Bidspirit auction | Victoria Cross Gurkha Rambahdur Limbu

Victoria Cross Gurkha Rambahdur Limbu VC Geoff Riley GC signed Gallantry cover. In November 1965, Limbu was 26 years old, and was a lance corporal in the 2nd Battalion, 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles, British Army during the Indonesian Confrontation. On 21 November in Sarawak, Borneo, Limbu was in an advance party of 16 Gurkhas when they encountered about 30 Indonesians holding a position on the top of a jungle-covered hill. Limbu went forward with two men, but when they were only ten yards from the enemy machine-gun position, the sentry opened fire on them, whereupon Limbu rushed forward and killed him with a grenade. The remaining enemy combatants then opened fire on the small party, wounding the two men with Limbu. Limbu then made three journeys into the open under heavy fire, two to drag his comrades to safety and one to retrieve their Bren gun, with which he charged down and killed many of the enemy. Geoffrey Riley (1929-2005) was born on 20th November 1929 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, the only son of Donald and Lily Riley (nee Battye). His father was an electrician who worked for the Holmfirth Urban District Council. Geoffrey passed the 11+ examination and attended Holme Valley Grammar School. Geoffrey was just 14 when the incident occurred that would lead to the award of the Albert Medal. On 29th May 1944, after a thunderstorm, followed by a cloudburst, the River Holme became a raging torrent 50ft wide and over 15ft deep, flooding surrounding land and buildings. Riley saw 76 year old Maude Wimpenny, who had taken refuge on a low wall. She was surrounded by flood water that was rapidly rising. He first attempted a rescue by walking to her along the wall, but she would not leave her position. He then entered the water and rescued her from the wall, which later collapsed; he was only a moderate swimmer, and struggled to bring her to safety through the flood until he became exhausted. His father then went to his assistance, but all three were swept away into the river. Geoffrey was sadly the only survivor. Good condition Est.