A 'Hard Fighting' Second World War, India Independence & Malaya Emergency Campaign & Long Service Medal Group of 8: Warrant Officer Class 2 Dalbahadur Thapa, 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)

- The 1939-1945 Star. No clasp
- The Africa Star. With original clasp '8th Army'
- The Italy Star
- Defence Medal
- War Medal
- General Service 1918-62. GVI 2nd issue& clasp 'Malaya' (21132199 Cpl Dalbahadur. Thapa. 2 G.R.)
- Military LS&GC. EIIR issue with 'Regular Army' bar (21132199 W.O.2 Dalbahadur Thapa. 2 G.R.)
- India: Independence Medal 1947 (21132199 Cpl. Dalbahadur Thapa. G.R.)

Medals & Clasps Verification: All medals and clasps verified as entitled per the recipients service papers, in which all medals are listed

Dalbahadur Thapa was a Nepalese soldier of Gurkha ethnicity, who came from Thanthap, Gulmi District, Nepal, where he was born in 1925. His extant service papers record that he served with 2nd Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles) from 22 December 1941-21 December 1960, during which after his initial training he was posted to the 1st Battalion 2nd Gurkha Rifles, and with which battalion he remained throughout his subsequent service with the British Indian Army and then British Army. He served throughout the Second World War. During the Second World War in the Western Desert, North Africa, and Italy, 1/2 GR served with 7th Indian Infantry Brigade, under higher formation of the famous 4th Indian Division. Two Victoria Crosses were awarded to Gurkhas of 1/2 G.R. for their gallantry in the Western Desert / North Africa, where the regiment fought with great distinction at El Alamein on 23 October & 4 November 1942 - gaining the Battle Honour for the Regiment - and later won its highest accolades for their collective gallantry at the battle of Wadi Akarit. 1/2 GR then fought through the Italy campaign where 1/2 GR were present at Monte Cassino.

Post-war Dalbahadur Thapa then served five tours in Malaya with his unit, viz April 1948-August 1950, May 1951-March 1955, November 1955-June 1956, August 1956-August 1957 and January-March 1957

Sold together with a photo-stat hard copy set of the recipient service papers

The medals mounted as-worn by the regimental tailor in the swing-style. The medals suspended on contemporary silk ribands. mounted on a white metal mounting bar. This latter retaining its original long hinged pin & clasp fittings

A superb group of medals representing multiple hard fought campaigns - and a very scarce seen surviving example of the '8th Army' clasp to an infantry unit of the former British Indian Army

Condition: About GVF

Code: 24766