In June 1944 the 17th Indian Division was still under intense pressure from the Japanese at Bishenpur, southwest of Imphal. Their supply route, a mere track running through the hills to Silchar, became a scene of bitter fighting. On the morning of June 25, C Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force) was ordered to recapture an enemy position dominating the track.

The position comprised two mutually supporting outposts, "Water Piquet" and "Mortar Bluff". They had already changed hands several times but the Japanese had retaken them the previous night in an attack of overwhelming strength. Their continued occupation would cut communications to Bishenpur, rendering positions there untenable. The ground to the west of the hillside was dense jungle but elsewhere it was bare. The only approach was by a precipitous ridge to a false crest, beyond which the final assault had to be made over eighty yards of open ground.

After a preliminary artillery bombardment C Company advanced on "Mortar Bluff". On reaching the false crest, they were pinned down by heavy and accurate machine-gun fire from the enemy position and a 37mm gun concealed in the flanking jungle. Naik (corporal) Agansing Rai, seeing that any delay must inevitably lead to heavy casualties to the attacking force, led his section in a charge on the machine-gun post, firing as he went, killing three of the four-man gun crew.

Inspired by Agansing Rai's example his section swept through and secured "Mortar Bluff", only to come under renewed fire from the 37mm gun in the jungle and automatic fire from the enemy still firmly in possession of "Water Piquet". He led his section in a charge on the gun. However, all but three of his men were killed or wounded before half the distance had been covered and, at the critical moment, his Thompson sub-machine-gun jammed. Seizing the section's Bren gun he continued the charge and killed the gun crew while the survivors of his section despatched the remaining enemy in the group.

After picking up and clearing his jammed Tommy-gun he led his depleted section back to "Mortar Bluff" to join the rest of C Company preparing for an attack on the "Water Piquet" position. This went well at first, but machine-gun fire and a hail of grenades from a previously undetected enemy bunker to the flank threatened the advance.

Without waiting for instructions, Naik Agansing Rai ordered his Bren gunner to give him covering fire and advanced alone up a shallow communications trench to the bunker and killed all four occupants with a single burst of fire. The "Water Piquet" position was retaken by his company a few minutes later.

The citation for award of his Victoria Cross concluded "Naik Agansing Rai's magnificent display of initiative, outstanding bravery and gallant leadership so inspired the rest of the company that, in spite of heavy casualties, the result of this important action was never in doubt." He received his decoration from the Viceroy of India, Field Marshall Lord Wavell in 1945.

Medal entitlement of Naik Agansing Rai - 5th Gurkha Rifles

• Victoria Cross
• 1939 - 45 Star
• Burma Star
• War Medal - ( 1939-45 )
• Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953
• Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal 1977