Tul Bahadur Pun
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Tul Bahadur Pun VC ( Nepali: तुल बहादुर पुन; 23 March 192320 April 2011) was a Nepalese Gurkha recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He later achieved the rank of Honorary Lieutenant. In addition to the Victoria Cross, Pun was awarded 10 other medals, including the Burma Star.


Victoria Cross

Pun was 21 years old, and a Rifleman in the 3rd Battalion, 6th Gurkha Rifles, in the Indian Army during World War II when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross: On 23 June 1944 at Mogaung,
Burma Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
, during an attack on the railway bridge, a section of one of the platoons was wiped out with the exception of Rifleman Tul Bahadur Pun, his section commander and one other. The section commander immediately led a charge on the enemy position but was at once badly wounded, as was the third man. Rifleman Pun, with a Bren gun continued the charge alone in the face of shattering fire and reaching the position, killed three of the occupants and put five more to flight, capturing two light machine-guns and much ammunition. He then gave accurate supporting fire, enabling the rest of his platoon to reach their objective.


Citation

Despite the above text, Pun told a different story in an interview. He told that he had killed four with his gun and three with his kukri. Later he took a flamethrower and killed a further 30 Japanese in a dugout. Pun was invited, along with other Victoria Cross recipients, to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953. He attended the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, and was invited to the party afterwards at
Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a royal official residence, residence in London, and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and r ...
. He made several visits to the United Kingdom, particularly to meet with other members of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association. He had tea with Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.


Memorials


London

Pun's name is inscribed on the roof of an arched memorial stand at the Memorial Gates, at Constitution Hill, London (at the junction with Duke of Wellington Place, London SW1), along with other volunteers from the Indian subcontinent,
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, and the Caribbean, who served with the Armed Forces during the First and Second World Wars and received the Victoria Cross or
George Cross The George Cross (GC) is the highest award bestowed by the British government for non-operational Courage, gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. In the British honours system, the George Cross, since its introduction in 1940, ...
. The memorial with his name inscribed is directly outside the walled gardens of
Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a royal official residence, residence in London, and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and r ...
. In addition, as a recipient of the Victoria Cross, his name is inscribed on memorials at Westminster Abbey and the Union Jack Club, in London, and on the "Memorial to the Chindits" on the north side of the Victoria Embankment next to the Ministry of Defence headquarters in London.


Other

He has also had a
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operated IET unit named after him.


Immigration controversy

In later life Pun suffered from ill-health, including heart problems,
asthma Asthma is a common long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wh ...
and diabetes. He had difficulties getting medical attention and the medical supplies in
Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...
, which were needed to keep him alive. He lived at the foothills of the
Himalayas The Himalayas, or Himalaya ( ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the Earth's highest peaks, including the highest, Mount Everest. More than list of h ...
in Nepal at 4,000 feet. His house has no proper roof, no electricity, and no running water. In a statement given to his solicitors, Howe & Co, of
Ealing Ealing () is a district in west London (sub-region), west London, England, west of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Ealing. It is the administrative centre of the borough and is identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Pl ...
, West
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, Mr Pun stated that his home had no sanitation and that he was therefore obliged to dig a hole in the surrounding fields to serve as a toilet. He told the British press that he was in constant fear of landslides during the Nepalese
monsoon A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in Atmosphere of Earth, atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annu ...
season. Pun received a British Army pension of £132 per month. In order to receive his monthly pension he had to be driven for three hours and then walk for one full day (being carried by two or three men in a wicker basket) to the Gurkha army camp at
Pokhara Pokhara ( ) is a metropolis, metropolitan city located in central Nepal, which serves as the capital of Gandaki Province. Named the country's "capital of tourism" it is the List of cities in Nepal, second largest city after Kathmandu, with 599,5 ...
. If he had ever failed to appear in person at the camp, he would not have received that month's pension. Pun applied in 2006 to the British Embassy in
Kathmandu Kathmandu () is the capital and largest city of Nepal, situated in the central part of the country within the Kathmandu Valley. As per the 2021 Nepal census, it has a population of 845,767 residing in 105,649 households, with approximately 4 mi ...
, Nepal, for a visa to settle in the United Kingdom, particularly because of his ill-health and his desire to be with his veteran comrades in the United Kingdom. A British Entry Clearance Officer refused his application for settlement on the ground that he had "failed to demonstrate strong ties with the UK". Pun then lodged an appeal against the immigration decision through his solicitors, Howe & Co. The immigration appeal was listed to be heard in August 2007 in London. On 1 June 2007, following widespread media publicity of the British public's support of Pun's case, the then Minister of State for Immigration Liam Byrne announced: Pun began his journey to Britain on 1 July 2007. Around one thousand people turned up to see him off. There were traditional Nepali bands outside his home and a motorcade of around 30-50 cars and motorbikes took him to the airport so he could fly to Kathmandu. One of those who turned up to say farewell was old Gurkha friend and fellow VC recipient Lachhiman Gurung, 90, who lost a hand to a Japanese grenade in 1945. He finally arrived at London, Heathrow, on 4 July and was met with an official guard of honour. Col David Hayes, of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, saluted him and said: "I wish to emphasise the manner in which he's revered by serving Gurkhas. His reputation goes before us into battle." Pun was then driven by limousine to a reception to meet hundreds of members of the public who had helped to bring him to Britain. The reception included many representatives from The Gurkha Ex-Servicemen's Organisation (GAESO)—and from the Army Rumour Service website. Pun commented, "I have never had so much respect as in these two days, leaving Kathmandu and arriving in Britain."


Death

On 20 April 2011, after suffering severe respiratory ailments, Pun died unexpectedly in his home village of Myagdi,
Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...
. He had briefly returned to see the completion of a school for the village, a project which he had been involved with.


Decorations and medals

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Gurkha Museum,
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,
Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Berkshire to the north, Surrey and West Sussex to the east, the Isle of Wight across the Solent to the south, ...
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.


Gallery

Image:Tul Bahadur Pun Victoria Cross medal.jpg, Tul Bahadur Pun's Victoria Cross (left), 1939-1945 Star (middle), Burma Star (right) Image:Tul Bahdur Pun medals.jpg, All 11 of Tul Bahadur Pun's medals on display at the Gurkha Museum, Winchester Image:VC of Tul Bahadur Pun.jpg, VC of Tul Bahadur Pun


See also

*
List of Brigade of Gurkhas recipients of the Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is a military decoration bestowed on members of the United Kingdom, British or Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth armed forces for acts of Courage, valour or Courage, gallantry performed in the face of the enemy. In th ...
* Dipprasad Pun - Grandson, awarded Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for single-handedly defeating 12-30 Taliban insurgents


References


External links


Chindits - London Gazette CitationGurkha VC WinnersGurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's OrganisationThe Telegraph "Land fit for heroes? Not if you're Gurkhas" by Vicki Woods, 30 June 2007BBC News 24 "Gurkha tells of citizenship joy"BBC News 24 "Gurkha hero appeals for UK entry "This Is London "VC Hero Gurkha Banned from Living in Britain 'Because He Has No Strong Ties with UK'"Sunday Times "A rape conviction is better than a VC if you want to stay in Britain"Belfast Telegraph "Risk your life for us ... then bugger off!"
* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20070928202400/http://eursoc.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/1642/Shame.html EuroSoc "Shame"br>NewKerala.com "UK bans Victoria Cross Gurkha hero"Daily India "UK bans Victoria Cross Gurkha hero"Malaysia Sun "UK bans Victoria Cross Gurkha hero"The Himalayan Times "VC Hero Ex-Gurkha Veteran Denied UK Visa"

Daily India.com "Tory Peer takes up cudgels for Gurkha hero""Train named after Gurkha hero Tulbahadur Pun"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pun, Tul Bahadur 1923 births 2011 deaths People from Myagdi District Nepalese World War II recipients of the Victoria Cross British Indian Army soldiers Nepalese people of World War II Nepalese emigrants to the United Kingdom British Army personnel of the Malayan Emergency Royal Gurkha Rifles soldiers Indian Army personnel of World War II