A Gurkha 'Far East Prisoner of War' campaign medal, long service and India independence medal group of 6: Staff Sergeant Jokhe Pun, 1st Battalion 2nd Gurkha Rifles, late 2nd Battalion 2nd Gurkha Rifles (Sirmoor Rifles)

- The 1939-45 Star. No clasp
- The Pacific Star. No clasp
- War Medal
- GSM 1918-62. GVI issue clasp 'Malaya' (21132112 Cpl. Jokhe. Pun 2 GR.)
- Military LS&GC. EIIR issue 'Regular Army' bar (21132112 S.Sgt. Jokhe Pun. 2 G.R.)
- India: Independence Medal 1947 (21132112 Cpl. Jokhe. Pun. G.R.)

The post 1945 medals all with officially impressed naming

The recipient was a Nepalese soldier of Gurkha ethnicity from Western Nepal, who latterly held the rank of Staff Sergeant, while serving with the 2nd Battalion 2nd Gurkha Rifles of the British Army

Medals and clasp verification: The medal rolls for the Second World War, Malaya Emergency are not yet in the public domain. The Military Long Service & Good Conduct Medal is confirmed per below published source:

- Military LS&GC: Awarded 1959, WitH 1/2 GR ref Regimental Journal of 2nd Gurkha Rifles No 1 Vol 5

In August 1941, 2/2 GR embarked at Bombay bound for Malaya. At time of embarkation for overseas service, 2/2 GR had a strength of 16 x British Officers, 22 x Gurkha Officers, 831 x Gurkha Other Ranks & 69 Followers. The battalion served with 28th Indian Infantry Brigade and the brigade disembarked ain Malaya in September 1941.

In recognition of their service during the Malaya Campaign 1941-1942, 2nd Battalion 2nd Gurkha Rifles was awarded 5 x Battle Honours viz;

- Malaya, 1941-42
- Singapore Island
- Johore
- Slim River
- Jitra

Official records reveal that extremely few Gurkhas of 2/2 GR, ever betrayed their loyalty to the British during the dark months & years of POW internment in Singapore. Jokhe Pun, refused all efforts by the Japanese and their fellow travellers, to join the puppet, and ineffective, Indian National Army. That Jokhe Pun and his comrades did not weaken, was in large part due to the continuing influence and sustained efforts of Subadar-Major Hari Singh Bohra O.B.I. - the senior VCO of 2/2 GR - who by leadership and example, refused to succumb to the Japanese inducements to 'Turn' the other ranks of 2/2 GR. Sadly, Subadar-Major Bohra, died because of the brutal treatment and torture that he was subjected too for resisting his Japanese captors, his uncommon gallantry later recognized by the posthumous award of an Indian Order of Merit

2nd Battalion 2nd Gurkha Rifles transferred to the British Army with effect on 1 January 1948, on which date Jokhe Pun was allocated his unique British Army number viz 21133325

At the time of being awarded his Military LS&GC in 1959, Staff Sergeant Jokhe Pun was serving with 1st Battalion 2nd Gurkha Rifles, suggesting that he was originally a pre 1941 member of 1/2 GR, who had been posted to the second battalion when the latter had embarked for Malaya in 1941

The medals mounted in the swing-style and as-worn by the recipient suspended from silk ribands. The mounting bar retaining the original long hinged pin and clasp fittings

A most desirable and extremely hard earned 'South East Asia' campaign medal group to a most loyal Gurkha soldier

Condition: VF

Code: 24130