List of Brigade of Gurkhas recipients of the Victoria Cross

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The Victoria Cross Victoria Cross Medal without Bar.png
The Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross (VC) is a military decoration bestowed on members of the British or Commonwealth armed forces for acts of valour or gallantry performed in the face of the enemy. In the British honours system and those of many Commonwealth nations it is the highest award a soldier can receive for actions in combat. It was established in 1856 and since then has been awarded 1,356 times, including to three recipients who were awarded the VC twice. [1]

Contents

The British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas, units composed of Nepalese soldiers—although originally led by British officers—has been a part of the army since 1815. When raised, it originally focused on conflicts in the Far East, but the transfer of Hong Kong from British to Chinese hands necessitated that the brigade move its base to the UK. A battalion is still maintained in Brunei and as at 2016, units serve in Afghanistan. [2]

Gurkha Soldiers (1896) Gurkhas NavyAndArmyIllustrated1896.jpg
Gurkha Soldiers (1896)

Since the VC was introduced it has been awarded to Gurkhas or British officers serving with Gurkha regiments 26 times. [3] The first award was made in 1858 to a British officer of the Gurkhas, John Tytler, during the campaigns that followed the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The first award to a native Gurkha, Kulbir Thapa, was in 1915 during the First World War. When the Victoria Cross was initially established, Gurkhas, along with all other native troops of the British East India Company Army or the British Indian Army, were not eligible for the decoration and as such, until 1911, all of the Gurkha recipients of the award were British officers who were attached to Gurkha regiments. [4] Until that time the highest award that Gurkhas were eligible for was the Indian Order of Merit. Since 1911 however, of the 16 VCs awarded to men serving with Gurkha regiments, 13 have been bestowed on native Gurkhas. [3] The most recent award was made in 1965 to Rambahadur Limbu, during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. [3] Along with the Royal Green Jackets, the Gurkha regiments are among the most heavily decorated Commonwealth units. [5]

In 1950, when India became a republic, Gurkhas serving in the Gurkha regiments of the Indian Army lost their eligibility for the Victoria Cross and they are now covered under the Indian honours system. Under this system the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), which is India's highest military decoration for valour, is considered to be equivalent to the Victoria Cross. [6] As such only those serving in the Gurkha units of the British Army remain eligible for the Victoria Cross. [1]

Two George Cross (GC) medals have been awarded to Gurkha soldiers for acts of bravery displayed not in combat. [7] The GC is the highest award bestowed by the British government for non-operational gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. In the UK honours system, the George Cross is equal in stature to the Victoria Cross. This has been the case since the introduction of the George Cross in 1940. [8] The two Gurkha recipients of the George Cross or its erstwhile equivalent the Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM) are Nandlal Thapa and Chitrabahadur Gurung. Both were awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal for their gallantry in the rescue operations following the 1935 Quetta Earthquake. When the George Cross was created in 1940, recipients of the EGM could exchange their EGMs for the GC. Thapa did that, but Gurung could not, since the latter died in 1939. [9]

Recipients

  This along with the *, indicates that the Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously.

Gurkha Brigade Victoria Cross Recipients [10]
NameUnit [note 1] Date of actionConflictPlace of action
John Tytler 66th Bengal Native Infantry later 1st King George V's Own Gurkha Rifles 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Choorpoorah, India [12]
Donald Macintyre Bengal Staff Corps attached to 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles 1872 Looshai Expedition Lalgnoora, India [13]
George Channer Bengal Staff Corps attached to 1st King George V's Own Gurkha Rifles 1875 Perak War Perak, Malaya [14]
John Cook Bengal Staff Corps attached to 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles 1878 Second Anglo-Afghan War Peiwar Kotal, Afghanistan [15]
Richard Ridgeway Bengal Staff Corps attached to 8th Gurkha Rifles 1879 Naga Hills expeditions Konoma, India [16]
Charles Grant Indian Staff Corps attached to 8th Gurkha Rifles 1891 Manipur Expedition Thobal, Burma [17]
Guy Boisragon Indian Staff Corps attached to 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles 1891 Hunza–Naga campaign Nilt Fort, India [18]
John Manners Smith Indian Staff Corps attached to 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles 1891 Hunza–Naga campaign Nilt Fort, India [18]
William Walker 4th Prince of Wales' Own Gurkha Rifles 1903 Third Somaliland Expedition Daratoleh, Somaliland [19] [20]
John Grant 8th Gurkha Rifles 1904 British expedition to Tibet Gyantse Jong, Tibet [21]
Kulbir Thapa 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles 1915 First World War Fauquissart, France [22]
George Wheeler 9th Gurkha Rifles 1917 First World War Shumran, Mesopotamia [23]
Karanbahadur Rana 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles 1918 First World War El Kefr, Egypt [24]
Lalbahadur Thapa 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles 1943 Second World War Rass-es-Zouai, Tunisia [25]
Gaje Ghale 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles 1943 Second World War Chin Hills, Burma [26]
Michael Allmand Indian Armoured Corps attached to 6th Gurkha Rifles 1944* Second World War Pin Hmi Road Bridge, Burma [27]
Tulbahadur Pun 6th Gurkha Rifles 1944 Second World War Mogaung, Burma [28]
Netrabahadur Thapa 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles 1944* Second World War Bishenpur, Burma [29]
Sher Bahadur Thapa 9th Gurkha Rifles 1944* Second World War San Marino, Italy [30]
Agansing Rai 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles 1944 Second World War Bishenpur, Burma [31]
Thaman Gurung 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles 1944* Second World War Monte San Bartolo, Italy [32]
Frank Blaker Highland Light Infantry attached to 9th Gurkha Rifles 1944* Second World War Taunggyi, Burma [33]
Ganju Lama /Gyamtso Shangderpa 7th Gurkha Rifles 1944 Second World War Ningthoukhong, Burma [34]
Lachhiman Gurung 8th Gurkha Rifles 1945 Second World War Taungdaw, Burma [35]
Bhanbhagta Gurung 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles 1945 Second World War Snowdon East, Tamandu, Burma [36]
Rambahadur Limbu 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles 1965 Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation Sarawak, Borneo [37]

Notes

  1. ↑ Staff corps were created in 1861 to provide British officers for native regiments, including the Gurkhas, who were designated as "attached to" the various native groups. [11] The units are ordered by Gurkha regiment.

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The George Cross (GC) is the highest award bestowed by the British government for non-operational gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. In the British honours system, the George Cross, since its introduction in 1940, has been equal in stature to the Victoria Cross, the highest military award for valour. It is awarded "for acts of the greatest heroism or for most conspicuous courage in circumstance of extreme danger", not in the presence of the enemy, to members of the British armed forces and to British civilians. Posthumous awards have been allowed since it was instituted. It was previously awarded to residents of Commonwealth countries, most of which have since established their own honours systems and no longer recommend British honours. It may be awarded to a person of any military rank in any service and to civilians including police, emergency services and merchant seamen. Many of the awards have been personally presented by the British monarch to recipients or, in the case of posthumous awards, to next of kin. The investitures are usually held at Buckingham Palace.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Cross</span> British military decoration

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ganju Lama</span> Recipient of the Victoria Cross

Subedar Major Gyamtso Shangdarpa, better known as Ganju Lama was born in the Kingdom of Sikkim on 22 July 1924 to Shangdarpa parents of the Bhutia Community. The etymology of the name "Ganju Lama" tells us that during the Chogyal period, sons of the Shangdarpa clan were expected to serve as monks. He enlisted in the British Indian Army in 1942 at the age of seventeen, as a rifleman in the 1st battalion, 7th Gurkha rifles. The Gurkha regiments were in dire need of manpower and would accept anyone who closely resembled a Gurkha. He is the only Bhutia recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lalbahadur Thapa</span> Nepali recipient of the Victoria Cross

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kulbir Thapa</span> Nepalese Gurkha recipient of the Victoria Cross

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Netrabahadur Thapa</span>

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References

  1. 1 2 "Victoria Cross". Ministry of Defence (UK). Archived from the original on 11 July 2007. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  2. ↑ "Brigade of Gurkhas". British Army. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Parker 2005, pp. 391–393.
  4. ↑ Parker 2005, p. 62.
  5. ↑ "The world's most exclusive club". Ministry of Defence . 30 April 2007. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2007.
  6. ↑ "Param Vir Chakra". Pride of India.net. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  7. ↑ Parker 2005, p. xvii.
  8. ↑ "Decorations, Gallantry and Distinguished Conduct medals: George Cross". UK Government. Archived from the original on 23 June 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  9. ↑ gurkha_museum (10 May 2021). "Gurkhas and the Empire Gallantry Medal and George Cross". The Gurkha Museum - Winchester. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  10. ↑ "Brigade of Gurkhas; Honours and Awards: Victoria Cross". British Army. Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  11. ↑ "Glossary: S". British Library. Archived from the original on 11 November 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
  12. ↑ "No. 22176". The London Gazette . 24 August 1858. p. 3903.
  13. ↑ "No. 23902". The London Gazette . 27 September 1872. p. 4489.
  14. ↑ "No. 24314". The London Gazette . 14 April 1876. p. 2476.
  15. ↑ "No. 24697". The London Gazette . 18 March 1879. p. 2241.
  16. ↑ "No. 24843". The London Gazette . 11 May 1880. p. 2968.
  17. ↑ "No. 26165". The London Gazette . 26 May 1891. p. 2805.
  18. 1 2 "No. 26306". The London Gazette . 12 July 1892. p. 4006.
  19. ↑ "No. 27584". The London Gazette . 7 August 1903. p. 4976.
  20. ↑ "No. 27636". The London Gazette . 15 January 1904. p. 331.
  21. ↑ "No. 27758". The London Gazette . 24 January 1905. p. 574.
  22. ↑ "No. 29371". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 November 1915. p. 11450.
  23. ↑ "No. 30122". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 1917. p. 5702.
  24. ↑ "No. 30757". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 June 1918. p. 7307.
  25. ↑ "No. 36053". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 1943. p. 2719.
  26. ↑ "No. 36190". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 September 1943. p. 4347.
  27. ↑ "No. 36764". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 October 1944. p. 4900.
  28. ↑ "No. 36785". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 November 1944. p. 5129.
  29. ↑ "No. 36742". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 1944. p. 4673.
  30. ↑ "No. 36860". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 December 1944. p. 5933.
  31. ↑ "No. 36730". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 October 1944. p. 4569.
  32. ↑ "No. 36950". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 February 1945. p. 1039.
  33. ↑ "No. 36715". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 September 1944. p. 4423.
  34. ↑ "No. 36690". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 September 1944. p. 4157.
  35. ↑ "No. 37195". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 July 1945. p. 3861.
  36. ↑ "No. 37107". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 June 1945. p. 2831.
  37. ↑ "No. 43959". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 April 1966. p. 4947.

Sources

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