Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second World War Italy operations M.M. group of four awarded to Rifleman Jadu Gurung, 1/5th Royal Gurkha Rifles, who was decorated for his gallantry as a Stretcher Bearer at San Angelo on 12 May 1944 - he and another Rifleman brought in no less than 42 casualties

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (4525 Rfmn. Jadu Gurung, 5 R.G.R.), engraved naming; 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, the first with edge bruising, otherwise generally good very fine (4) £600-800

M.M. London Gazette 26 October 1944. The original recommendation states:

‘At San Angelo on 12 May 1944 this stretcher bearer showed the greatest personal courage under fire. In company with 64485 Rifleman Sherbahadur Tamang he worked unceasingly and untiringly throughout the day over ground swept by small arms and bombarded with mortar and gunfire. Between them they evacuated forty-two casualties, many of them dressed and carried in from ground overlooked by the enemy. When dressings ran out, he used his own and collected others from the dead. By his splendid courage and devotion to duty, he saved many valuable lives and did much to keep up the moral of his comrades by his determination to get casualties back quickly under the most adverse conditions.’

Rifleman Jadu Gurung was awarded his M.M. for courageous actions as a stretcher bearer during the Gari River Battles, April-May 1944, which formed part of the operations to breach the German Gustav Line.