Tulbahadur Pun VC

Following up this story from Iain Dale, over here is the citation for the Victoria Cross to Tulbahadur Pun.

I think I've already mentioned today that we're ruled by fuckwits so I won't repeat myself. This gentleman has been refused leave to enter the UK for medical treatment because he cannot show that he has strong ties with this country.

Yes, they've said that about someone of whom, in an earlier age, we were proud to say this:

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to :- No. 10119 Rifleman Tullbahadur Pun, 6th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army. In Burma on June 23rd, 1944, a Battalion of the 6th Gurkha Rifles was ordered to attack the Railway Bridge at Mogaung. Immediately the attack developed the enemy opened concentrated and sustained cross fire at close range from a position known as the Red House and from a strong bunker position two hundred yards to the left of it. So intense was this cross fire that both the leading platoons of 'B' Company, one of which was Rifleman Tul Bahadur Pun's, were pinned to the ground and the whole of his Section was wiped out with the exception of himself, the Section commander and one other man. The Section commander immediately led the remaining two men in a charge on the Red House but was at once badly wounded. Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun and his remaining companion continued the charge, but the latter too was immediately wounded. Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun then seized the Bren Gun, and firing from the hip as he went, continued the charge on this heavily bunkered position alone, in the face of the most shattering concentration of automatic fire, directed straight at him. With the dawn coming up behind him, he presented a perfect target to the Japanese. He had to move for thirty yards over open ground, ankle deep in mud, through shell holes and over fallen trees. Despite these overwhelming odds, he reached the Red House and closed with the Japanese occupations. He killed three and put five more to flight and captured two light machine guns and much ammunition. He then gave accurate supporting fire from the bunker to the remainder of his platoon which enabled them to reach their objective. His outstanding courage and superb gallantry in the face of odds which meant almost certain death were most inspiring to all ranks and beyond praise.

Beyond praise, eh?

But of course, if we make exceptions then they'll all want to come, won't they? Yes, no doubt they will, all four living Gurkha holders of the Victoria Cross.

Bugger me, we should be lining the streets and cheering as a marching band leads them to the finest hospital in the country where their every need is catered to by a grateful nation, not making him walk for a day every month to collect his pension.

Can you imagine the Americans doing this to a holder of the Medal of Honor? Or the bureaucrat who did it surviving for very long?

The Englishman might have something here:

I need to go outside for a calming breath of fresh air and look longingly at that unused length of hempen rope in the barn, one day my lovely, one day...