During the Defence of Kohima in March/April 1944 the garrison contained approximately 200 men of the 24th Reinforcement Centre which was located at Kohima. They were from various Regiments and Corps but were en route to their unit from locations in India. Going through the ‘Missing Men’ files I sometimes come across mention of men involved in the defence of Kohima who were either missing, killed In action, wounded or who survived unscathed and thought it would be good to have a thread to record their contribution to this vital battle. Edwards says that the Camp was in tents and located on the track to Merema. It would have had a small permanent staff under Lt Col Malcolm Hepworth of 16th Punjab Regt. However most of the men it contributed would have been in transit between Dimapur and Imphal either as individuals or in small groups, rather than in units. Some had been wounded in earlier fighting or had been in hospital due to sickness. It is clear in the documentation that some attempt was made to record the names of those involved and the casualties after the defenders were evacuated but I am not aware of the continued existence of any of those lists.
LATHAM, CHARLES FREDERICK Serjeant, Service Number 10540487, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Died 01/04/1944 Aged 31 - Son of Charles Henry and Ella Roberta Latham, of Isleworth, Middlesex.
Well done Skoyen for taking up the cudgel on behalf of those from the Reinforcement Camps, in this case 24 Camp, whose vital input has almost been completely overlooked. As far as I know only two Rft Camps, 20 and 24 were caught up in heavy fighting during the Kohima and Imphal battles but proved their worth in both cases. Lionboxer
Others mentioned in this account: BOOTH, George Corporal; Service Number 3657926 1st Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment Commemorated on Face 15 on the Rangoon Memorial as he has no known grave George Booth was the son of Thomas and Nellie Booth of Moreton, Cheshire. He was born on 6 Sept 1915. He married Bertha M Booth and in 1939 they were living in Walker household at 34 Reedville Grove, Wallasey. He was employed as plasterer and she was a domestic servant. He was declared ‘Missing – believed killed’ with a date of 9 April 1944 in 1944 and an article in the Liverpool Echo of 22 Sept 1944 asked for anyone who knew the circumstances of his death. In 1946 that was changed to ‘ on or shortly after 1 April 1944’.
JOSLIN, Oriel George Bombardier; Service Number 1753509 28 Lt. A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery Died 10/04/1944 Aged 35 Buried Kohima Cemetery 11 C 19
CATCHPOLE Walter Gunner, Service Number: 6089814 75 Lt. A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery Died 05 April 1944 Age 22 years old Commemorated on RANGOON MEMORIAL, Face 2.
9 Borders Casualties at Kohima GIBBONS, John Private, Service Number: 3599966 9th Bn, Border Regiment Died 08 April 1944 at Kohima Commemorated on Face 13 of the Rangoon Memorial as no known grave Age 24 years old. Son of William Gibbons, and of Sarah Ann Gibbons, of Dalston, Cumberland. JONES, William James Cpl, Service Number: 3604347 9th Bn, Border Regiment Died 09 April 1944 at Kohima Commemorated on Face 13 of the Rangoon Memorial as no known grave Age 31 years old. Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Jones; husband of Robina Jones, of Upperby, Carlisle. HARRIES, Gwilym Pte, 3961704 9th Bn, Border Regiment Died Between 04 April 1944 and 20 April 1944 Buried at KOHIMA WAR CEMETERY, Grave 5. E. 5. Age 22 years old. Born 7 June 1921 to David John Harries and Mary Elizabeth Percele who in 1939 were living at 1 Southern Terrace, Pensarn, Carmarthen. Gwilym was originally buried at Gateshead Cemetery in Kohima with three other unknown soldiers before being ‘concentrated' into the Kohima War Cemetery.
Kohima – 2 Borders Casualties SMITH George Hislop Pte: 329802 2nd Bn, Border Regiment Died 04 April 1944 Initially Buried at Summer House Hill and marked by a cross. Subsequently moved to be buried at KOHIMA WAR CEMETERY Grave 6. A. 3. Age 34 years old and born in Tynemouth area, Northumberland in Q2 1911. Son of George and Elizabeth Smith; husband of Jean (nee Purdham) Smith, of Wigton, Cumberland. They were married in Q4 1940 and they were living in Northumberland when he enlisted.
By the time of the fighting at Kohima, 24 Rft Camp were, or should have been, holding and providing reinforcements for 256 Sub Area Lines of Communication units with 25 Rft Camp at milestone 114 Safarmaina taking on their former role of providing reinforcements for 23 Indian Division. In the confusion of troop movements through Kohima nearer to the front lines, the cutting of the main road to Imphal on the 29th March probably meant reinforcements from all manner of units were placed within 24 Rft Camp. Milestone 110 Keithelmanbi was the location of 20 Rft Camp which was the Divisional R/C for 20 Indian Division. Amongst those units in the Division were 2nd Borders and 1st Northants so it seems likely that Pte Smith (2Border) and Cpl Booth (1Northants) mentioned above were on their way there to Keithelmanbi. Fatefully, had they gotten through to 20 Rft Camp they then would have been caught up in the battle at Kanglatongbi when 20 Rft Camp defended Lion Box fourteen miles north of Imphal. Nearly a hundred men were killed there. Lionboxer
" Milestone 110 Keithelmanbi was the location of 20 Rft Camp which was the Divisional R/C for 20 Indian Division. Amongst those units in the Division were 2nd Borders and 1st Northants so it seems likely that Pte Smith (2Border) and Cpl Booth (1Northants) mentioned above were on their way there to Keithelmanbi." Yes, worth remembering as well that for the first half of March 1944 20th Indian Division were in the Kabaw Valley, with the three Battalions quite spread out north and south of Tamu. So it wasn't just a case of the reinforcements getting to Imphal but on to their units. At least one of the Northamptons who was involved in the defence of Kohima was wounded at Kyaukchaw in the Kabaw Valley in January 1944 and probably on his way back from hospitalisation in India.
BAINES Joseph Pte; 5835472 2nd Bn. Suffolk Regiment but Attached to the HQ of IV Corps, which was in Imphal at the time. Died 01 April 1944 He was originally buried at the DC’s Bungalow at MR 501668 and his grave marked with a cross. His grave was moved on 16 Aug 1944 into plot 6. B. 5. Of the Kohima War Cemetery Age 35 years old. Son of Leonard Thomas Baines and Mary Ann Baines, of New Bradwell, Buckinghamshire. He is also commemorated on the New Bradwell War Memorial. He was born on 26 Jan 1909 in Bradwell and in 1939 was living with his mother and siblings at 25 Spencer Street, Wolverton. He was a Carriage Cleaner and Washer in the Paint Shop of the LMS Carriage Works at Wolverton. He was also an ARP on the LMS Railway. He played football locally with Wolverton and other clubs. His brother, Charles K Baines, was a POW in Thailand but returned in 1945.
There's no mention of Baines being attached to IV Corps on any of the three casualty lists he's on. I think he was one of the Suffolks flown into Dimapur with 5 Div from the Arakan. Probably reported sick and left in hospital when the Suffolks moved out to Imphal. His service record is the only way to be sure. He's in fine company in the Kohima Cemetery being buried next but one to Brigadier Willie Goschen the commander of 4 Infantry Brigade of 2 Div. Actually the CWGC has it as being the 4 "Indian" Infantry Brigade, which is wrong. Lionboxer
Not a casualty but came across this Recommendation for the Military Medal to Cpl Gerald Norman Murray (5619873) of the Devonshire Regiment for Kohima. He was one of the composite companies of men from the Reinforcement Camp. A pity it does not mention the names of his accomplices.
Here's another who seems to have escaped attention as being a Kohima Garrison casualty, though not from the Rft Camp.... Sometime ago I came across an account from a Lt Leonard John Burns of the Wiltshire Regiment posted to the 3rd Carabiniers giving details of his patrol's experiences at Kohima. Lt Burns was in charge of twelve men of the Carbs (all named) who had been detailed to do road patrols along the main Imphal Dimapur road in their three armoured personnel carriers. They left their base at Oyster Box at milestone 125 on 22nd March to meet their infantry escort from 2 Suffolks at Kohima but when the Suffolks moved out to Imphal a few days later Lt Burns continued his patrolling without infantry escort until his group found themselves the wrong side of the Japanese block. On 30th March after various escapades he finally reported to the Kohima Garrison Commander and was then placed on the Field Supply Depot feature and dug in with his men and began their part in the defensive fighting. On the 12th April this small band of Carbs took their first casualties when Troopers Heggie and Gowland were wounded and 7927300 Lance Corporal Alfred John Manning was killed by shellfire. Troopers Quin and Williams were wounded near the end of the siege. I have found no mention whatsoever of this group in any of the books I've read about Kohima, not even in Fergal Keane's account nor Leslie Edward's nor Robert Lyman's detailed books. There was however a mention in Arthur Campbell's book of when three armoured carriers were pushed over the khud side to prevent the Japanese using them for bunkers/cover. Lt Burns account confirms this when they were ordered to evacuate their position on FSD on 11th April. Lt Burns had misgivings about this as the vehicles were on his charge! On 20th April Lt Burns and the remaining seven Carbs of his patrol marched out of Kohima with just the rags they were dressed in. L/Cpl Manning was not found or positively identified after the battle and is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial but the date given for his death is 16th June, two months after the date he was actually killed. I don't know why the CWGC gives this date. Lionboxer
That is really interesting; can I ask where this account can be found? All three of the BORs that you mention were originally listed as DNR, but Gowland was subsequently amended to 21/04/44 This may just be a transcription error - 21 for 12. Who knows where Manning's 16/06/44 comes from, but the casualty lists are not entirely accurate, especially for those serving away from their parent units.
Jitter, the account by Lt Burns was hidden away in the appendices of 3rd Carabiniers War Diary, easily overlooked and the last place you would expect Kohima to be mentioned as the Carbs were heavily involved with all the major battles (as well as smaller ones!) around Imphal at the time! Trooper Quinn was wounded on 18/04/44 and Tpr Williams on 19/04/44 according to Lt Burns. Whether Lt Burns wrote to Manning's NoK about the circumstances and place of his death is unknown but certainly any researchers would never have found out given the CWGC date and place of commemoration. I wonder how many more cases like this there are? Lionboxer
Interesting account Lionboxer. No Mention of LCpl Alfred John Manning 7927300 in the MIssing Personnel File for the RAC WO361/209
Thanks for that, Lionboxer. Quinn and Williams (if JA Williams 7938479) were both also 'DNR', but Williams, assuming it is the same fellow, was later amended to wounded 10/04/44.
Skoyen, he wasn’t missing, he was dead! It’s just that his body wasn’t recovered or identified afterwards. I should imagine he was in one of those graves that were hit by shellfire and his ID lost. May still be in the Kohima Cemetery as an unknown. Lionboxer