Geri3389994518 at 04:40, 8 May 2026

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{{short description|Recipient of the Victoria Cross}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Karanbahadur Rana Magar
| honorific_suffix =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = Karanbahadur Rana, VC.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Rana during the First World War
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1898|12|21}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1973|07|25|1898|12|21}}
| birth_place = Mangalthan, Gulmi, [[Nepal]]
| death_place = Litung, Nepal
| burial_place =
| burial_label =
| burial_coordinates = 
| nickname =
| birth_name =
| allegiance = {{flag|British India|23px}}
| branch = {{army|British India|23px}}
| service_years =
| rank = [[Rifleman]]
| service_number =
| unit = [[3rd Gurkha Rifles]]
| commands =
| battles = [[World War I]]
| battles_label =
| awards = [[File:UK Victoria Cross ribbon bar.svg|30px]] [[Victoria Cross]]
| relations =
| other_work =
| signature =
| website = 
}}
'''Karanbahadur Rana Magar''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (21 December 1898 – 25 July 1973<ref>{{Cite web|title=WW1 Nepalese VC recipient Karanbahadur Rana|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/ww1-nepalese-vc-recipient-karanbahadur-rana|access-date=2020-06-09|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref>) was a [[Nepalese people|Nepalese]] [[Gurkha]] recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces.

==Details==
Karanbahadur Rana was born at Mangalthan Gulmi, Litung, in the [[Baglung]] district of [[Nepal]], and was a member of the [[Magars|Magar people]]. During the First World War he joined the [[3rd Gurkha Rifles|3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles]] of the [[British Indian Army]], and was posted to the regiment's 2nd battalion, then serving with the [[75th Division (United Kingdom)|75th Division]] in [[Sinai and Palestine campaign|Palestine]].<ref name=ODNB>{{cite ODNB |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/67204 |title=Rana, Karnabahadur |last=Pett |first=R. A.|year=2004|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/67204 |access-date=9 January 2021}}</ref>

On 9 April 1917, the British XXI Corps was on the coastal sector of Palestine just north of [[Jaffa]] with the 75th Division on the right of the corps. The British planned an operation which in several stages would capture [[Tulkarm]]. The 75th Division launched a preliminary attack at 05:10 hours on 9 April and met fierce resistance. On 10 April, in the fighting at El Kefr, Palestine, Rifleman Karanbahadur Rana, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles, 75th Division, was awarded the Victoria Cross for most conspicuous bravery. The citation published on 21 June 1918 stated:

:For most conspicuous bravery, resource in action under adverse conditions, and utter contempt for danger.

:During an attack, he, with a few other men, succeeded under intense fire, in creeping forward with a Lewis gun in order to engage an enemy machine gun which had caused severe casualties to officers and other ranks who had attempted to put it out of action. No. 1 of the Lewis gun opened fire, and was shot immediately. Without a moment's hesitation Rifleman Karanbahadur pushed the dead man off the gun, and in spite of bombs thrown at him and heavy fire from both flanks, he opened fire and knocked out the enemy machine-gun crew; then, switching his fire on to the enemy bombers and riflemen in front of him, he silenced their fire. He kept his gun in action and showed the greatest coolness in removing defects which on two occasions prevented the gun from firing. During the remainder of the day he did magnificent work, and when a withdrawal was ordered he assisted with covering fire until the enemy were close on him. He displayed throughout a very high standard of valour and devotion to duty.:<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30757|supp=y|pages=7307–7308|date=21 June 1918}}</ref>

The unit, date and place of VC actions were not gazetted from 1916 until 11 November 1918. These details were gazetted on 31 March 1919 when Karanbahadur Rana was listed with the '2/3rd Q.A.O. Gurkha Rif.', the date '10.4.18' and place 'El Kefr'. The gazette incorrectly stated El Kefr was in Egypt; it is in Palestine.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31259|supp=y|pages=4158–4158|date=31 March 1919}}</ref><ref>[[Sinai and Palestine campaign|Action of Berukin, 9–11 April 1917]]</ref> In silencing the enemy machine-gun, Karanbahadur Rana, enabled his company commander, Lieutenant [[Frederick Barter]], who had been lying within 30 yards of the machine gun for five and a half hours to withdraw. As a company sergeant-major with The Royal Welch Fusiliers, Lieutenant Barter had been awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery at Festubert, France, on 16 May 1915.{{sfn|Gliddon|2005|p=193}}

At the end of two days of attacks, the offensive was called off.{{sfn|Keogh|Graham|1955|p=214}}

Rana continued his military service after the war, serving in the [[Waziristan campaign (1919–1920)|1919–1921 Waziristan campaign]].<ref name=VCguide/> He later returned to Nepal and died at Litung, Bharse Gulmi in Nepal on 25 July 1973, aged seventy-four.<ref name=ODNB/>

==The medal==
After his death, Rana's VC and other medals were obtained from one of his sons by [[the Gurkha Museum]] in Winchester, Hampshire, England, where they have been displayed since November 1974.<ref name=VCguide>{{cite web |url=http://victoriacross.moonfruit.com/karanbahadur-rana-vc/4587265454 |title=Khudadad Khan biography |publisher=Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria & George Cross |access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}
*[[List of Brigade of Gurkhas recipients of the Victoria Cross]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |title=Suez to Aleppo |last1=Keogh |first1=E. G.|last2=Graham |first2=Joan |year=1955 |publisher=Directorate of Military Training by Wilkie & Co |location=Melbourne|oclc=220029983}}
* {{cite book |last= Gliddon |first= Gerald |year=2005 |publisher= Sutton Publishing |title= The sideshows |series=VCs of the First World War |isbn=978-0-7509-5378-8}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ggnepal.htm Burial location]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rana, Karanbahadur}}
[[Category:1898 births]]
[[Category:Nepalese World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:British Indian Army soldiers]]
[[Category:1973 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:People from Gulmi District]]
[[Category:Nepalese people of World War I]]

Karanbahadur Rana Magar - Revision history

Geri3389994518 at 04:40, 8 May 2026