Rambahadur Limbu VC

In 1963 conflict erupted between Indonesia and the new state of Malaysia. British troops, including Gurkhas, were deployed. In August 1965 men of the Gurkha Rifles fought against Indonesian troops near the border district of Bau. During the engagement, 26-year-old Lance Corporal, Rambahadur Limbu’s actions would win him a Victoria Cross.

The citation for his Victoria Cross reads:

Leading his support group in the van of the attack he could see … a sentry manning a machine gun … he inched himself forward until … the sentry opened fire, immediately wounding a man to his right. Rushing forward he reached the enemy trench and killed the sentry …

Seeing two men of his own group seriously wounded, Limbu immediately commenced to rescue his comrades … in full view of at least two enemy machine gun posts who concentrated their fire on him. Rushing forward he hurled himself on the ground beside one of the wounded … and carried him to safety. Without hesitation, he immediately returned for the other wounded man, carrying him back through the hail of enemy bullets … His outstanding personal bravery, selfless conduct, complete contempt of the enemy and determination to save the lives of the men … inspired all who saw him.

He displayed heroism, self-sacrifice and a devotion to duty and to his men of the very highest order. His actions on this day reached a zenith of determined, premeditated valour which must count amongst the most notable on record and is deserving of the greatest admiration and the highest praise.

Limbu left the military with the rank of Captain in 1985. He is one of only five living Victoria Cross recipients. [1] [2]

[1] VC Citation, The London Gazette (21st April 1966), (Extracts)

[2] Image Ref: Assumed esable under CC BY-SA 3.0 (see https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rambahadur_Limbu_VC.jpg)