Allegiance British India | Name Lalbahadur Thapa Role Armed force officer | |
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Unit 1st Battalion, 2nd Gurkha Rifles Battles/wars World War IINorth African Campaign Died October 19, 1968, Pakalihawa, Nepal Similar People Kulbir Thapa, Bhanbhagta Gurung, Karanbahadur Rana, Frederick George Dancox, William McBean | ||
Lalbahadur Thapa VC (Nepali: लालबहादुर थापा; February 1906 – 19 October 1968) was a Nepali Gorkha 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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Details
He was approximately 37 years old, and a Subedar in the 1st Battalion, 2nd Gurkha Rifles, in the Indian Army during World War II when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 5/6 April 1943 during the silent attack on Rass-es-Zouai, Tunisia, Subadar Lalbahadur Thapa, taking command of two sections, made his first contact with the enemy at the foot of a pathway winding up a narrow cleft which was thickly studded with enemy posts. The garrison of the out-posts were all killed by the subadar and his men, by kukri or bayonet and the next machine-gun posts were dealt with similarly. This officer then continued to fight his way up the bullet-swept approaches to the crest where he and the riflemen with him killed four - the rest fled. Thus secured, advance by the whole division was made possible.
He later achieved the rank of Subedar-Major
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Gurkha Museum in Winchester, Hampshire, England.