Lance Havildar Nar Bahadur Ale was born on 15 July 1954 in Dailekh district, Nepal. He joined the Indian Army on 15 July 1972 and was enrolled into 3/4 Gorkha Rifles of 4 Gorkha Rifles.
By 1987, after around fifteen years of service, he had risen to the rank of Lance Havildar and had gained extensive experience in operational areas. His unit was deployed in the Siachen Glacier sector, where Indian troops operated in extremely difficult high-altitude conditions.
Lance Havildar Ale served as the commander of a medium machine gun detachment at the Bilafond La Complex. On 23 September 1987, Pakistani forces launched an attack supported by heavy artillery. His accurate machine-gun fire played an important role in stopping the assault.
The enemy launched another major attack on the night of 24 September. Heavy artillery and missile fire struck the Indian position, and an artillery shell severely wounded Lance Havildar Ale while also incapacitating the other members of his machine-gun detachment.
Despite suffering severe injuries and losing substantial blood, he took control of the machine gun himself and continued firing. His sustained fire broke the enemy assault before it could reach the Indian position. He refused evacuation and remained at his post, subsequently helping repel further attacks.
Lance Havildar Nar Bahadur Ale eventually succumbed to his injuries on 24 September 1987. For his exceptional courage, leadership and devotion to duty in the defence of the Bilafond La position, he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously.