discussed strategies for the next day and also assessed who had fought well and which tactics had worked. Reports were collected on who did best in that day’s capture of the town. Our platoon sergeant reported that except for two men, the rest of our platoon had been killed. He mentioned my name, and told them that I had done excellently during the siege of the bridge and also mentioned that I was the first to get into the enemy camp. The commander added that he was present at the time and had seen the event with his own eyes. A strong recommendation letter was written and dispatched to the war office.
On one day I had been assigned to bring the rations, which were carried by mules. When I arrived at the headquarters, a message had arrived from the war office. The clerk on duty took me aside and said, “Pun, one of the soldiers from your company has done an excellent job. I have collected the message. In all probability he will get a gallantry award.” He gave me the message and told me to give it to the company. I glanced at it, and saw my name on it.
The following day, the commander sent for me. I saluted him, and then he patted me on the back and told me he had received the reply to his letter. “Well done!” he said, “You will receive a gallantry award, but I can’t say right now what class of award it will be. Probably you will receive a very high order gallantry award.” At the time, I was an ordinary rifleman. He told me that I had been elevated to the rank of sergeant and asked me to collect soldiers and form a section.
Our assault on the town had taken place on 23 June, 1944. I was awarded the Victoria Cross for our assault on the town that day. Captain Elmond also got a Victoria Cross. A few months later, I received the gallantry award in Delhi from Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was the viceroy of India and the supreme commander of the allied forces in Asia at the time.
The day after the fighting, the camp was cleaned and an inquiry of how many were killed in the assault took place. The attack on the town had cost us the lives of 11 British officers, 17 Gurkha officers and 773 others below the rank of jamadar (Gurkha lieutenant). After this, we reassembled at Dehara Dun and then went home on a two-month paid leave."
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Sorry guys, no longer serving so don't usually post but an exceptional thread, after 5 hours I'm now calm enough to type.
"As I write these last words, my thoughts return to you who were my comrades, the stubborn and indomitable peasants of Nepal. Once more I hear the laughter with which you greeted every hardship. Once more I see you in your bivouacs or about your fires, on forced march or in the trenches, now shivering with wet and cold, now scorched by a pitiless and burning sun. Uncomplaining you endure hunger and thirst and wounds; and at the last your unwavering lines disappear into the smoke and wrath of battle. Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous, never had country more faithful friends than you".
The words of Professor Sir Ralph Turner, MC, who served with the 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles in the First World War.
These words appear on the contact page of the Gurkha Welfare Trust http://www.gwt.org.uk/contact.html
"As I write these last words, my thoughts return to you who were my comrades, the stubborn and indomitable peasants of Nepal. Once more I hear the laughter with which you greeted every hardship. Once more I see you in your bivouacs or about your fires, on forced march or in the trenches, now shivering with wet and cold, now scorched by a pitiless and burning sun. Uncomplaining you endure hunger and thirst and wounds; and at the last your unwavering lines disappear into the smoke and wrath of battle. Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous, never had country more faithful friends than you".
The words of Professor Sir Ralph Turner, MC, who served with the 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles in the First World War.
These words appear on the contact page of the Gurkha Welfare Trust http://www.gwt.org.uk/contact.html
Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun VC, 6th Gurkha Rifles
HM and MP emailed and Petition signed. Let him in!
Journalists
If there are any journo's out there who can publicise this, I think we would all appreciate it - Sky, BBc and all papers where are you now!!!
Ivor
- V unlike me to ask journo's for help, but I think the sentiment here warrants it
Ivor
- V unlike me to ask journo's for help, but I think the sentiment here warrants it
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Is there a Downing St petition yet? I couldn't find it. Have e-mailed various and pointed a journo mate of mine who worked on the recent Abandoned soldier program to this thread.
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Link to e-petition
Oops,
This petition asks for Gurkhas in general to be granted British Citizenship
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/gurkhas-rights/
This petition asks for Gurkhas in general to be granted British Citizenship
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/gurkhas-rights/
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YES YES YES!!!
BBC 24 are going to run an article starting about 2030
10 mins time!!!
Well done everybody, keep the pressure up. I think there could be a result very soon now.
Edited for update. Just seen the article, the anchor man seemed genuinely unable to comprehend how the civil service could have refused Mr Pun VC entry. The home office and Bliar cannot ignore this now.
BBC 24 are going to run an article starting about 2030
10 mins time!!!Well done everybody, keep the pressure up. I think there could be a result very soon now.
Edited for update. Just seen the article, the anchor man seemed genuinely unable to comprehend how the civil service could have refused Mr Pun VC entry. The home office and Bliar cannot ignore this now.
Last edited by Tigs2; 26th May 2007 at 19:38.
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Boiiiing
Most definately back to the top. Furious at those that would allow this man to be turned away in his hour of need after he had offered everything to this country, in its hour of need.
well if it don't I'll be bumping it 'till Friday
When a cadet we had an Army instructor who had the honour to be attached to the Gurkhas in WW2. He led a patrol in Burma. Every evening they would stop, set up the radio and he would listen in for the latest Sitreps. He would brief his men on where the Japs were now thought to be and plan an attack. He said that they would then dig a trench, tie him up and place him in it. His orders would be carried out to the letter, the Jap position taken and consolidated. A runner would then be sent back to release the Sahib so that he could rejoin them. Their logic for all this was that the radio told them what they needed to know to kill Japs, but only the Sahib could understand it, so he had to be kept alive at all costs!
OK maybe he was spinning a yarn, but like all such stories about these excellent troops, one based on fond respect for their bravery and loyalty.
Let him in!
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Chugalug
Just two stories both of Gurkhas awarded the VC, both still alive. They are from the same family! Of the 13 recipients of the VC still alive, 4 are Gurkhas
Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung
Rifleman Bhanbhagta Gurung
We are not worthy!!
Just two stories both of Gurkhas awarded the VC, both still alive. They are from the same family! Of the 13 recipients of the VC still alive, 4 are Gurkhas
Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung
He was 27 years old, and a Rifleman in the 4th Battalion of The 8th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 12 May-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 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.
On 12 May-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 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.
Rifleman Bhanbhagta Gurung
He was about 24 years old, and a Rifleman in the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Gurkha Rifles, British Indian Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 5 March 1945 at Snowdon East, near Tamandu, Burma (now Myanmar), a section was pinned down by heavy enemy fire and was also being subjected to sniping from a tree. Rifleman Bhanbhagta Gurung killed the sniper and later when the section was again attacked, he dashed forward under continuous fire personally clearing four enemy foxholes and he also silenced a light machine-gun. With the help of a Bren gunner and two riflemen he then repelled an enemy counter-attack on the captured bunker with heavy losses. His action in clearing these positions was decisive in capturing the objective.
On 5 March 1945 at Snowdon East, near Tamandu, Burma (now Myanmar), a section was pinned down by heavy enemy fire and was also being subjected to sniping from a tree. Rifleman Bhanbhagta Gurung killed the sniper and later when the section was again attacked, he dashed forward under continuous fire personally clearing four enemy foxholes and he also silenced a light machine-gun. With the help of a Bren gunner and two riflemen he then repelled an enemy counter-attack on the captured bunker with heavy losses. His action in clearing these positions was decisive in capturing the objective.
Is it me, or is it also pretty damning that of almost 5.000 hits for this thread at the time of posting, that only c.30 people have been arsed to post their support for this man here?
I appreciate that there are many who probably feel unable to do so (be it because they are not british citizens or whatever), but there are regular posters on PPruNe who have still not lent their voice to this matter, and who are blatantly Brits.
So, come on. Speak up!
I appreciate that there are many who probably feel unable to do so (be it because they are not british citizens or whatever), but there are regular posters on PPruNe who have still not lent their voice to this matter, and who are blatantly Brits.
So, come on. Speak up!
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Perhaps the bureaucrats behind this decision need to be reminded that a VC comes before all other British orders, decorations and medals.
Including any gongs that the PM may hand out.
http://www.honours.gov.uk/honours/wear.aspx
Including any gongs that the PM may hand out.
http://www.honours.gov.uk/honours/wear.aspx
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Sunday Times, 27 May, Rod Liddle's column:
May 27, 2007
A rape conviction is better than a VC if you want to stay in Britain
Rod Liddle
Here’s a quiz. Not a very good quiz because you will know the answer before you’ve finished reading the question. Whether you can comprehend it is another matter. An awful lot of immigrants are allowed into Britain these days and very few deported because they are undesirable. However, as a nation we must draw the line somewhere. So, using your understanding of How Britain Is, estimate which of the following four aspirant British citizens has been told to get out and stay out. And which three can stay?
1) Mouloud Sihali, Algerian. Lived at Finsbury Park mosque, breeding ground of Islamic terrorism. Described in court as “unprincipled and dishonest”. Illegal immigrant.
2) Yonis Dirie, Somalian. Drug addict, armed robber and burglar. Convicted of raping a young woman in London. Illegal immigrant.
3) Tul Bahadur Pun VC, Nepalese. Won the Victoria Cross for taking out a Japanese machinegun post in 1944 in Burma single-handedly. Now 84, of unblemished conduct, suffering from heart problems and diabetes and would like treatment here. Legal applicant.
4) “AS”, Libyan. Islamic extremist involved with Milan terrorist group. Court accepts that he is likely to try to kill us all again quite soon. Illegal immigrant.
You got it, didn’t you? Old Pun’s application was rejected because - and here’s another punchline, in case the first wasn’t funny enough - he “failed to demonstrate” that he had “strong ties with Britain”. How much stronger do you want? There can be hardly a soul who wouldn’t be happy to have Pun here. And not one who could make a case for allowing Dirie, the robber-rapist, say, to get preferential treatment. Some of us would have happily dispatched him back to Mogadishu strapped to a missile.
There is no great objection to immigration in this country; the objection is to how it is done and who benefits, exemplified by the cases I quote above.
I suspect the public feels there are people who should be allowed in - people to whom we owe a profound debt of gratitude (like Pun), or those whose countries we have let down in one way or another (such as the Hong Kong Chinese or the black Zimbabweans). And yet it seems we do precisely the opposite.
Libyan and Algerian extremists who feel the regimes in their home countries are not sufficiently rigorous are allowed to stay because we worry they might be bumped off at home - regardless of what threat they pose to us.
I would vote for any party that pledged to extricate us from the international legislation that insists on such absurdities.
By then, however, it will most likely be too late for Tul Bahadur Pun VC. The Japs couldn’t kill him - but we’re not making a bad job of it.
A rape conviction is better than a VC if you want to stay in Britain
Rod Liddle
Here’s a quiz. Not a very good quiz because you will know the answer before you’ve finished reading the question. Whether you can comprehend it is another matter. An awful lot of immigrants are allowed into Britain these days and very few deported because they are undesirable. However, as a nation we must draw the line somewhere. So, using your understanding of How Britain Is, estimate which of the following four aspirant British citizens has been told to get out and stay out. And which three can stay?
1) Mouloud Sihali, Algerian. Lived at Finsbury Park mosque, breeding ground of Islamic terrorism. Described in court as “unprincipled and dishonest”. Illegal immigrant.
2) Yonis Dirie, Somalian. Drug addict, armed robber and burglar. Convicted of raping a young woman in London. Illegal immigrant.
3) Tul Bahadur Pun VC, Nepalese. Won the Victoria Cross for taking out a Japanese machinegun post in 1944 in Burma single-handedly. Now 84, of unblemished conduct, suffering from heart problems and diabetes and would like treatment here. Legal applicant.
4) “AS”, Libyan. Islamic extremist involved with Milan terrorist group. Court accepts that he is likely to try to kill us all again quite soon. Illegal immigrant.
You got it, didn’t you? Old Pun’s application was rejected because - and here’s another punchline, in case the first wasn’t funny enough - he “failed to demonstrate” that he had “strong ties with Britain”. How much stronger do you want? There can be hardly a soul who wouldn’t be happy to have Pun here. And not one who could make a case for allowing Dirie, the robber-rapist, say, to get preferential treatment. Some of us would have happily dispatched him back to Mogadishu strapped to a missile.
There is no great objection to immigration in this country; the objection is to how it is done and who benefits, exemplified by the cases I quote above.
I suspect the public feels there are people who should be allowed in - people to whom we owe a profound debt of gratitude (like Pun), or those whose countries we have let down in one way or another (such as the Hong Kong Chinese or the black Zimbabweans). And yet it seems we do precisely the opposite.
Libyan and Algerian extremists who feel the regimes in their home countries are not sufficiently rigorous are allowed to stay because we worry they might be bumped off at home - regardless of what threat they pose to us.
I would vote for any party that pledged to extricate us from the international legislation that insists on such absurdities.
By then, however, it will most likely be too late for Tul Bahadur Pun VC. The Japs couldn’t kill him - but we’re not making a bad job of it.
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The treatment of this man, the holder of the highest honour in our land, leaves me speachless and ashamed.
There are only twelve living holders of this honour, 6 British, 4 Gurkhas and 2 Australian. http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/aalivevc.htm
Regardless of the arguments over pay / pensions he deserves entry to this country and should be treated and respected.
There are only twelve living holders of this honour, 6 British, 4 Gurkhas and 2 Australian. http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/aalivevc.htm
Regardless of the arguments over pay / pensions he deserves entry to this country and should be treated and respected.
