A Collection of Medals to Gurkhas

Six: Staff Sergeant Jokhe Pun, 2nd King Edward VII’s Own Gurkha Rifles

1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (21132112 Cpl. Jokhe. Pun 2 GR.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (21132112 S.Sgt. Jokhe Pun. 2 G.R.); Indian Independence Medal 1947 (21132112 Cpl. Jokhe. Pun. G.R.) mounted as worn, nearly very fine, Pacific Star scarce to unit (6) £180-£220

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

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23 Battalions of Gurkha soldiers (as well as garrison, training and parachute units) fought in Malaya and Burma in the early stages of the Second World War, remaining steadfast during early losses against the advancing Japanese assaults and later proving instrumental in the fightback in Burma following the Battles of Kohima and Imphal in 1944. Gurkha troops from various regiments also formed a key part of the two Long-Range Penetration ‘Chindit’ Operations in 1943 and 1944, harassing and tying down Japanese troops from behind their lines deep in the jungles of the Pacific theatre; many of these men later met the qualifying criteria for the award of the Burma Star; the award of the Pacific Star to Gurkha soldiers is far scarcer.