DESPITE Sunday's heavy downpour, an event took place at Purfleet-on-Thames Heritage and Military Centre to celebrate Gurkha history and the presence of a strong Nelaplese community in Thurrock.

Originally planned to be largely outdoors, Sunday's (22 April) heay rain meant most events took place inside the centre, in the presence of borough mayor Cllr James Halden and East Thurrock MP Stephen metcalfe. Also presetn was Thurrock Council communities portfolio holder Qaisar Abbas and local ward councillor Lee Watson.

Around 60 members from the Nepalese Gurkha Community attended and opening speeches were made by their president Mananda Rai, and Kishor Limbu and Sundar Limbu.

Dduring the speeches a moment of remembrance for the passing of Rambahadur Limbu VC on Saturday, 22 April.

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.

Rambahadur Limbu VC

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.

The Last Post in tribute to him was played by Dave Honeywell of Grays Band. There was also a piper from Gurkha Signals who had only returned from Nepal the day before.

The centre was also visited by a number of the Gurkha bike riders.