Indian and Gurkha troops in Tunisian attack

20th April 1943: Another VC for Indian troops in North Africa and a graphic account of the Gurkha's use of the Kukri

With smoke screen for cover, Ghurkas storm an enemy position in the Tunisian mountains

With Kukris waving, the Ghurkas rush in to the attack.

Everyone seemed to accept that the end was nearing in North Africa, the Germans were wondering where the Allies would strike next in the Mediterranean, and the Allies were doing their best to keep them guessing.

Yet the fighting in Tunisia went on unabated. The final battles as the Allies moved on to the capital Tunis were as bitterly fought as ever.

All too often this meant assaulting German hilltop positions which were heavily defended, the battles often resolved to hand-to-hand engagements and casualties were invariably heavy. In the thick of the action were Indian and Ghurkha troops, just as they had been all the way through the campaign.

I was challenged in a foreign language. I felt it was not the British language or I would have recognised it. To make quite sure I crept up and found myself looking into the face of a German. I recognised him by his helmet. He was fumbling with his weapon so I cut off his head with my kukri.

Company Havildar Major Chhelu Ram, awarded posthumous VC, (1905-1943), 4th Rajputana Rifles.