Lance Naik Chitrabahadur Gurung, EGM (born ? - died 1939) was a Nepalese soldier in the

British Indian Army The Indian Army was the force of British Raj, British India, until Indian Independence Act 1947, national independence in 1947. Formed in 1895 by uniting the three Presidency armies, it was responsible for the defence of both British India and ...

, who was awarded the

Empire Gallantry Medal The Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Gallantry, known as the Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM), was a British medal awarded for acts of gallantry. Unlike the then existing Sea Gallantry Medal (SGM) (1854), the Albert Meda ...

for the extraordinary bravery he displayed in the rescue operations following the Quetta Earthquake of May 31, 1935. However, since he died in 1939, he could not exchange his EGM with the

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, ...

, which was instituted in the next year, and which the holders of the EGM were entitled to receive in exchange of their EGMs. He is one of the only two Nepalese persons to be awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal, the other being Nandlal Thapa, GC.

Biography

Gurung served in the 1st Bn, 8th Gurkha Rifles.

EGM citation

Gurung's EGM citation, published in

The London Gazette ''The London Gazette'', known generally as ''The Gazette'', is one of the official journals of record or government gazettes of the Government of the United Kingdom, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, i ...

on November 19, 1935, reads as the following: "This Non-commissioned Officer, along with other men, was instrumental in saving the life of Mrs. Newington (wife of Superintendent Newington of the Railway Police). The family of Mr. and Mrs. Newington were buried in the ruins of their bungalow some five or six feet under the debris. The party started digging at about 07-00 hours on 31st May, 1935. Through unceasing work carried out under very dangerous circumstances, as the work was carried out under the remaining wall of the bungalow, which would have fallen if another shock had taken place, the vicinity of the bodies was reached about 09-30 hours. Great care and intelligence were required in order to avoid wounding the couple, whilst speed was essential if there was to be any hope of rescue. Soon after 09-30 hours Mrs. Newington was extricated alive and shortly after Mr.Newington dead. Lance-Naik Chitra-bahadur Gurung showed initiative, resource, and courage, which were undoubtedly instrumental in saving life."{{Cite web , title=The London Gazette, 19 November 1935 , url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34221/page/7318/data.pdf

References

Recipients of the Empire Gallantry Medal Nepalese recipients of the Empire Gallantry Medal People from Quetta Gurkhas Royal Gurkha Rifles soldiers Gurung people