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We're proud to stock jewellery in our gift shop, h

We're proud to stock jewellery in our gift shop, handmade in Nepal by Deaf women working for the Lily's Leaves project. The Lily’s Leaves social enterprise, that Lily Katuwal founded in October 2020, provides training and employment to four highly capable young deaf women, creating outstanding jewellery in their workshop in Kathmandu.
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#gurkha #jewellery #Nepal #charity #museum #online #museumgiftshop #necklaces #earrings

‘If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is

‘If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a Gurkha.’

The Victoria Cross of Agansing Rai.

Born in 1920 and recruited into the 5th Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force) (5GR) in at the age of 21, Agansing Rai rose to become a section commander with the 2nd Battalion (2/5GR) during action in the Chin hills of Burma in 1943 and 1944.

In June 1944 his battalion was under pressure trying to prevent the advance on Imphal by the Japanese 15th Army. The battalion operated around the area of Bishenpur, and on the morning of June 26th 1944, C Company was ordered to retake two positions, ‘Water Piquet’ and ‘Mortar Bluff’, from the Japanese.

Bordered on one side by thick jungle but on the other, bare and open ground, up a slippery ridge, in full view of the enemy without any cover.

C Company attacked but were pinned down by heavy fire from a machine gun at Mortar Bluff and artillery fire in the jungle. Naik (Corporal) Agansing Rai, led a charge towards Mortar Bluff, killing three of the four enemies. His men, inspired by this, followed him and overpowered the whole enemy force at Mortar Bluff.

They came under renewed artillery fire so Agansing again led his section in a charge. They lost three men before reaching their objective, closing with the enemy gun crew, Agansing killed three of them and his men the other two. The section then returned to Mortar Bluff and along with the rest of their platoon, prepared for the final assault on Water Piquet.

During the advance on Water Piquet, Agansing, advanced alone, through the hail of enemy fire, he reached an enemy and managed to kill all four occupants. This display of calm and courage demoralised the enemy at Water Piquet, and so in a final rush the position was captured.

Agansing Rai received his Victoria Cross from Field Marshal Lord Wavell, the Viceroy of India, on January 23rd 1945, in the same ceremony as the widow of Netrabahadur Thapa. On retirement as an honorary Lieutenant he returned to Nepal, where he died in Kathmandu in May of 2000.
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#gurkha #OTD #VictoriaCross #Military #MilitaryMedal #MilitaryHistory #onthisday #onthisdayinhitory #respect #ArmedForcesWeek

'At the going down of the sun and in the morning.

'At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them.' #ArmedForcesDay

During a battle within the Burma campaign in 1942, Netrabahadur Thapa was in command of 41 soldiers at an isolated hillside piquet called ‘Mortar Bluff’. This position was isolated, 400 yards from the nearest other piquet, and devoid of cover. It was also overlooked by a position named ‘Water Piquet’ to the south, which was on higher ground and had been captured by Japanese troops the previous night. It was vital that Mortar Bluff be held, and so a relief force was sent.

Just over an hour later the enemy attack began on the high ground pouring a constant stream of shells for 10 minutes. Netrabahadur and his men defended fiercely, maaging to drive the Japanese back. In the lull that followed, Netrabahadur reported his situation to his Commanding Officer, called in more artillery support, and braced for the next assault.

Under the cover of jungle, darkness and torrential rain, the next Japanese attack proved just as ferocious, but the Gurkha troops held out until one section’s Light Machine Gun and Heavy Machine Gun jammed. Their firepower reduced, the section was unable to maintain its position and the enemy overran their defences, killing 12 out of 16 defenders. Netrabahadur himself charged forward and stemmed any further advance with a hail of grenades.

Despite several more attempts, no more ground was gained by the attackers, due to Netrabahadur’s efficient plans for defence.

At 4am the next morning, a section of 8 men arrived with ammunition to support. This drew the attention of the attackers, and very soon all 8 were casualties. Undaunted, Netrabahadur retrieved the ammunition and supplies himself, led a renewed offensive at the head of his platoon HQ, with grenade and khukri. It was in this assault that he was shot in the mouth, and struck by a grenade blast, which finally killed him. His body was found the next day, clutching his khukri, lying next to a dead enemy soldier bearing fatal khukri wounds. Netrabahadur’s Victoria Cross was presented to his young widow, Nainasara Magarni on January 23rd 1945.
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#VictoriaCross #OTD #onthisday #gurkha

Show your support for the Gurkhas this #ArmedForce

Show your support for the Gurkhas this #ArmedForcesDay and get yourself some crossed khukuri merch from our online gift shop. Link in our bio 🔗
#gurkha #ArmedForcesDay #khukuri #kukri #gurkhaarmy #britisharmy

We're looking for a new member of the team here at

We're looking for a new member of the team here at The Museum to help us as we embark upon a major redevelopment project.

We are seeking to appoint a Head of Operations who will be responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of the Museum, working alongside the Head of Fundraising and Marketing in supporting the Director in the development and delivery of this project.

If you think you may be the right fit, find out more and apply on our website.
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#jobs #armyjobs #museumjobs #jobsearch #jobvaccancy #applynow #jointheteam #armymuseum #gurkha #militaryjobs

"Bravest of the brave, most generous of the genero

"Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous, never had a country more faithful friends than you. ” - Sir Ralph Turner MC

- The heroic story of Tulbahadur Pun VC -

Tulbahadur Pun, born in 1923, was enlisted into the 6th Gurkha Rifles (6 GR) in 1941 and later posted to join the 3rd battalion of the regiment, (3/6GR) which was involved in the operations of the Chindits, deep within Burma. 3/6GR formed part of the 77th Infantry Brigade under Brigadier Mike Calvert, whose goals were to capture the city of Mogaung.

On June 23rd 1944, as part of these operations, 3/6GR was detailed to take a railway bridge near Mogaung, heavily defended by Japanese troops. The leading platoons of B Company quickly found themselves pinned down and taking heavy casualties from cross-fire from two Japanese positions, a bunker, and a fortification known as ‘the Red House’, 200 yards to its right.

The entirety of Rifleman Pun’s section, with the exception of himself, the section commander and one other rifleman, was wiped out. In spite of this, the section commander, led the remaining two men in a charge on the Red house but was immediately badly wounded, along with the other rifleman.

Now alone, Tulbahadur seized the section’s Bren Gun and continued to advance upon the Red House, firing from the hip. He had to advance over 30 yards of broken ground, felled trees and shell holes, silhouetted by a rising dawn behind him presenting a perfect target for the Japanese troops, who directed continuous heavy fire against him. Despite these odds, he reached the Red House and engaged in close combat with its occupants. He killed three, put five to flight and captured two light machine guns and a quantity of ammunition.

He then proceeded to use the position to give supporting fire to the rest of his platoon, allowing them to accomplish their objective at the railway bridge.

His Victoria Cross is currently on display here at the Gurkha Museum.
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#gurkha #victoriacross #OTD #onthisday #history #militaryhistory #respect #worldwar2

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