Visiting Imphal battlefields

This is a "heads-up" for those who have an interest in the battles fought around the Imphal Plain in 1944 and who are thinking about visiting the area for the seventieth anniversary next year. Forum member Imphal Campaign can organise and personally conduct "tailor-made" tours of the Imphal battlefield. Please PM him or me for further details. This really could be your unique opportunity to walk those jungle clad hills so fiercely fought over and to pay your respects to those who paid the price for our freedom in the Imphal Cemetery.
Lionboxer

 

How safe is it in those parts? One of my university friends comes from Assam. Years ago, when I mooted the idea of taking my late father back to the area he cautioned against it. Things may have changed since of course.

 

When I went with the RBL for the sixtieth anniversaries the situation was a bit "iffy" though I never felt threatened or worried. We had to have permits to enter Nagaland and Manipur and had armed Indian army escorts all the while. Recently though all travel restrictions have been lifted and tourism is actively encouraged. Of course there are places you go to and places that you don't go to, the same as in any country but if you have local guides then they know which is best. Two years ago my daughter went to Imphal and was right royally treated by Rajeshwor and to be honest it was the only time during her three month unaccompanied tour of India, Nepal and Vietnam that I wasn't worried for her. Another forum member Madogkinkaid(?) went last year and was overwhelmed by the treatment they received from Rajeshwor and his team. I shall be returning next April in full confidence that I will have the time of my life as this time I will walk the actual battlefield where my father fought with no restrictions as the case in 2004. I know that Raj has one or two surprises up his sleeve for me too.
Lionboxer

 

Does anyone know what official commemorations etc are planned for Imphal and Kohima in 2014?

 

Though not "official" as in government or military organised, the following programe put together by Raj and his team does have government sanction. I don't know what's happening at Kohima but I believe the RBL are running their usual tour there and Imphal.


17th March. Opening ceremony of the Platinum commemorations. Dinner for VIP's and invited guests (hoped to be held in Slim's bungalow). Firework display.

19th March. Fuller's Point 7378 battle commemoration. Trek to Point 7378.

24th-25th March. Gen. Orde Wingate crash site tour. Off roading trail to crash site and Remembrance Service. Erection of memorial plaque. White river rafting on Barak river.

23rd- 26th March. Commemoration of Battle of Sangshak. Trek to battlefield site. Inauguration of Japanese peace memorial. Live excavation of site (bunkers etc) Memorial service.

28th March. Start of Siege of Imphal. Tour to the blown bridge at milestone 105.

3rd-7th April. Battle of Lion Box Kanglatongbi. Tour of battlefield. Wreath laying and Remembrance Service at Indian Ordnance Corps Memorial (Corps Day in honour of this action) Family visit to battlefield. Trek to Piquet Hill.

4th-5th April. Battle of Kameng. Trek to hilltop.

8th-13th April. Battle of Nungshigum. Trek to battlefield including Northern and Southern Bump and Pyramid. Commemoration at Runaway Hill where Jemadar Abdul Hafiz won the Victoria Cross.

14th April. Hoisting of the INA flag at Moirang. INA museum exhibition. Children's painting competition.

18th-22nd April. Nippon Hill, Shenam Saddle, Palel. Battle commemoration and trek to all points of Tengnoupal.

19th April. Motor Rally from Imphal to Tamu and return. Invitation to Willy Jeep Club and Royal Rider Club.

19th May. Battle of Torbung. Battle commemoration. Trek to top of Hill.

29th-30th May. Battle of Red Hill. Battle commemoration. Memorial service at Japanese peace memorial. Trek to hill top.

6th-9th June. Battle of Modbung. Battle commemoration. Inauguration of peace memorial. Trek to "Harry" and "Isaac". Live excavation of site.

22nd June. Raising of the Siege of Imphal milestone 109. Enactment of raising of the siege and cultural function. Memorial Service at Imphal War Cemetery.

24th-27th June. Ningthoukhong, Potsambam, Bishenpur and Silchar Track. Battle commemoration at Mackenzie's brigade HQ. Trek to Point 5846. Trek to area where two VC's were won by 2/5 Gurkha Rifles.

 

The below gives a background of the history and work carried out by Raj and his team:-

“2nd World War Imphal Campaign Foundation”

It started as an interest purely out of passion way back around 2009. We teamed up and started researching into the few available materials at that time about the Battle of Imphal. Now luckily we have even the most classified war diaries owing to the efforts of some good friends of ours.

This eventually led us deeper into exploring and excavating most of the major battle sites and locations relevant with 2nd WW. Around this time we also started collection war relics for the future IMPHAL WAR MUSEUM.

This activity went on for quite some time till we registered as a TRUST under the Govt. of Manipur with Yumnam Rajeshwor Singh and Arambam Angamba Singh as Co-Founders with volunteers from all walks with same interest and zeal. Our motto is keeping our history alive and at the same time preserving and creating awareness of our rich 2nd world war heritage.

We are now being patronized by International organization like 50th Indian Parachute Brigade Association and Burma Campaign Society all based in London. Note of appreciation and encouragement about our achievements has also been received from various 2nd WW veteran Associations.
As we move on we became more and more professional and aligned with our goals and mottos. Some of our recent achievements worth mentioning are as follows

1. Discovery of RUNAWAY HILL where Jemandar Abdul Hafiz of 3/9th Jat Regt was awarded Victoria Cross which is the highest British gallantry medal for his conspicuous bravery in the fight against the Japanese army.

2. Excavation and identification of Northern/Southern bumps and Pyramid at the site of the BATTLE OF NUNGSHIGUM.

3. Trekking to Pt 5846 aka LAIMATON HILL at the old Silchar track which saw a see-saw battle between the Japanese and the British during the Battle of Bishenpur.

4. Identification and exploration of peak Isaac at Motbung famous during the BATTLE OF KANGLATONGBI.

5. Scaling and exploration of Pt 3404 at Cananphai Range famous during the BATTLE OF TORBUNG in TIDDIM RETREAT.

6. Exploration and excavation of Pt 7378 where Maj Fuller made his final stand during the BATTLE OF SHANGSAK. A documentary film was also made.

7. Works are on for the upcoming IMPHAL WAR MUSEUM with war relics collected till date.

8. GPS mapping from MS 104 at Kangpokpi to Imphal.

We are also coming up with a Mega event for the commemoration of 70th Anniversary of Imphal Campaign next year which will be a series of exciting programmes which will include Battleday commemoration, Live excavation, Museum tour, Seminars, Motor Rally etc.

From here we look forward to more exciting years ahead.

Below are the few links which came in News relevant with our activity.
www.e-pao.net/epGallery.asp?id=1.../WW2Nongren20130804
www.e-pao.net/epGallery.asp?id=1.../WW2Runaway20130729
www.e-pao.net/epGallery.asp?id=1.../WW2Motbung20130729


Thanks and regards,
Yumnam Rajeshwor Singh.
Co founder
2nd World War Imphal Campaign Foundation.
Facebook:- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Imphal-Campaign-WW2/107071002687155?ref=hl
Website:- http://ww2imphalcampaign.com/

 

For any query on Imphal or detail of hotels please write to me at yrs001@gmail.com. I would love to help visitors of 70th anniversary commemoration of Imphal battle.

regards,
Raj.

 

Hi All,

I thought I'd put this enquiry from the recent Burma Star Association magazine Dekho (November 2015), up on here.

This could be one for you Lionboxer.

Please see scan:

 

Ewart Holmes in the UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945

Name: Ewart Holmes
Given Initials: E
Rank: Private
Death Date: 16 May 1944
Number: 14568230
Birth Place: Derby
Residence: Derby
Branch at Enlistment: Infantry
Theatre of War: Burma
Regiment at Death: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Branch at Death: Infantry

Private Ewart E Holmes in the Global, Find A Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current
Name: Private Ewart E Holmes

Death Date: 16 May 1944
Cemetery: Rangoon Memorial
Burial or Cremation Place: Rangoon, Yangon Region, Burma


Family Tree Info:


Ewart Holmes
Birth 14/07/1912 in Derby, Derbyshire, England
Death 16/05/1944 in Assam, India

TD

 

Thanks for the heads up Bamboo. I shall contact the family. I have been doing a fair bit of research about this when the KOSB took the Kanglatongbi Ridge feature.

 

That's great thank you. I will leave it to you, good luck.

 

Thanks for your info TD.

 

Thanks bamboo - its not much but I hope it helps pin down the right man and provide some useful info on him

TD

 

I've made contact with family and have managed to pass on some useful info.
I just wonder if there are any KOSB veterans of this action still out there?
This is Piquet Hill and the Kanglatongbi Ridge leading to Point 3813 and the higher Mapao Ridge in the distance. This is where 24 men of the KOSB's were lost taking the Jap bunkers which overlooked the main Kohima - Imphal road.

 

Just thinking....would Admin like to move this subject to its own topic?
Lionboxer

 

Thanks for the update Lionboxer and for taking the time to contact the family. I appreciate that and hope they do too.
I might take a look to see if there are any MIA's for the battalion in the WO361's at Kew.

Best wishes

Steve

 

There is a file for the regiment at the National Archives. I'll take a look next time I'm up.

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11483735

 

From the battalion war diary and cwgc burial returns I've found that there are thirteen men still on that ridge somewhere including Ewart Holmes. All those killed on the 16th May were not recovered and all but two of those killed on the 15th were, two of whom are unidentified, and were buried in the Imphal Cemetery.
Any help with any aspect would be appreciated.
Lionboxer

 

Lionboxer,

Here is the missing list from the KOSB file WO361/478. Are any of these men of interest to you? Looking at the dates, the incidents all happen well before May 1944 I'm afraid.

 

It would be good to give the KOSB query its own thread under 'Burma and India'.

It seems unusual that so many casualties were not found when it is so close to Imphal and the area was retaken quite quickly. That said there are a number from 1st Northamptons whose bodies were not recovered from the area around the Silchar Track. Equally there are a number of bodies buried in Imphal cemetery as 'unknown soldier' who are likely to be from the 1st Northamptons. Could that be the case here?