209581 A/Sbdr. Netrabahadur Thapa VC.British Indian Army 2nd Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles from:Nepal (d.26 June 1944) On 25th/26th June 1944, at the age of twenty eight, Netrabahadur Thapa was an acting subedar of the 2nd Battalion of the 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles. He was in command of a small isolated hill post at Bishenpur, India when the Japanese army attacked in force. The men, inspired by their leader's example, held their ground and the enemy were beaten off, but casualties were very heavy and reinforcements were requested. When these arrived some hours later they also suffered heavy casualties. Thapa retrieved the reinforcements' ammunition himself and mounted an offensive with grenades and kukris, until he was killed. For this action he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
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