Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46 (85024 Nk. Manbir Thapa, 4/8 G.R.) very fine £200-250

M.M. London Gazette 31 August 1944.

Recommendation reads:

‘On 15 May 44, in the operations against the enemy north of IMPHAL, an attack was launched on the feature pt 3813, during which the Company Commander was severely wounded in the face, and fell unconscious to the ground. Owing to very heavy and accurate mortar fire, the Company was forced to withdraw to just below the ridge of the feature. L/Nk MANBIR THAPA, however, ignoring this mortar fire went forward to bring in his Company Commander. He immediately came under intense LMG fire from both flanks, but he continued to advance, firing his tommy gun from the hip, endeavouring to silence the enemy LMGs. He succeeded in reaching his Company Commander, disentangled him from some wire, and lifting him onto his back, he crawled down the hill on his stomach and brought in his wounded officer to a place of comparative safety, from where he was eventually evacuated. L/Nk MANBIR THAPA then crawled forward and recovered his tommy gun which he had been forced to leave behind. The extreme loyalty, devotion to duty and cool courage of this L/Nk under extremely heavy fire are worthy of the highest praise. His Company Commander subsequently died of his wounds.’

The mortally wounded British Officer who Manbir gallantly carried from the battlefield was Lieutenant Stafford Reginald Perkin, the son of Stafford Henry and Mary Elizabeth Perkin, of Newquay, Cornwall. Lieutenant Perkin, was only 24 years of age, when he died on 15 May 1944. The body of Lieutenant Perkin was subsequently interred at Imphal War Cemetery. 
 
During the period of the qualification criteria for the clasp 'S. E. Asia 1945-46'’, the recipient was serving in Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia).