London, July. 29 (PTI): Gurkha war hero Tul Bahadur Pun may be forced to leave Britain as he finds it difficult to survive on his 'meagre' army pension, despite recently winning a legal battle for the right to stay in the country.

The 84-year-old Pun was awarded UK residency early this month following a public outcry over the government's attempt to prevent him from settling in Britain.

Now the Victoria Cross recipient fears he will be forced to return to Nepal because he and his family are struggling to meet ends with his annual army pension of 1,584 pounds.

His lawyer believes "he will certainly die" if forced to return to Nepal because of the standard of Nepalese medical care. Pun suffered a mild stroke last Sunday and is recovering in hospital.

His plight coincides with the beginning of the first of 2,000 cases of former Gurkhas this week, many of them also decorated and conflict veterans, appealing against the government's decision to prevent them from living in Britain.

Pun was awarded the VC - the highest honour for military bravery - after single-handedly storming Japanese machine-gun positions during the Second World War. Despite his valour, Pun was barred from Britain because officials concluded he did not have "strong ties with the UK".

The elderly Gurkha has heart problems, asthma, diabetes and high blood pressure and requires daily medication that may be difficult to avail in Nepal.