Lalbahadur Pun
Lalbahadur Pun | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 17, 1937 |
| Died | January 9, 2026 (aged 88) Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Allegiance | .svg.png){kind=small} United Kingdom Brunei |
Branch | British Army Gurkha Reserve Unit |
Service years | 1959–2000 |
Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | 2nd Gurkha Rifles |
| Commands | Brigade of Gurkhas Training Depot, Hong Kong (1979–1981) |
Conflicts | Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation |
| Awards | OBE (Mil), Military Cross |
| Spouse | Sara Pun |
| Relations | Honorary Captain Tikajit Pun MBE OBI IDSM (father) |
Lieutenant Colonel Lalbahadur Pun OBE MC (1937–2026) was a Nepalese Gurkha officer in the British Army.[1][2] He was the first Nepalese and Sandhurst-commissioned Gurkha officer to achieve the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, which was the highest rank attained by a Gurkha officer in the 200-year history of the Brigade of Gurkhas.[3][4][5] In 1969, he also became the first Gurkha officer to attend the Staff College, Camberley.[6]
Pun served in the 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles) and was commissioned in 1959.[4] In 1965, while commanding 'D' Company, he led a successful attack on an Indonesian camp during the Borneo Confrontation, for which he was awarded the Military Cross (MC).[3] He later served as the Commandant of the Training Depot Brigade of Gurkhas in Hong Kong from 1979 to 1981 and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen Elizabeth II's 1981 Birthday Honours.[6][7] Following his British Army career, he served as a Battalion Commander in the Gurkha Reserve Unit (GRU) in Brunei.[4]
Born in the village of Shikha in the Myagdi District of Nepal, he was the son of Honorary Captain Tikajit Pun (MBE, OBI, IDSM), a highly distinguished Chindit veteran of the 2nd Gurkhas.[3][7][8]
References
- ↑ "Recommendation for Award for Lalbahadur Pun – Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel, Regiment: 2 Gurkha Rifles". War Office: Soldiers' Documents, Effects and Theatre Records. WO 373 (Recommendations for Military Honours and Awards). The National Archives. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
- ↑ "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). The London Gazette. No. 48639. 13 June 1981. p. B6. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
O.B.E. To be Ordinary Officers of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order: ... Lieutenant Colonel LALBAHADUR PUN, M.C., (463364), 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)
- 1 2 3 Telegraph Obituaries (22 January 2026). "Lieutenant-Colonel Lalbahadur Pun, Gurkha awarded the MC for his courage during an operation in Malaysia – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
- 1 2 3 "Lt Col Lalbahadur Pun obituary: trailblazing Gurkha officer". The Times. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
- ↑ "Nepali origin British Army officer promoted to Lieutenant Colonel". The Kathmandu Post. 4 February 2018. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
- 1 2 "Obituary – Lt Col Lalbahadur Pun OBE MC". Gurkha Brigade Association. 22 January 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
- 1 2 "Lieutenant Colonel Lalbahadur Pun OBE MC". Sirmoor Rifles Association (2nd Goorkhas). Retrieved 2026-07-03.
- ↑ "Captain Tikajit Pun MBE OBI IDSM". Sirmoor Rifles Association (2nd Goorkhas). Retrieved 2026-07-03.