Noticeboard
21 January 2026
OBITUARY – LIEUTENANT COLONEL LALBAHADUR PUN
The Times obituary for Lieutenant Colonel Lalbahadur Pun OBE MC, who died on 9 January 2026, can be read here. His Daily Telegraph obituary is here.
27 August 2025
VJ DAY COMMEMORATION IN NEPAL
Having celebrated the 80th anniversary of Victory In Europe (VE 80) at British Gurkhas Nepal (BGN), Kathmandu, on Thursday, 8th May, Victory in Japan (VJ 80) was celebrated at the British Embassy Kathmandu on Saturday, 15th August 2025, with a large gathering of British and Gurkha veterans living in and around Kathmandu. A number of dignitaries from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Nepal Armed Police Force and various other government sectors were also invited. After a short speech by His Excellency Mr Rob Fenn, the British Ambassador to Nepal, a two minute silence was observed, accompanied by ‘The Last Post’ in memory of those heroes who had sacrificed their lives in the Second World War. This was followed by a Reveille call after which wreaths were laid by the Ambassador, Lieutenant General Nirmal Kumar Thapa, Vice Chief of the Army Staff Nepal Army, Colonel Dan Rex MVO, the Defence Attaché, and Major Balkrishna Rana MBE, Chairman Regimental Associations Nepal (RAN). 2GR was represented by Captain Bharat Thapa, the Chairman of the Sirmoor Club Nepal, WO1 Passang Lama and Corporal Nauraj Gurung. The programme ended at 1600 hours after refreshment.
VIPs at the ceremony: Nepal Government representatives; His Excellency the British Ambassador and his wife; Lieutenant General Nirmal Kumar Thapa; Colonel Dan Rex and his wife.
The British Ambassador laying a wreath.
RAN veterans with Chairman RAN Major Balkrishna Rana MBE QOGLR (side hat) and 2 GR reps, Chairman SCN, Cpl Nauraj Gurung and WO 1 Passang Lama
RAN Chairman with QOGLR, 2 GR and 7 GR Reps
Major Balkrishna Rana with Chairman SCN and WO1 Passang Lama
15 August 2025
VJ DAY MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT SIRMOOR RIFLES ASSOCIATION
On this day, 15th August in 1945, the Allies finally secured victory against Japan after over four years of hard and bitter combat in South East Asia and the Pacific. This year is the 80th anniversary of that historic moment and we should all pause to reflect on the sacrifices that were made in order for us to have a better future.
In particular, we remember our fellow Gurkha officers and soldiers who did not return and selflessly made the ultimate sacrifice. Many of those who did return bore the physical and psychological scars of war for the remainder of their lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with their friends and families who still remember and have had to live with that loss or support those returnees in need.
On VJ Day 2025 we must honour each of those few remaining brave Gurkha veterans who are the rearguard of the greatest generation. Their courage, loyalty, and exemplary spirit is a guiding beacon for all of us and a demonstration of how to embrace life with dignity and honour. Through them we remember their comrades who have now departed on their last patrol, but whose memories and example live on in each of us.
Jai Gurkhali, Jai Sirmoor Rifles