Lachhiman Gurung Lachhiman Gurung ( ; 30 December 1917 – 12 December 2010 ) was a Nepal ese 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 . Details . Gurung was born in the village of Dakhani , in the Tanahu District of Nepal , the son of Partiman Gurung . He joined the British Indian Army in December 1940 , permitted to enlist in wartime although only 4 ' 11 " tall and so below the peacetime minimum height . He was 27 years old , and a Rifleman in the 4th Battalion , 8th Gurkha Rifles , in the Indian Army during World War II when the following deed took place in May 1945 for which he was awarded the VC . His Battalion was part of the 89th Indian Infantry Brigade of 7th Indian Infantry Division , which was ordered to cross the Irrawaddy River and attack Japanese forces to the north of the road from Prome to Taungup . The Japanese withdrew towards Taungdaw , where Gurung was part of the two companies of the 4th Battalion , 8th Gurkha Rifles waiting , when the Japanese attacked in force in the early morning . On 12 / 13 May 1945 at Taungdaw , Burma [ now Myanmar ] , Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung was manning the most forward post of his platoon which bore the brunt of an attack by at least 200 of the Japanese enemy . Twice he hurled back grenades which had fallen on his trench , but the third exploded in his right hand , blowing off his fingers , shattering his arm and severely wounding him in the face , body and right leg . His two comrades were also badly wounded but the rifleman , now alone and disregarding his wounds , loaded and fired his rifle with his left hand for four hours , calmly waiting for each attack which he met with fire at point blank range . Afterwards , when the casualties were counted , it is reported that there were 31 dead Japanese around his position which he had killed , with only one arm . He received his Victoria Cross from the Viceroy of India , Field Marshal Lord Wavell at the Red Fort in Delhi on 19 December 1945 . Further information . Gurung was hospitalised for the wounds he received during the above action and subsequently lost his right eye and the use of his right hand , but he continued to serve with the 8th Gurkhas , choosing to remain with them when they were transferred to the newly independent Indian Army in 1947 . He later achieved the rank of Hon . Havildar and he returned to his village in Nepal on completion of his service in 1947 , where he farmed on a smallholding . He married twice ; having two sons and daughter from his first marriage , and two more sons from his second . One of his sons later became an officer in the 8th Gurkha Rifles . A new house was provided for him and his family in 1995 near the Gurkha Welfare Centre at Chitwan , using a donation of £2 , 000 from Armourers and Brasiers Company . Later in 1995 , he received a cheque for £100 , 500 for the Gurkha Welfare Trust , presented by British Prime Minister John Major at 10 Downing Street . In 2008 , Gurung and Honorary Lieutenant Tul Bahadur Pun VC were two of the five claimants in a legal claim to allow Gurkha servicemen who had retired before July 1997 ( when the Gurkha base moved from Hong Kong to the UK ) to settle in the UK . The High Court ordered the government to review its policy , and Gurung was allowed to settle in Hounslow , where he was looked after by his granddaughter , Amrita . Gurung was admitted to the Charing Cross Hospital on 19 November after his health condition worsened , suffering from pneumonia . Gurung died on 12 December 2010 . He was survived by his second wife , Manmaya , and his five children . Funeral . His funeral was held on Wednesday 22 December 2010 at Hounslow Civic Centre , Lampton Road , Hounslow , Middlesex , TW3 4DN The medal . The medal is currently held in India , in the possession of Gurung ' s parent unit , the 4th Battalion , 8th Gurkha Rifles .