A fine Second World War M.M. and Bar awarded to Naik Manbir Pun, 3rd Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles, for gallantry in Burma in 1944

Military Medal, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar (10200 Nk. Manbir Pun, G.R.) extremely fine £1400-1800

M.M. London Gazette 4 January 1945. The immediate award recommendation states:

‘On the night of 17/18 June 1944, at “Scraggy” Hill on the Palel/Tamu Road, 10200 Nk Manbir Pun was 2 i/c of a raiding party sent to move into the Japanese trenches, 30 yards from ours, and to kill the occupants. He accompanied his commander up an old crawl trench and crept into the Jap position. There they could just see a long bunker, but were unable to find its entrance. So, creeping up with his commander, this Naik got on top of the bunker and burrowed a hole in its roof. Scraping away the earth with his hands he came upon rafters. These he prized apart making a hole sufficiently large enough for a hand grenade to be pushed through. Into this hole two grenades were dropped.

‘There was a muffled explosion and shouts and cries from within the bunker. One Jap ran out of the far end of the bunker and jumped into a sand bagged pit. He was followed by a grenade. There were shouts and cries all round and about ten Japs came tumbling out of bunkers into a crawl trench. These two men then threw six grenades at a range of ten paces. All the grenades burst in the trenches and shrieks and cries of pain were heard. More Japs left their bunkers to the North and threw grenades. Menawhile, Naik Manbir Pun, creeping back with his commander, picked up the other small parties and returned to our trenches. In all 27 grenades had been thrown. A minimum of 10 and a possible maximum of 20 Jap casualties had been inflicted. Our casualties were nil. Throughout this action, this young Naik showed great coolness under fire coupled with fine offensive action.’

Bar to M.M. London Gazette 28 June 1945. The periodic award recommendation states:

‘Naik Manbir Pun has been with his company throughout the last operations on the Assam-Burma border up to 27 June 1944, when he was severely wounded in the battle for Rajput Hill in the Shenam defences. Throughout this difficult and trying time, he has shown himself to be a courageous and intrepid young leader - especially so on the night of 17/18 June 1944 at “Scraggy” hill feature on the Palel/Tamu Road.’ The recommendation goes on to recount his actions at “Scraggy” Hill for which he received his first award.

One of only 8 bars to the Military Medal awarded to Gurkha regiments for the Second World War, and one of only 21 to the entire Indian Army for the same period. Sold with full research.