Siege Of Kohima

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by Belle, Oct 14, 2005.

  1. Belle

    Belle Junior Member

    My grandfather was in the Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment. He passed away on Friday, 7th of October 2005. Prior to this I had no knowledge of his war history. At his funeral on Tuesday, his service in Kohima were mentioned. I would like to find out as much information on this as I can, but am unsure where to start. Any information that you could give is greatly appreciated. I am living in Australia and there is not much information that I can access here. Any websites that you can provide would be of great assistance.
     
  2. mahross

    mahross Senior Member

    Here are a few books on the Burma campaign that will be a good starting place:

    Field Marshal Viscount Slim Defeat into Victory

    Louis Allen Burma: The Longest War

    Jon Latimer Burma: The Forgotten War

    Julian Thompson The Imperial War Museum Book of the War in Burma, 1942-1945

    All of these have section dealing with the Sieges of Imphal and Kohima. More specific details can be found in these books:

    Jon Colvin Not Ordinary Men: The Story of the Battle of Kohima

    David Rooney Burma Victory: Imphal and Kohima, March 1944 to May 1945

    I hope these give you a good starting point.

    Ross
     
  3. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

  4. mattgibbs

    mattgibbs Senior Member

    The new-ish Biography about Slim, Master of War also I recall covers this area. Was an interesting read.
    Kind regards
    MG
     
  5. craftman

    craftman Junior Member

    make sure you read the book Not Ordinary Men. it gives an almost day by day account of the battle.
     
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Belle hasn't been to the site since 15-10-05. I'll PM her to let her know these answers are here.
     
  7. halsaps

    halsaps Junior Member

    Just got new book the history of the RWK 1920 - 1950 so have if you have any
    names I can look them up in this.

    (Still searching for any body in D company the RWK who served with my
    Grandfather George W Cherry shame there isn't a list of all the people that
    served at Kohima anywhere)
    regards Lee
     
  8. Kyt

    Kyt Very Senior Member

    You probably know about the most famous member of D Company at Kohima:

    LANCE CORPORAL JOHN HARMAN

    4th Battalion,
    The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment,
    161st Indian Infantry Brigade,
    5th Indian Division

    Lance Corporal John Harman was a sniper in ‘D’ Company, defending DIS Hill from 6 April when the siege began. On the 7th, Harman crawled forward from his slit trench, towards a Japanese light machine-gun team which had taken cover in a captured trench. Before the Japanese could react, he sprinted the 35 yards to fling himself down below the level of the enemy fire slit. He took out a grenade with a four-second fuse, counted to three, and threw the grenade into the Japanese positions. Having verified that both of his opponents were dead, Harman then returned to his section with their weapons.

    The following day, the Japanese resumed their attacks on DIS Hill. Once again, Harman, bayonet fixed, set out to attack a Japanese trench containing five men armed with automatic weapons. Harman shot his way into the trench,
    wiped out the position, and then began walking back, ignoring his comrades’ shouts to run. He was hit by a burst of fire, and died, saying: ‘I’ve got to go. It was worth it – I got the lot.‘ These actions, which prevented the premature
    fall of the hill, resulted in Lance Corporal John Harman receiving the Victoria Cross. The London Gazette on 22 June 1944 read:

    Lance-Corporal Harman’s heroic action and supreme devotion to duty were a wonderful inspiration to all and were largely responsible for the decisive way in which all attacks were driven off by his company.

    http://www.veteransagency.mod.uk/pdfs/publications/comm_booklets/kohima_book.pdf
     
  9. halsaps

    halsaps Junior Member

    Thanks for the replies. I have got a lot of books also and probably some of the one mentioned I have also got a good book called the siege and another excellent book by Rob Street (who I have spoken too it is about his father a runner in A company he couln't remeber my grandad) sadly none of these books mention my grandad. (have to get his records one day but don't really want to pay 30 pounds to get them)
    Regards Lee.
    :peepwalla:
     
  10. D Jennings

    D Jennings Junior Member

    I am sure my Grandfather was here, but does anyone know where I could find info about RWF at Kohima please?
    Is it worth paying for service records? Will they contain details of military action?
    Thanks.
    Dave
     
  11. DavidT

    DavidT Junior Member

    Belle, I've just joined the forum. A brand new book you might want to read is 'Kohima. the Furthest Battle', by Leslie Edwards and published by History Press. Price: Thirty pounds. ISBN 978 86227 488 4. I'm about half-way through it and am amazed at the detail and all the maps. There's a lot about the RWK in it, much of it taken from primary sources. My grandfather was in the 7th Indian Divn in the RA and took part in the relief of Kohima. David
     
  12. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Belle, I've just joined the forum. A brand new book you might want to read is 'Kohima. the Furthest Battle', by Leslie Edwards and published by History Press. Price: Thirty pounds. ISBN 978 86227 488 4. I'm about half-way through it and am amazed at the detail and all the maps. There's a lot about the RWK in it, much of it taken from primary sources. My grandfather was in the 7th Indian Divn in the RA and took part in the relief of Kohima. David
    David I have heard its a great book nice to have another member with Burma intrest, my Avatar shows my Dad on Mandalay Hill on the road to Mandalay March 1945.And here is a link to the book you mention Kohima: The Furthest Battle: The Story of the Japanese Invasion of India in 1944 and the 'British-Indian Thermopylae': Amazon.co.uk: Leslie Edwards: Books
     
  13. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

  14. cmp

    cmp Member

    The Kohima museum at Fulford barracks in York is well worth a visit:

    The Kohima Museum

    I think that you need to phone and book your visit in advance as it's on the barracks.
     
  15. DavidT

    DavidT Junior Member

    Thanks for all your comments. I'm familiar with the book about Canadians in Burma but don't have it. My grandfather was British, so it wouldn't mention him. He served in the Royal Artillery as a L/Bdr, ending up as A/Bdr, although he said he never got his second stripe. My mother has his pay book and several albums of photos he took with his old box Brownie. One shows him dressing dummies on a gun site, to deceive the Japanese. Another mentions 286 battery/77 LAA regiment, but I haven't found much about it other than a brief mention on an RA site (that seems to have removed the info about LAA regiments now), which says it was a TA regiment in India and Burma and, I think, was disbanded in 1945. I think he was part of the relief of Kohima when they flew the 7th Indian Division from the Arakan. Other places he was at were Comilla, Shillong, Magwe, BHQ Agatala, Imphal, Chittagong, Thayetmayo. There's a photo of him ferrying supplies across the Irrawaddy. If I can borrow the albums when I go over at Christmas, I'll scan them. I don't want to risk having them mailed as between Royal Mail and Canada Post there's sure to be a cock-up.
    I was in touch with the Kohima Museum some time ago, but I can't remember what about. I'd like to get a copy of his service record, but will have to get my mother to put in the application as she's his nearest relative. I still have his slouch hat with the 7th Indian Division 'Golden Arrow' badge on it as well as a Royal Signals flash (he was attached to them at one point). By the way, have you read Brig. M.R. Roberts' book 'Golden Arrow', about the 7th Indian Divn? Published by Gale & Polden in 1952. I don't know if Cassells or Pen & Sword have ever republished it, but you can still pick up copies on Abe Books etc. Well worth a read.
     
  16. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    If I can borrow the albums when I go over at Christmas, I'll scan them.

    That will be fantastic. We have couple of "artillery guys" here and maybe some of them will be able to give you more information about 77 LAA Regiment.

    By the way, have you read Brig. M.R. Roberts' book 'Golden Arrow', about the 7th Indian Divn? Published by Gale & Polden in 1952. I don't know if Cassells or Pen & Sword have ever republished it, but you can still pick up copies on Abe Books etc. Well worth a read.
    No I haven't read that book, and no, it was never republished. What a shame. Today it is almost impossible to find it but it's definitely on my wish list.
     
  17. AussieBrit

    AussieBrit Junior Member

    Hi From Melbourne Australia
    I have discovered I have a book about Kohima titled " Kohima " by Arthur Swinson published by Cassell - London printed in 1966, it is a terrific read, many excellent photos and maps and since it was written fairly soon after the war the writer was able to talk to many of the particpants, even the Japanese.
    Quote " According to Admiral Lord Mountbatten the battle of Kohima will probably go down as one of the greatest battles in history".
     
  18. AussieBrit

    AussieBrit Junior Member

    Hi From Australia
    I have a great interest in the Burma War, it is not surprising that it is called the forgotten war.An interesting quote from Bill Slim, he was asked during the campaign who was his crack division, he replied '' all my divisions are crack divisions". He therefore had a very high regard for all his troops
    Cheers from Downunder
     
  19. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Hi From Australia
    I have a great interest in the Burma War, it is not surprising that it is called the forgotten war.An interesting quote from Bill Slim, he was asked during the campaign who was his crack division, he replied '' all my divisions are crack divisions". He therefore had a very high regard for all his troops
    Cheers from Downunder

    Nice to have another one with interest for CBI. And that Slim's statement was true, in the 1944 all divisions of 14th Army were good and every one of them distinguished it self in same hard battle.

    Cheers
    Enes
     
  20. DavidT

    DavidT Junior Member

    My grandfather met Bill Slim at the first reunion of the Burma Star Association after the war. He always held him in very high regard. I think Mountbatten was there too. Of course, here in Canada Mountbatten's not held in high esteem because of the Dieppe fiasco.
     

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