news obituaries military-obituaries gurkha-obituaries 1366817 ----- # Agansing Rai, VC ## Agansing Rai, who has died in Kathmandu aged 80, was awarded the VC when serving with the 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force) in Burma in 1944. 12:00AM BST 30 May 2000 [Comments][1] In June 1944 the 5th Gurkhas were under great pressure to stem the fanatical Japanese assault on Imphal, where success would have enabled them to break through into India. The Gurkhas were holding the Bishenpur-Silchar track, which had already been the scene of much hard fighting. ![Agansing Rai][2] On 26 June, C Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 5th Gurkhas was ordered to capture an enemy position which dominated the track and had already changed hands several times. It consisted of two strong points, 200 yards apart and mutually self-supporting. Whereas there was dense jungle on the west of the enemy position, the hillside on the other sides was completely bare. Any assault would have to be launched in full view of the enemy for a least 80 yards up a slippery, precipitous ridge rising to a crest. When the Gurkha company reached the crest they were immediately pinned down by fire from machine-guns and a 37 mm gun, suffering many casualties. Agansing Rai (at that time a Naik or Corporal) realised that delay would only lead to more casualties. So he led his section immediately at the machine-gun, firing as he charged. He killed three of the enemy machine-gun's crew of four. Inspired by this example the Gurkha company swept forward and drove the remaining Japanese off the strong point which they then occupied. However the Gurkhas now came under heavy fire from the other strong point, as well as from the 37 mm gun concealed in the jungle. Once again Agansing Rai led his section towards the gun. Half the men were killed on the way, but Rai reached the gun and personally killed three of the five-man crew; his section killed the other two. Rai then returned to his former position, took over the rest of the platoon, and in spite of heavy machine-gun fire and a shower of grenades, rushed forward with a grenade in one hand and a Thompson sub-machine gun in the other. Having reached the position, he killed all the occupants of a bunker with his grenade and bursts of Tommy-gun fire. The remaining Japanese, thoroughly demoralised, fled into the jungle, leaving these two vital positions in the hands of the Gurkhas. Apart from Rai, another member of the 2/5th Royal Gurkha Rifles, Subedar Netrabahadur Thapa, also won a VC for his part in the action, which proved to be a turning point in the struggle for Imphal. Agansing Rai was born in the village of Amsara, in the Okhaldhunga district of Nepal on 24 April 1920. He enlisted in the 5th Gurkhas in 1941 and was posted to the second Battalion. In 1943 he was promoted to section commander with the rank of Naik and saw action in early 1944 in the Chin Hills, where he was awarded a Military Medal. He was presented with the VC by the Viceroy, Field Marshal Lord Wavell, in 1945. Besieged by reporters, who asked him how he felt and what he thought during the battle, he smiled disarmingly and said: "I forget." After the war he became an Instructor at the Regimental Centre and took part in the Victory Parade in London in 1946. He then served with the 2nd/5th Gurkhas in the army of occupation in Japan and was promoted to Subedar (company commander). After Independence in 1947, Agansing Rai remained with the regiment in India, and in 1962-63 served in the Congo as part of the UN peacekeeping force. On retirement from the Army he was granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant. He was presented to the Queen during her visit to Nepal in 1986. He attended many reunions of holders of the Victoria Cross and George Cross in London, where he was much admired as a man of stature and presence. He is remembered as a wise and quiet man, but one with a sense of humour and an ability to enjoy life. Agansing Rai leaves three daughters and two sons. _Published May 30 2000_ [X][3] Share & bookmark Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz [What are these?][4] * Share: [Share][3] [ ][5] [ ][6] [Tweet][7] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/gurkha- obituaries/1366817/Agansing-Rai-VC.html Telegraph ## [Gurkha Obituaries][8] * ### [News »][9] * ### [Obituaries »][10] * ### [Military Obituaries »][11] In news [![Lachhiman Gurung ][12] ][13] ### [Havildar Lachhiman Gurung, VC][13] [![Bhanubhakta VC][14] ][15] ### [Bhanubhakta Gurung, VC][15] [![Agansing Rai][16] ][17] ### [Agansing Rai, VC][17] [![Gaje Ghale][18] ][19] ### [Captain Gaje Ghale, VC][19] [![Ganju Lama][20] ][21] ### [Ganju Lama, VC][21] [X][3] Share & bookmark Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz [What are these?][4] Share: * [ ][3] * [ ][5] * [ ][6] * [Tweet][7] * Advertisement ![][22] telegraphuk Please enable JavaScript to view the [comments powered by Disqus.][23] [blog comments powered by Disqus][24] Advertisement [Follow The Telegraph on Social Media »][25] Like Telegraph.co.uk on Facebook Advertisement Telegraph Announcements * [Deaths][26] * [In Memoriam][27] * [Reader Services][28] Loading [Search all death announcements][29] var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8315869'); var guid = "fba75fcf- c5e0-4643-b254-0f47aa25600f"; var headline = "DUKE OF GRAFTON"; var description = "A Memorial Service for the 11th Duke of Grafton KG, will be held in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on Monday 27th June 2011 at..."; var link = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/133864/duke-of- grafton?WT.ac=fba75fcf-c5e0-4643-b254-0f47aa25600f"; var imageUrl = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/_resx/images/categories/3_140x87.jpg"; var adWeight = "1"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8315869'); var guid = "e172431d- 885e-4243-95c7-51b7d1f8389e"; var headline = "CRAGG"; var description = "Douglas Allen, May 23rd 2011 peacefully at Glan Rhos Nursing Home, Brynsiencyn, Anglesey, former Veterinary Surgeon at Bramhall, Cheshire, aged 90 years. Loving father of..."; var link = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/133874/cragg?WT.ac=e172431d- 885e-4243-95c7-51b7d1f8389e"; var imageUrl = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/_resx/images/categories/3_140x87.jpg"; var adWeight = "1"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8315869'); var guid = "92e4147f-daf1-4b8a- 9c74-12f5c40cdb2f"; var headline = "HOLMES"; var description = "Kenneth Standish TD. On the 25th May 2011 in hospital and of Brooklands. Ken, aged 84 years, beloved husband of Irene, loving father of Penny..."; var link = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/133876/holmes?WT.ac=92e4147f-daf1 -4b8a-9c74-12f5c40cdb2f"; var imageUrl = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/_resx/images/categories/3_140x87.jpg"; var adWeight = "1"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8315869'); var guid = "a0cf483e-fcdc-4726 -b0fa-e3395d7d1cb7"; var headline = "FREEMAN"; var description = "Marjorie Joyce (nee Yarwood) died peacefully at home in Stourbridge on 25th May 2011. SRN The Middlesex Hospital London, Teacher, Health Visitor and Nursing Officer...."; var link = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/133877/freeman?WT.ac=a0cf483e- fcdc-4726-b0fa-e3395d7d1cb7"; var imageUrl = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/_resx/images/categories/3_140x87.jpg"; var adWeight = "1"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8315869'); var guid = "9c874cdf-061c-4b2f- bf70-b1c32c423cbd"; var headline = "GOWER"; var description = "Dawn Ellen Beatrice. Died suddenly but peacefully at the age of 84 on May 24th. The best ever mother and grandmother, desperately missed and mourned..."; var link = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/133878/gower?WT.ac=9c874cdf-061c- 4b2f-bf70-b1c32c423cbd"; var imageUrl = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/_resx/images/categories/3_140x87.jpg"; var adWeight = "1"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8315869'); var guid = "cc6bb66f-b4d7-4819 -98bb-13eeda06c32c"; var headline = "BUTTERWORTH"; var description = "Marilyn Margaret. Died at home surrounded by her family on Tuesday, 24th May 2011, aged 72. Much loved wife of Geoff and wonderful mother, grandmother,..."; var link = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/133885/butterworth?WT.ac =cc6bb66f-b4d7-4819-98bb-13eeda06c32c"; var imageUrl = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/_resx/images/categories/3_140x87.jpg"; var adWeight = "1"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8315869'); var guid = "72b01adf-8d5a- 440c-a581-aba1946d979c"; var headline = "ROGERS"; var description = "Orlando. Tragically died on Sunday 15th May 2011 aged 26 years. He will be greatly missed by his family, many friends and colleagues. A Service..."; var link = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/133886/rogers?WT.ac=72b01adf- 8d5a-440c-a581-aba1946d979c"; var imageUrl = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/_resx/images/categories/3_140x87.jpg"; var adWeight = "1"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8315869'); var guid = "be7eb6c0-f68a-44ec- ae27-a73572f4d499"; var headline = "SPARROW"; var description = "Joan, of Albrighton, Shrewsbury, passed away peacefully on 26th May 2011. Funeral Service at Albrighton Church on Thursday, June 2nd at 12 noon. Enquiries to..."; var link = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/133889/sparrow?WT.ac=be7eb6c0 -f68a-44ec-ae27-a73572f4d499"; var imageUrl = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/_resx/images/categories/3_140x87.jpg"; var adWeight = "1"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8315869'); var guid = "3750cf04-8a6b-4552-8812-c7ff4bad41f7"; var headline = "SMITH"; var description = "James Edward of Langstone, Hants, died peacefully at home 22nd May 2011 aged 91. Enquiries to Lee Fletcher Funeral Services 02392 384455"; var link = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/133890/smith?WT.ac=375 0cf04-8a6b-4552-8812-c7ff4bad41f7"; var imageUrl = "http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/_resx/images/categories/3_140x87.jpg"; var adWeight = "1"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight});