Subedar Indra Bahadur Khattri M.C.

On 2nd March '44 at BROADWAY, Subedar INDRA BAHADUR KHATTRI was 2nd in Command of "D" Coy, 3/9 G.R. (Floating Coy). At 2245 hrs a battle was joined with a large Japanese Force. In the early stages of the action he was of the utmost assistance to his Coy Comd and an inspiration to all. In the action his Coy Comd was seriously wounded and he took over command of the Coy. The enemy, in greatly superior strength, attacked his position, which was unprepared, for five hours during the night. Sub INDRA BAHADUR KHATTRI controlled the fire, collected together a large number of grenades and himself threw them with great accuracy when the enemy crawled close to the position and constantly visited his sections encouraging the men. During the action he also personally supervised the care of the casualties, conducting them to a place of comparative safety in the jungle. At dawn, when the enemy withdrew after suffering heavy casualties, the subedar with a few men and in the face of enemy fire, made his way into the Stronghold bringing much wanted information. He then took out another patrol through the enemy's position in an attempt to find a safe route along which to bring in casualties.

The bearing and courage of the Gurkha Officer were an inspiration to his men. The leadership and initiative which he displayed when the command of the Coy passed to him in difficult conditions of darkness and jungle were largely responsible for the successful action fought by the Coy in which 60 casualties were inflicted of the numerically superior force of Japanese.

In the Field. 27/4/44.