Gurkha Army Last Recipient Of Queen Elizabeth II Award Dies, Save British Soldiers When Facing Indonesian Troops

Captain Rambadur Limbu (center). (Twitter/@GurkhaMuseum)

JAKARTA - The last Gurkha Army to receive an award from the late Queen Elizabeth II for her courage in confrontation against Indonesian troops, passed away last Saturday.

Captain Rbahadur Limbu, who is a member of the British Gurkha squad as well as the last recipient of The Victoria Cross who was still alive, died at the age of 83, leaving behind a wife Eunimaya and three children.

Previously, he underwent treatment atELITI Hospital based in Lalitpur, Nepal. He breathed his last at 3:45 am, according to the hospital, quoted by The Katthmandu Post April 25.

Rbahudur Limbu was 26, when he was awarded the British highest military award by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 1966, for his courage during an attack on Indonesian troops on the island of Borneo, where he rescued two of his fellow soldiers.

Limbu, then a copral officer at the 2nd Battalion of the 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles, carried out a mission in November 1965, part of a three-year "conflotation" conflict known as Bau Battle triggered by Indonesia's opposition to the formation of Malaysia.

Captain (QGO) (Retd) Rambahadur Limbu VC MVO passed away peacefully in Nepal on 22nd April 2023, age 83. The Brigade of Gurkhas extend their deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to his family and friends, and give thanks for his life. #gurkha #Nepal #military pic.twitter.com/QLq1FPmZeG

— Gurkha Brigade (@Gurkha_Brigade) April 22, 2023

In an operation named Time Keeper, the 2nd Battalion C Company where Limbu served was ordered across the border to determine the position of the enemy. Intelligence reports show that there are about 30 to 40 enemies in Gunong Tepoi, a remote hill about 500 feet high on the western tip of the Jagoi mountains, launching the Telegraph.

The cross-border attack of Gurkha's troops on the unclear mountainous border between West Sarawak and Indonesia is known as a "secret war". The strategy, not even mentioned in an official press release for fear of inviting criticism from all over the world

"He has been a figure and role model for Gurkha's courage over generations of Gurkha members and soldiers. His loss will be felt by everyone he has inspired," said the Gurkha Brigade Association as reported by The Guardian.

Regarding the incident that earned her Victoria Cross the courage of the military, she told the Mirror in 2014: "I didn't think I would be shot. All I care about is saving my friends."

Limbu also received The Royal Victorian Order 'Member' (MVO), an award given to the extraordinary, important or personal service to Britain's sovereignty.

On 11 March 1954, Her Majesty The Queen reintroduced ‘The Queen’s Gurkha Orderly Officers’, requiring them to attend at official functions from time to time. Since then, two Queen’s Gurkha Orderly Officers have been nominated every year. #Gurkhas pic.twitter.com/hlc1AMD0S4

— The Gurkha Museum (@GurkhaMuseum) March 11, 2021

Later, Captain Limbu left the British Army in 1985, after being promoted to work in Brunei Darussalam. Limbu then retired in 1992 and lives in Damak City, East Nepal.

In 2014, Limbu went to Westminster to speak during Gurkha's Welfare Investigation of concerns over pension rights, adult dependents, compensation, the same treatment for Gurkha's widow and free medical care for veterans in Nepal similar to those provided for retirees in England.

The following year, he took part in a parade celebrating the 200th anniversary of the history of the Gurkha Brigade which was attended by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, according to Hello. "Brigade Gurkha is more than just a combat force, it's also a in the real sense a family," said King Charles III, who at that time was still Prince.

Separately, British Ambassador to Nepal, Nicola Pollitt, traveled to Damak in September 2022 for Limbu to sign a book of condolences for Queen Elizabeth II after her death.

"He signed the book, considering with pride and sadness his long service to His Majesty," Pollitt tweeted.

At Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September last year, 17 of 23 Victoria Cross and George Cross recipients for civil courage attended, including one from New Zealand and four from Australia.

The Gurkha Brigade consists of Nepalese soldiers who have been recruited into British troops since the peace agreement between the two countries was signed in 1815.