Gurkha hero receives Burma Star 78 years after service
We have supported Gurkha veteran Chandraman Tamang with a pension and medical care since 1982. Recently, during a conversation with Chandraman about his service during World War Two, one of our staff members realised the veteran had never received his Burma Star medal.
“I was on a field visit in Sikkim (India) to assess the welfare and medical needs of our Gurkha pensioners, and met with Chandraman Tamang,” said Vinod, one of our Area Welfare Officers. “He told me he had served in the British Army and fought in the Burma campaign.”
Vinod delivered a rice cooker to Chandraman and his wife Dhanmaya last winter as part of the GWT’s Winter Allowance.
Looking back on his Army days
At 102 years old, Chandraman Tamang said he did not recall much from his time in the 7th Gurkha Rifles, but he remembered that he was always on the move.
Chandraman enlisted at Lahera Sarai in Darbanga, India in 1943. He did one year of training at Palampur and soon after his recruit training he was deployed to Burma to fight the Japanese. He served in the same regiment as Ganju Lama VC.
Young Chandraman had fought valiantly against the Japanese at the Sittang River. His regiment then moved on until they reached the Irrawaddy River, where the Japanese had set up camp. Seeing the regiment of fearsome Gurkhas approaching, the Japanese immediately surrendered. Chandraman remembered how he and his fellow soldiers had to guard the prisoners day and night.
Finding Chandraman’s medal
Our Area Welfare Officer Indra presented Chandraman with his Burma Star.
Vinod checked Chandraman’s Army record and confirmed that he indeed served in the Burma campaign. “Poor Chandraman, this old but proud soldier never had knowledge [that he should have received] the Burma Star Medal,” Vinod said.
Going above and beyond, Vinod researched how to apply for Chandraman’s missing medal, writing to several organisations including the Burma Star Memorial Fund. After providing proof of Chandraman’s service, it was agreed that a replica would be sourced and sent to our Area Welfare Centre in Darjeeling.
When the medal arrived two months later, another Area Welfare Officer, Indra, travelled five hours to reach Chandraman’s home in the remote village of Lingdum, where he lives with his wife Dhanmaya.
“I felt so lucky and proud to be presenting Chandraman with this medal,” Indra said. “When we arrived at his home, he was still doing his house chores – you would never guess he was 102 years old!”
Chandraman was surprised and very pleased to have finally received his Burma Star. Indra could tell the elderly veteran felt proud to wear it alongside his other medals. “He would look at the medal from time to time during our visit and had a big grin on his face. I explained to his family members what the medal signified,” Indra said.
We are proud of our team for putting in such an incredible effort to provide Chandraman with his much-deserved recognition. It is just one more example of how our staff will do whatever it takes to ensure the ‘Bravest of the Brave’ live with dignity.
Chandraman wears his new medal beside his wife, Dhanmaya.