Last living Gurkha recipient of Victoria Cross dies at the age of 83
The last surviving Gurkha Victoria Cross recipient, Honorary Captain Ram Bahadur Limbu, has died at the age of 83.
Captain Limbu passed away peacefully in hospital in Kathmandu on Saturday morning.
He was the only surviving recipient of the Victoria Cross of the Brigade of Gurkhas.
Captain Limbu enlisted into the British Army in the 1950s, joining 2nd Battalion, 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles.
During the Borneo Confrontation in 1965, Captain Limbu led an attack on a well-fortified position deep within Indonesian territory.
Despite heavy enemy fire, Capt Limbu fearlessly advanced, eliminating enemy sentries and gaining a foothold in the enemy trench.
When his position became compromised, he repositioned himself and his team to a better location.
Under heavy machine gun fire, Capt Limbu crawled to rescue two seriously wounded comrades, carrying them to safety one by one, braving the enemy fire with remarkable courage, twice.
After re-joining his section, Capt Limbu continued to lead the attack, killing four more enemy soldiers.
For his selfless act of bravery and heroism, Capt Limbu was awarded the Victoria Cross by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 1966.
He had also received The Royal Victorian Order (MVO), a dynastic order of knighthood that recognises distinguished service to the British monarch.
Captain Limbu served in the British Army for 28 years. After retiring in 1985, he joined the Sultan of Brunei's Gurkhas Reserve Unit (GRU) in which he served, as a Company 2IC, for eight years.
He is survived by his wife Punimaya and three sons Chandra Prakash, Jiwan and Bhanubhakta Limbu.
Captain Limbu's final ritual will take place in Damak, Jhapa district, according to family members, with the date yet to be confirmed.
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