Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 21001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals (conducted behind closed doors)
Lot: 451

Six: Lieutenant C. S. Thapa, O.B.I., 9th Gurkhas

India General Service 1895-1908, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (992 Rif..man Champha Sing Thapa 9th Gurkha Rifles); British War Medal 1914-20 (Subdr. Champha Singh Thapa 2-9 G.R.); Victory Medal 1914-19, erased; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Malabar 1921-22 (Lieut. Champha Sing Thapa 2-9 G.R.); Delhi Durbar 1911; Jubilee 1935, mounted as worn, pin removed, first with official corrections, very fine (6)

Champha Sing Thapa was appointed Subadar Major of 2nd Battalion, 9th Gurkha Rifles in 1920. He enlisted in 1895, two years after the 9th Regiment of Bengal Infantry began its conversion to 9th Gurkha Rifles in 1901. This included the period that the Regiment took part in the operations on the North-West Frontier of India 1897-98. It is assumed that he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion 9th Gurkha Rifles when it was raised in 1904. Promoted Jemadar in 1914 and Subadar in 1916, he served in Mesopotamia in 1916, where it took part in the Shumran Crossing of the Tigris in February 1917 for which Major Wheeler, a Company Commander, was awarded the Victoria Cross. Thereafter, the Battalion took part in the advance to Baghdad and subsequently provided the personal guard for the Army Commander in Mesopotamia. The Battalion returned to India in 1919 and went on to play a major part in the Waziristan campaign 1919-20, although Thapa was not present. However, he did accompany the Battalion to Malabar in 1921 and in December 1922, he was granted the King's Honorary Commission as a Lieutenant and appointed to the Order of British India Bahadur for his excellent work (Gazette of India 2019 of 1922). The Supplement to The Indian Army List 1924 confirms his war service on the N-W. Frontier, India, 1897-98 and Tirah 1897-98; The War of 1914-21 - Operations in Mesopotamia, 15th September 1916 to 27th March 1919 and the award of Despatches Gazette of India 18th July 1919.


Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£480

Starting price
£190