Ganju Lama
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Ganju Lama VC, MM (22 July 1924 - 2000) was a Sikkimese recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
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[edit] Enlistment
Ganju Lama was born in Sangmo, southern Sikkim, on July 22 1924. His parents were both Sikkimese. Although neither an ethnic Gurkha nor a Nepalese subject, he enlisted in 1942. At that time, Gurkha regiments were prepared to accept any potential recruit who closely resembled the Gurkha and lived near the border of Nepal.
Ganju Lama's tribe lived in the independent kingdom of sikkim. His real name was Gyamtso Shangderpa, but a clerk in the recruiting office wrote it down as Ganju, and the name stuck. After leaving the regimental centre in 1943, he joined the 1st Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles, in Burma, near Imphal.
[edit] Medals
He was 21 years old, and a Rifleman in the 1st Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 12 June 1944 at Ningthoukhong, Burma (now Myanmar), 'B' Company was attempting to stem the enemy's advance when it came under heavy machine-gun and tank machine-gun fire. Rifleman Ganju Lama, with complete disregard for his own safety, took his Piat gun and, crawling forward, succeeded in bringing the gun into action within 30 yards of the enemy tanks, knocking out two of them. Despite a broken wrist and two other serious wounds to his right and left hands he then moved forward and engaged the tank crew who were trying to escape. Not until he had accounted for all of them did he consent to have his wounds dressed.
A month earlier, Ganju Lama had been awarded the Military Medal. During operations on the Tiddim Road, his regiment surprised a party of Japanese and killed several of them. Ganju Lama was awarded the Military Medal for destroying two tanks in the action.
[edit] Later life
In retirement, Ganju Lama returned to his people and was appointed honorary ADC to the President of India for life. He had been granted the honorary rank of Captain in 1968 while still serving.
[edit] Reference
- Dominick Donald, Noah Price, Edwin King, Tom Bates
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