Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second World War Burma operations M.C. group of six awarded to Subadar Damarsing Pun, 4th P.W.O. Gurkha Rifles, whose reserve platoons mounted the ‘fierce khukri and bayonet charge’ that led to the capture of “Mandalay Hill”, but not before having to clear numerous defensive tunnels with petrol and tracer fire - when signalled at the height of the action by his Battalion C.O., to see whether he needed any assistance, Damarsing Pun responded: “No, only breakfast. Out”

Military Cross, G.VI.R. reverse officially dated ‘1946’; India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39 (3115 Hav. Damar Sing Pun, 1-4 G.R.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; India Service Medal 1939-45, mounted as worn, generally good very fine (6) £3000-3500

Ex J. B. Hayward, May 1976 (Item No. 503), and Ron Penhall collection, Dix Noonan Webb, 22 September 2006 (Lot 74).

M.C. London Gazette 17 January 1946. The original recommendation states:

‘Throughout the period under review (16 February to 15 May 1945), this Gurkha officer has commanded a Rifle Company which has been eminently successful in many actions. On 3 March, Subadar Damarsing Pun was ordered to take Harlech, one of two commanding heights in the large mountain barrier chosen by the Japanese as a main delaying position. By his coolness in the face of heavy opposition and quick appreciation he skilfully out-manoeuvred the enemy and secured the objective. The subsequent heavy enemy counter-attack was driven off with heavy loss. The now famous night attack on Mandalay Hill was another great achievement by his company. When the leading platoon was pinned down by M.M.G. fire at the start, he personally led his other platoons through the storm to the summit where he forced the enemy to withdraw by fierce khukri and bayonet charge. Determined counter-attacks supported by direct Japanese gun fire were all driven off. Thirty-eight Japanese were killed and many wounded in this action. His leadership, tactical skill and devotion to duty throughout have been of the very highest order.’

Mention in despatches London Gazette 10 January 1946.

Damarsing Pun, a Hindu Ghurka from the village of Remi, enlisted in the 4th P.W.O. Gurkha Rifles in 1925. Although originally recommended for the I.O.M. following the action at Mandalay Hill, Lieutenant-General Slim, C.-in-C. 14th Army, changed award to the M.C.

Sold with an original letter from Colonel J. N. “Hamish” MacKay, D.S.O., Pun’s wartime C.O., dated 3 March 1977, in which he refers to a remarkable series of photographs taken around the time of the Mandalay Hill operations, copies of which are included in the Lot - “Do you believe in ghosts? These pictures are the spookiest thing I have ever known!”.