A Collection of Medals to Gurkhas

A superb ‘Borneo operations’ M.M. group of three awarded to Rifleman (Local Lance-Corporal) Jagatbahadur Limbu, 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles, for his gallantry near the Sarawak border on 5 March 1966 - ‘running at the enemy firing his general purpose machine gun from the hip, it was largely thanks to his courage and aggressive spirit that at least 28 enemy troops were killed in a highly successful riverboat ambush’

Military Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (21148768 L/L/Cpl. Jagatbahadur Limbu. 10 GR.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (21148768 Rfn. Jagatbahadur Limbu. 10th. G.R.); General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Borneo (21148768 Rfn. Jagatbahadur Limbu. 1/10 GR.) mounted as worn, minor edge bruising and polishing to high relief, very fine (3) £3,000-£4,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Gurkhas.

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1 of 35 M.M.’s awarded for the Borneo campaign.

M.M. London Gazette 13 December 1966.
The original recommendation states: ‘On 5th March 1966, Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur Limbu was the general purpose machine gun gunner in 11 Platoon, D Company, 1st Battalion 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles and played a prominent part in a highly successful ambush near the Sarawak border following an incursion by regular Indonesian troops.

Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur with his general purpose machine gun was placed on the left flank of his platoon ambush position and it was from the left that an enemy party, some 35 strong, approached. The leading group, bunched and unsuspecting, passed him and at a range of twenty yards he opened fire devastatingly, enfilading them and causing many casualties. Reloading, he then moved round behind the troops on his right into the centre of the position and raked the ambush area again, this time from some ten to fifteen yards range. As the enemy now tried to move out of the ambush area, he again ran down the position towards the right flank in full view of the enemy to engage them, firing his machine gun from the hip into a group at point blank range until there were no targets in sight. Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur fired some 400 rounds from his machine gun, of a total of not less than 28 enemy killed in the ambush there is little doubt that he was personally responsible for killing more than 50 percent.

The enemy from a nearby position now opened fire on our troops in ambush using automatics and mortars, and 11 Platoon was ordered to move back to their rendezvous. Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur remained with his platoon commander giving covering fire until the last of our men were clear of the area. During the action, lasting ten minutes, Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur displayed complete disregard for his own safety in his determination to get to grips with the enemy. The success of the operation was due in large measure to his courage and aggressive spirit.’

Jagatbahadur Limbu was decorated for gallantry by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace in March 1967. A firsthand account of the action was later given by company commander Major C. J. Pike, D.S.O., in Volume II of Bugle & Kukri: The Story of the 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles:

‘On 27 February D Company, carrying 10 days’ rations, were lifted by helicopter to LZ 1693 from where I sent patrols hastening south to recce a suitable night base on which the company closed by late afternoon. Further patrols went south and SW to check the route for the following day’s move to a second firm base, on 28 February. Five four-man patrols then went further south, one of which observed a 16-man enemy patrol on a track near the Sungei Koemba and clearly heard motor boat engines from the river. By 1300 hrs on 1 March, we had established a third firm base 1000 yards from the junction of the Koemba and Separan Rivers and for the next three days, set about detailed reconnaissance of the area, no easy task due to swamp, jungle and thick lalang (secondary jungle), the proximity of the enemy patrols, and civilian noise and movement in the area. Civilians were often seen, but skilfully avoided. By 4 March, I and Captain Templer, the FOO, had recced, and found empty, the old enemy base on the north bank of the Koemba/Separan junction, and located, by ear at least, an enemy base under construction on the south bank of the Koemba.

From first light on 4 March, 11 Platoon watched the Koemba for every movement. The remainder of the company moved through swamp (to avoid leaving tracks) and clipped our way out onto some dry ground 300 yards from the river junction. Here the undergrowth was at times less than head height, so we tunnelled out a firm base beneath the fern. The noise of people shouting and singing could at times be heard clearly from the south bank. During the afternoon, 11 Platoon reported ten enemy in two small boats on the river and at 1030 hrs on 5 March saw a large diesel engined boat carrying stores and a few soldiers. We seemed in luck. All three platoons were finally in ambush positions by 1200 hrs that morning.

At 1300 hrs a landing craft type vessel carrying 35 enemy moved downstream towards 11 Platoon, who engaged it at 10-15 yards range with two GPMGs, 94 grenades, and all platoon small arms. The result was devastating. Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur Rai [sic], the GPMG gunner, fired a 200 round belt down into the midst of the troops sitting in the boat, reloaded and ran along the bank firing from the hip as he went. The 94 grenades registered two hits at point-blank range. As the boat passed out of the ambush it canted over to port, the engine stopped, and it slewed into the bank 30 yards downstream. Complete silence reigned, not a scream nor groan was heard... Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur Rai [sic] was awarded the Military Medal for his aggressive action in this ambush operation.’

Sold with copied research - Major Pike having clearly made an error recalling the recipient’s surname, all other details correctly tally to the event.