Thaman Gurung was born on 2 October 1924. He joined the Indian Army and was enlisted in 5 Royal Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force). In September 1944 he was placed in 5/1 Gorkha Rifles. The unit was then part of 17 Brigade in 5 Indian Division of the 8th Army. His battalion was deployed to Italy to fight the German army.
He was serving in ‘A’ Company. On 10 November 1944 the company was ordered to send a fighting patrol of one platoon to Monte San Bartolo, Italy, high mountain without any cover. The approaches were steep and precipitous. The main position was held by the enemy and the approaches were covered by a number of machine gun posts. The main position was occupied by the Germans, anyone approaching was sure to be observed and annihilated by machine gun fire. Thaman Gurung was one of the two scouts of this patrol.
The two scouts managed to reach the base of the position by skilful stalking. Thaman Gurung started to work his way to the top. The second scout turned his attention to Germans in a slit trench just below the crest, who were preparing to fire with a machine gun at the leading section. Realising that if the enemy succeeded in opening fire, the section would certainly sustain heavy casualties, Rifleman Thaman Gurung leapt to his feet and charged them. Taken by surprise, the Germans surrendered without resistance.
Rifleman Thaman Gurung then crept forward to the summit of the position, from which he saw a party of Germans, well dug in on reverse slopes, preparing to throw grenades over the crest at the leading section. This would have caused heavy casualties. Although the sky- line was devoid of cover and under accurate machine gun fire at close range, Rifleman Thaman Gurung immediately crossed the skyline. Firing on the German position with his Tommy gun allowed the forward section to reach the summit. Yet, due to fire from enemy machine guns, the platoon was ordered to withdraw.
He collected two more grenades and again doubled over the bullet-swept crest of the hill top and hurled them at the remaining Germans. This diversion enabled both rear sections to withdraw without further loss. Meanwhile, the sections to withdraw without further loss. Meanwhile, the leading section, which had remained behind to assist the withdrawal of the remainder of the platoon, was still on the summit, so Rifleman Thaman Gurung, shouted to the section to withdraw.
Seizing a Bren gun and a number of magazines, he again ran to the top of the hill alone and knowing this could be fatal, stood up on the bullet swept crest. The remaining section was able to withdraw without any loss. Dropping to the ground, Gurung laid down a heavy cover of fire, buying the forward section enough time to pull out with the rest of the platoon.
After sending a full pair of magazines down into the German position, Gurung’s luck ran out. He was killed by enemy fire, but not before he facilitated the safe retreat of almost his entire platoon with minimal casualties.
For his gallant actions and dedication to the safety of his brothers in arms, Rifleman Thaman Gurung was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery, the highest honor awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. His bravery that day allowed the hill to be taken three days later.
Rifleman Thaman Gurung was just 20 when he was martyred. The then viceroy, Field Marshal Lord Wavell, presented Thaman Gurung’s mother with the Victoria Cross which had been awarded to her son on 19 December 1945 at a parade in Delhi. His mother, Sardi Gurungseni, was accompanied by her husband, Thaman’s stepfather and other members of her family, and went through the trying ceremony with a calmness and dignity.
Thaman Gurung was laid to rest in the Rimini Gurkha War Cemetery, Rimini, Italy. The medals are still in private ownership.