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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 498

An outstanding 1949 Malaya M.C. group of six awarded to Captain (KGO) L. Gurung, 2nd Gurkha Rifles

Military Cross, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, reverse officially dated '1950'; India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (1872 Rfm. Lachhiman Gurung, 1-2 G.R.); War and India Service Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. Lachhiman. Gurung. M.C. 2G.R.); Indian Independence 1947 (388580. Jem. Lachiman. Gurung. G.R.), mounted as worn, very fine (6)

M.C. London Gazette 19 May 1950. The original recommendation states:

'In the early hours of 22 November 1949 Lachhiman Gurung received information from a nearby Planter that the tracks of a considerable number of bandits had been seen crossing from South to North across the Segamat-Labis road and adjacent to his Coy HQ at Tenang. His Company Commander being temporarily absent, the Jemadar without hesitation ordered out all available men, fifty in number, whom he divided into two Platoons. Leading the Coy himself, and after following with difficulty the bandit tracks for some five hours he and his leading Scouts came suddenly into a clearing where they were at once engaged by LMG, Sten and rifle fire. The Jemadar, notwithstanding that his shirt over his right shoulder had been pierced by a bullet and his rifle sling hit in two places, at once took up the best field of fire he could find and, with three other men directed fire on the enemy killing three of them. Finding himself pinned to the ground he gave orders for his second Platoon to carry out a flanking movement. This they did killing a further bandit en route. Under cover of their movement and under heavy fire from what turned out to be no less than 200 bandits the Jemadar changed his position to a better field of fire and succeeded, with the help of his companions, in wounding seriously a further three bandits. At this the enemy fled leaving behind the four dead, four rifles and a quantity of ammunition together with most of their clothing which they had been washing.

Lachhiman Gurung, through his quick acceptance of responsibility, initiative and great personal courage was entirely responsible for routing a force of 200 bandits, killing four, wounding others and leaving them destitute of clothing and defeated with a force a quarter of their size.'

M.I.D. London Gazette 4 April 1952.

Lachhiman Gurung served in 'B' Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd (King Edward VII's Own) Gurkha Rifles when they were operating in the Voules Estate, in Tenang, just south of Segamat. He had no English or Malay skills and the leading Bandit killed in his action was known as the 'Indian Bandit' - who at that time had a $1000 bounty on his head; sold together with research which includes a number of group images in which he is identified.

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Sold for
£6,500

Starting price
£2400