CITATION FOR THE AWARD OF THE VICTORIA CROSS TO
RIFLEMAN TULBAHADUR PUN VC
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to No. 10119 Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun 6th Gurkha Rifles.In Burma on June 23rd, 1944, a battalion of the 6th Gurkha Rifles was ordered to attack the railway bridge at Mogaung. Immediately the attack developed the enemy opened concentrated and sustained cross-fire at close range from a position known as the Red House and from a strong bunker position two hundred yards to the left. So intense was this cross-fire that both the leading platoons of B Company, one of which was Rifleman Tulbahadur’s, were pinned to the ground and the whole of his section was wiped out with the exception of himself, the section commander and one other man.The section commander immediately led the remaining two men in a charge on the Red House but was at once badly wounded. Rifleman Tulbahadur and his remaining companion continued the charge, but the latter too was immediately wounded. Rifleman Tulbahadur then seized the Bren Gun and, firing from the hip as he went, continued the charge on this heavily bunkered position alone in the face of the most shattering concentration of automatic fire directed straight at him.
With the dawn coming up behind him he presented a perfect target to the Japanese. He had to move for thirty yards over open ground ankle deep in mud, through shell holes and over fallen trees. Despite these overwhelming odds he reached the Red House and closed with the Japanese occupants. He killed three, put five more to flight and captured two light machine guns and much ammunition. He then gave accurate supporting fire from the bunker to the remainder of his platoon which enabled them to reach their objective.
His outstanding courage and superb gallantry in the face of odds which meant almost certain death were most inspiring to all ranks and were beyond praise.