Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An outstanding Borneo operations M.M. group of three awarded to Captain (Q.G.O.) Ramprasad Pun, 2/2nd Gurkha Rifles, who opened the firefight on “Operation Hell Fire” in September 1965 - with his forward section of 10 Gurkhas facing a force of 100 terrorists, he stood his ground, firing his Bren gun from the hip and causing the enemy countless casualties

Military Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (21150344 Rfn. Ramprasad Pun, 2 G.R.); General Service 1962, 2 clasps, Borneo, Malay Peninsula (21150344 Rfn. Ramparsad, 2/2 G.R.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., Regular Army (Lt. (Q.G.O.) Ramprasad Pun, M.M. 2 G.R.), mounted as worn, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise generally very fine (3) £4000-5000

M.M. London Gazette 24 May 1966. The original recommendation states:

‘On 2 September 1965, Rifleman Ramprasad Pun took part in an operation, the aim of which was to ambush a stream bed in the border area of the Lundu District of Sarawak which it was believed Indonesian infiltration parties used as a route to Sarawak.

He was a Bren gunner with the ambush party’s north flank protection group - a group consisting of 10 Gurkha other ranks. His task was to cover the track which ran parallel to the stream and to kill any enemy approaching down the track or who tried to outflank the ambush position as a whole.

Contrary to expectation the enemy, an Indonesian company over one hundred strong, appeared suddenly from the flank using the track rather than the stream as an axis. Rifleman Ramprasad Pun held his fire until there were 25 Indonesians in his flank group’s killing ground and the enemy leading scout was 10 feet from his position.

With his initial burst of fire he killed the leading scout and three other enemy soldiers. The Indonesian company were quick to react and put in an immediate frontal assault, covered by heavy machine-gun fire on Rifleman Ramprasad Pun’s group, and at the same time commenced trying to outflank the ambush position in order to cut off Support Company’s withdrawal.

A fierce fire-fight, lasting some 10 minutes, now began between the enemy company and Rifleman Ramprasad’s group. In this fight he played a very prominent part, inflicting many casualties on the enemy. The Company Commander’s order for the north flank group to withdraw to reorganise at the rendezvous was now received and Rifleman Ramprasad’s party started to break contact and pull back.

The enemy, seeing this manoeuvre commence, immediately started to press forward with greater ferocity. Yelling to his Platoon Commander, who was nearby, that he would cover the north flank group’s withdrawal, Rifleman Ramprasad Pun, with no regard for himself, then leapt to his feet in order to get a better view of his targets and proceeded to deal with the enemy. Shouting encouragement to his comrades this brave young soldier withdrew step by step between the retiring north flank group and the enemy. Firing his Bren gun from the hip, Rifleman Ramprasad Pun threw back group after group of charging Indonesians, inflicting yet again many casualties on the enemy. He kept up these tactics until the enemy pressure had slackened sufficiently for his group and platoon to make a clean break to the rendezvous.

Throughout this harsh and confused battle against almost overwhelming odds, Rifleman Ramprasad Pun’s behaviour was outstanding. His marksmanship was of a very high order and he inflicted a great number of casualties on the enemy. His fearless example under fire served to encourage the soldiers around him. His personal conduct during the withdrawal phase contributed greatly to his flank group and his platoon reaching the rendezvous without casualties.’

Ramprasad Pun was born in November 1942 and enlisted in the Brigade of Gurkhas in November 1959. Having also seen active service in the Malay Peninsula, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant (Q.G.O.) in 1978 and was placed on the Retired List as a Captain (Q.G.O.) in May 1987 - his original accompanying Certificate of Qualifications refers.