KATHMANDU: Military funeral service to Captain (Retd) Ram Bahadur Limbu was held at Headquarters British Gurkhas Nepal this morning.

The body of Captain (Retd) Ram Bahadur Limbu VC MVO was brought to BGN headquarters for final respects.

Capt Limbu's wife Purnimaya Limbu and his family members began the formal laying of the wreath. Lieutenant General (Ret'd) Peter Pearson CB CBE, who served almost exactly 35 years in the British Army as a Gurkha officer, read the honour to Capt Limbu VC in the capacity of the representative of His Majesty King Charles III.

Adjutant General Major General Nepal Army Sagar Bahadur Thapa; Colonel Paul Smith, Commander British Gurkhas Nepal, Director Gurkha Welfare Trust (Nepal) and Defence Attache'; Mr Mark Walters, First Political Secretary, British Embassy; Mr Sudhir Bhandari, Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal Government; Major Dheeraj Sanjit Nimbalkar, Indian AMA; office bearers of Regimental Association Nepal (RAN); representatives of the Australian VC Association; British Gurkha veterans, BGN military and civilian staff; family members and officers and people of the wider Brigade of Gurkhas community were among the participants paying their respects.

Following the funeral service, Capt Limbu's body was flown to his hometown Damak where his final rites will be performed.

Limbu, the only living British Gurkha recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC) – one of the highest and most prestigious awards of the British honours system, passed away at 03:45 a.m. on 22 April 2023. Limbu, 83, was undergoing treatment at Mediciti Hospital in Kathmandu when he breathed his last. Mr Limbu is a recipient of also the Royal Victorian Order – Member (MVO), the Order conferred for extraordinary, important or personal services to the British Sovereign.

VC Limbu is survived by his wife Eunimaya and three children - Bhakta, Chandra and Jiwan.