The Tiger Badge
At a Committee meeting of the Eastern Section of the Himalayan Club on 6th February 1939 it was decided to create a superior grade for experienced climbing porters, and to give them 8 annas (50 paise or half a rupee) a day extra pay beyond the rate paid to others, for work above the snow-line. It was suggested that these men should be given the name of ‘Tigers’, together with a badge representing a Tiger’s head. A year after the 1939 decision was taken The Himalayan Journal published a list of the first recipients of the TIGER badge.
The last list was published in 1967 so it was updated until then. Subsequently, many Sherpa Tigers died, the last one being Nawang Topgay in 2012. As per our knowledge, one medalist is still alive in Darjeeling – Sona. He was awarded a Tiger Badge for his effort on Everest in 1965.
The list below is the official roll of awards of the Tiger Badge up to August 31, 1967.
| Date of Minute | Name | H/C No. | Expedition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-05-1939 | Lewa | 46 | Everest 1938 |
| Pasang Kikuli | 8 | Not known | |
| Kusang Namgir | 9 | Not known | |
| Ang Tharkay | 19 | Everest 1938 | |
| Wangdi Norbu | 25 | Not known | |
| Lakpa Tenzing | 30 | Everest 1938 | |
| Renzing | 32 | Not known | |
| Tenzing Norgay | 48 | Everest 1938 | |
| Dawa Thondup | 49 | K2 1939 | |
| Dawa Tsering | 53 | ||
| Palden | 54 | ||
| Pasang Dawa Lama | 139 | ||
| Lobsang | 144 | ||
| Ang Tenzing | 3 | ||
| 31-04-1940 | Ang Tenzing | 51 | |
| Aila | 61 | ||
| Gender | 91 | ||
| 21-07-1953 | Ang Tempa III | 155 | Everest 1953 |
| Anullu | 170 | Everest 1953 | |
| Ajiba | 10 | Everest 1952 | |
| Ang Tsering | 36 | Everest 1952 | |
| Sarki | 151 | Everest 1952 | |
| Da Namgyal | 157 | Everest 1952 | |
| Dawa Tenzing | 173 | Everest 1953 | |
| Ang Nima | 176 | Everest 1953 | |
| Pasang Phuta | 188 | Everest 1953 | |
| Ang Namgyal | 190 | Everest 1953 | |
| Gompu | 191 | Everest 1953 | |
| 30-05-1956 | I-la Tenzing | 85 | Kanchengjunga 1955 |
| Ang Norbu | 172 | Kanchengjunga 1955 | |
| Tashi I | 178 | Kanchenjunga 1955 | |
| Ang Temba IV | 179 | Kanchengjunga 1955 | |
| Urken | 232 | Kanchenjunga 1955 | |
| Gyalzen Nuru | 163 | Makalu 1955 | |
| Gundin | 167 | Makalu 1955 | |
| Ang Phuta | 186 | Makalu 1955 | |
| Ang Nima | 132 | Dhaulagiri 1955 | |
| 12-02-1960 | Sonam Girney | Nil | Everest 1960 |
| Ang Norbu | Nil | Everest 1960 | |
| Da Norbu | 193 | Everest 1960 | |
| Pemba Sundar | 182 | Everest 1960 | |
| 27-04-1962 | Wangdi | Nil | Jannu 1959 |
| Da Norbu | 161 | Jannu 1959 | |
| 09-08-1962 | Mingma Tsering | 340 | Makalu 1961 |
| Pemba Tenzing | 341 | Makalu 1961 | |
| Nima Dorje | 345 | Makalu 1961 | |
| 23-07-1964 | Ang Tshering | 203 | Everest 1963 |
| Choetari | 360 | Everest 1963 | |
| Girmin Dorje | 229 | Everest 1963 | |
| Nawang Dorje | 354 | Everest 1963 | |
| Ang Nyima | 355 | Everest 1963 | |
| Phu Dorje | 351 | Everest 1963 | |
| 30-07-1965 | Dawa Norbu (Darjeeling) | 322 | Everest 1965 |
| Tashi (Darjeeling) | 236 | Everest 1965 | |
| Karma (Darjeeling) | 326 | Everest 1965 | |
| Sona (Darjeeling) | 357 | Everest 1965 | |
| Kalden (Gangtok) | 309 | Everest 1965 | |
| Tenzing Nendra (Khumjung) | 362 | Everest 1965 | |
| Nawang Hilla (Khumjung) | 363 | Everest 1965 | |
| Pasang Tendi (Khumjung) | 364 | Everest 1965 | |
| Mingma Tshering (Phorche) | 365 | Everest 1965 | |
| Tenzing Gyatso (Phorche) | 366 | Everest 1965 | |
| Pemba Tharke (Phorche) | 367 | Everest 1965 | |
| Nima Tenzing (Pangboche) | 368 | Everest 1965 | |
| Dawa Tenzing (Namche) | 369 | Everest 1965 |
