Meet Lachhiman Gurung, the Nepali Gurkha soldier who fought off 200 Japanese soldiers, killing 31 of them to hold his post for almost 4 hours.
All this with just one hand.
(Image: Lachhiman Gurung )
The 89th Indian Infantry Brigade had orders to cross the Irrawady River and attack the Japanese forces between the western and northern regions of Burma. The attack was strong and was successful in pushing back the Japanese forces towards the northern Burmese Village of Taungdaw along the banks of the river. This village was where the 4th Battalion and 8th Gurkha Rifles awaited the Japanese to drive home their advantage. These were the companies Gurung was a part of.
Rifleman Gurung was manning the forward most outpost of the platoon when the Japanese attacked early in the morning of 13th May 1945. There were around 200 Japanese enemy soldiers and his outpost suffered the worst onslaught. Grenades were hurled very frequently to his post and he was able to successfully hurl back two grenades before they blew up. However, unfortunately, before he could, the third grenade blew up in his right hand, blowing his fingers right off, wrecking his arm and leaving him severely injured on the right side of his body.
His colleagues who were manning this post were also critically wounded in the battle and he realised that the onus was on him. He disregarded his own injuries and kept reloading his rifle with left hand and fended off all onward attack on the company. This way he single handedly held his post for the next 4 hours, calmly returning fire with fire during any attack.
Of the 87 enemy killed and neutralized in the encounter, 31 lay in front of Rifleman Gurung's section. Gurung had killed all 31 of them! Gurung held on to a key position and was able to inspire all his comrades to fight off the enemy even though they were completely surrounded and cut off for three days and two nights. Eventually, they won the battle and were able to defeat the Japanese forces in this little Burmese village.
Later, despite losing his one eye and entire right arm, he decided to stay with the Gurkha Rifles until they were put under the newly formed Indian Army in 1947. For his bravery, he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest gallantry award that can be given to the British and Commonwealth forces.