Undersized for the typical recruit at just 4 feet 11 inches, his courage during the Second World War proved to be anything but diminutive. Gurung’s bravery earned him the highest military honour for gallantry – the Victoria Cross (VC).

Born in 1917, Gurung enlisted in the 8th Gurkha Rifles in 1940. Despite falling short of the peacetime height requirement, due to wartime exceptions, he quickly proved his mettle. By 1945, Rifleman Gurung found himself on the frontlines in Burma, facing a tenacious enemy – the Japanese.

The scene of Gurung’s incredible feat was the village of Taungdaw on the west bank of the Irrawaddy River. On the night of 12 May 1945, a fierce Japanese assault erupted. Gurung, manning the most forward position of his platoon, withstood the worst of the attack.

A grenade blast shattered the night, severely wounding Gurung’s right hand. Unfazed, he switched his rifle to his left hand and continued firing, repelling wave after wave of enemy soldiers. Despite his injury and mounting pressure, Gurung held his ground for a staggering four hours. Gurung’s single-handed defence not only blunted the enemy attack but also bought his comrades precious time to reinforce his position.

After the war, Gurung continued his service, eventually rising to the rank of Havildar. He was invested with his VC by Lord Louis Mountbatten at the Red Fort, New Delhi, on 19 December 1945.

The citation for his VC award recounts his extraordinary actions: “Regardless of his wounds, fired and loaded his rifle with his left hand, maintaining a continuous and steady rate of fire… determined not to give one inch of ground.”

Gurung’s heroism came at a cost; he sustained serious injuries, losing his right hand and sight in his right eye.