Virtual News Release

Honouring Rfn Gurkha Sher Bahadur Thapa, VC

The San Marino Republic philatelic issue is a factual tribute to the Indian troops who fought in the Italian Campaign during the Second World War, and to honour Gurkha Rifleman Sher Bahadur Thapa, Victoria Cross recipient, who was killed in action fighting the Battle of San Marino.

Today, the two Heads of State of the Republic of San Marino, H.E. Alessandro Rossi and H.E. Milena Gasperoni, at the Governmental palace, graced the stamps’ release commemorating the supreme sacrifice by the Indian Soldiers, namely rifleman Sher Bahadur Thapa, Victoria Cross.

Indian Soldiers played a crucial role in the Italian Campaign during the Second World War, wherein more than 50,000 Indian Army soldiers, assigned to 4th, 8th, 10th Divisions and the 43rd Brigade, were deployed. Out of the 20 Victoria Crosses awarded for the Italian Campaign, six were awarded to Indian soldiers.

The latter suffered 23,722 casualties, of which 5,782 Indian soldiers made the supreme sacrifice, and are commemorated in the 40 Commonwealth War Graves spread all over Italy.

The stamp issue honouring the contributions during the Italian Campaign is a testimony to the fact that neutral and independent San Marino Republic holds in high reverence the supreme sacrifices and contributions by the Indian Soldiers during the Italian Campaign of the Second World War.

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Video news release available at: https://www.faleristica.com/online-pressroom

As part of the initiatives to commemorate the eightieth anniversary of the overcoming of the Gothic Line and the Liberation of Rimini, the National Phaleristic Association has created the "Gotica80" project, which enjoys the patronage of the Ministry of Defense, the Emilia Romagna Region and the Municipalities of Rimini, Bellaria-Igea Marina, Coriano, Misano Adriatico, Montescudo-Montecolombo, Morciano di Romagna, Saludecio, Sassofeltrio, Verucchio and the Embassy of New Zealand in Rome.

Further information on the stamps’ issue at: https://www.dfn.sm/news/l80-anniversario-della-battaglia-di-monte-pulito-su-un-dittico-postale-di-poste-san-marino/

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For further details:

ANF communication office

Giovanni Ramunno, Mauro Bloise, Candida Cerbino Media partner:

Tel. (0039) 3807988835 il BASCO AZZURRO

Email: associazionefaleristica@gmail.com https://www.anae.it/il-basco-azzurro/

Website: www.faleristica.com