VC hero Gurkha banned from living in Britain 'because he has no strong ties with UK'

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His courage in the face of almost certain death earned him the Victoria Cross.

Tul Bahadur Pun single-handedly stormed Japanese machine-gun positions during the Second World War.

The Gurkha's extraordinary act of valour won him royal admirers and he was invited to the Queen's Coronation and had tea with the Queen Mother.

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Old soldier: 84-year old Tul Bahadur Pun, who earned his VC in Burma on June 23, 1944, after almost all his comrades were wiped out, is being denied entry

Yet, despite his illustrious record, his application to live in Britain has been refused.

The old soldier was told: "You have failed to demonstrate that you have strong ties with the UK."

Lawyers acting for Mr Pun, 84, along with 2,000 former Gurkhas, will appeal before the immigration courts in London in August.

Mr Pun, who has a number of serious health problems, must hope he can survive the intervening months in his home in Nepal.

He has a heart condition, poor eyesight, asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure and he requires daily medication – which is not always available where he lives.

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Young hero: Tul in 1953, nine years after he won the VC

Mr Pun, who receives a £132-amonth Army pension, wants to move here because of his health.

However, among the reasons officials gave for refusing his plea was that he had "not produced satisfactory evidence" that he had a "chronic or long-term medical condition", and that treatment here would significantly improve his quality of life.

"I have served the UK with the utmost loyalty and to be treated in this way is appalling," he said.

"I take a substantial amount of medication daily. There is not always a constant supply.

"There are no doctors or nurses, no medical outposts.

"I wish to settle in the UK to have better access to medication, care and support."

He has to travel from his mountain home to the Gurkha camp at Pokhara once a month to collect his pension.

It involves a day's walk and he has to be carried in a basket by several men.

Mr Pun earned his VC in Burma on June 23, 1944, after almost all his comrades were wiped out. He seized a Bren Gun and, firing from the hip and running through ankle-deep mud, he ignored Japanese fire to storm machine gun positions.

His official citation read: "His outstanding courage and superb gallantry in the face of odds which meant almost certain death were most inspiring and beyond praise."

His Ealing-based solicitor Martin Howe said former Gurkhas such as Mr Pun have to show "strong reasons" – which can include medical needs and family ties – why they should be allowed into the UK.

He criticised Government officials in Nepal for being "too formulaic" in their approach. "They don't take into account the dignity and valour of these people," he added.

"This man was prepared to lay down his life in defence of Britain."

In Burma the Gurkhas fought with the special forces group known as the Chindits. Major Neville Hogan, chairman of the Chindits Old Comrades Association, said: "I can't think of a braver soldier who served the British Crown. I have met him three or four times.

"The decision to refuse him entry is an absolute bloody disgrace. He should be sent to an army hospital or a home and given VIP treatment."

The Home Office said an independent immigration judge had powers of discretion on appeals from applicants such as Mr Pun.

 

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