Tul Bahadur Pun

GOPAL CHHANTYAL

MYAGDI: The last surviving Gurkha soldier decorated with the Victoria Cross, Tul Bahadur Pun (92), passed away at his home in Beg-3, Tiblyang, Myagdi, yesterday night.

Pun was 21 years old when he joined the British army as a Rifleman in the Third Battalion, Sixth Gurkha Rifles in 1940.

He later achieved the rank of Honorary Lieutenant.

In addition to the Victoria Cross, Pun has been awarded 10 other medals, including the Burma Star. On June 23,1944 at Mogaung, Burma, during an attack on the railway bridge, a section of one of the platoons was wiped out with the exception of Pun, his section commander and one other soldier. The section commander immediately led a charge on the enemy position but was wounded. Pun, continued the charge alone, killed three enemy soldiers and put five more to flight, captured two light machine-guns and gave accurate supporting fire, enabling the rest of his platoon to reach their objective.

Pun’s name is inscribed on the roof of an arched memorial stand at the Memorial Gates at the Constitution Hill, London.

In later life Pun had heart problems, asthma and diabetes. He had difficulty getting medical attention and medicine in Nepal.

Pun applied in 2006 to the British Embassy in Kathmandu, 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 or settlement on the ground that he had “failed to demonstrate strong ties with the UK”. Pun then lodged an appeal against the decision. On June 1, 2007 the decision was overturned by the British Asylum and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne, due to the “exceptional” nature of the case.

He later decided to live the rest of his days in Nepal and returned in February.

His last rites will be performed after his sons arrive from the UK tomorrow. He is survived by his wife, three sons and eight daughters.