Subadar Kishan Bir Nagarkoti of the 5th Gurkha Rifles is regarded as one of the bravest Gurkhas, having been awarded the Indian Order of Merit (IOM) four times. The first time was during the Second Afghan War when he received the IOM 3rd Class for bravery at the battle of Mungair Pass on 13 Dec 1878. This was upgraded to 2nd Class for conspicuous gallantry at Charasia on 6 Oct 1879. In each case he was a sepoy, but he had been promoted to naik when he won the 1st Class IOM for his third act of bravery at Kabul on 12 Dec 1879.
Nine years later he held the commissioned rank of Subadar and further proved himself in the Black Mountain operations when he defended Major Legh Richmond Battye and Captain H. B. Urmston on 18 June 1888. Major Battye was killed and two other sepoys won the 3rd Class IOM on that occasion, while Subadar Nagarkoti was awarded a gold bar to his 1st Class IOM.
Up until 1911 the highest award for gallantry for Indian soldiers of all ranks was the Indian Order of Merit. After the Delhi Durbar in December 1911, King George V decreed that awards of the Victoria Cross (VC) should include Indian soldiers. There was also the Indian Distinguished Service Medal (IDSM), awarded from 1907. The 2nd and 3rd Class IOMs were silver stars with enamelling, and the 1st Class was gold and enamel. Soldiers upgraded in class were required to hand in the lower grade medal. On retirement a 1st Class IOM entitled the soldier to receive a double pension.
Subadar Kishan Bir Nagarkoti retired in 1892 and returned to Nepal. He had served in the 5th Goorkha Rifles, based at Abbottabad, since he enlisted in 1860. He was a Sirishta of the Newar caste.
