The Battle of Kohima April/May 1944 - 70 Years On

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The Forum is currently posting on Facebook and Twitter a day by day account of the Battle of Kohima from the perspective of 1RWF, which took place in North East India in April/May 1944. Using the battalions war diary, The Red Dragon and other sources to provide the personal detail of the action. The battle is split into three distinct parts; the siege, the relief and the counter offensive. The 1st Bn took part in the relief and counter offensive, initially arriving on the road east of Dimapur on the 14th April 1944.

This is very much a learning exercise for us and the aim is that we can replicate it on similar projects during the Great War Centenary and the Normandy landings, especially with all the expert assistance we have within the forum.

You can follow the battle on Facebook on the Royal Welch Forum page: https://www.facebook.com/royalwelchforum?fref=ts

Alternatively you will see the live twitter feeds on the app box, on the right side of the forum page. The forums twitter address is: @royalwelchforum

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[jungle1810]

Hello Al,
Years ago we had two former members of the 1st who served in Kohima in our branch, Slennet was one and the other name I have forgotten. I was told that the defenders of Kohima pushed 45 gallon drums of diesel etc with a rag pushed into an opening made, and set alight in the drums and were rolled down hill as the Japs were arriving to attack the British. If my memory serves me right both C S M John MacDonald M.M. and "Oscar " Slater served in this action and both were in "B" Company of the 1st In Jamaica. There was also the case of David Graves (Robert Graves son)who was sent out to destroy 3 Jap machine gun posts.He also had another well known member of the Royal Welch in his party none other than Reuben Jones. They knocked out two Jap machine gun posts and were getting short of ammo so a couple went back for more ammo. They then set about the third machine gun post but David Graves was shot and killed in this action. He was recommended for a medal but never was awarded one. The reason I heard was that the party did not achieve their object of knocking out all three of the machine gun posts. Robert Graves was naturally heart broken over this issue.
Regards jungle1810

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Cheers Don,

I'm already in comms with Richard Ward about citations from this battle, my intention is to publish them on the day they were earned. Interesting about Oscar….B Company made that fatal attempt to take Kukis Picquet on the 4th May, with a further assault attempted on the 5th May.

Regarding David Graves and Reuben Jones, that action was at Donbaik, the previous year. Brave men.

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Battle of Kohima: Sitrep 29th March 1944: Japanese forces have today cut the road that runs south from Kohima to the British/Indian garrison at Imphal. Imphal can now only be supplied by air. The small hastily formed garrison at Kohima can now only be reached by the northern road from Dimapur. The enemy's net is closing. 1RWF are currently some 2700kms away at their training base at Ahmednagar having completed months of gruelling jungle training.

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Battle of Kohima: Sitrep 30 March 1944. Jessami, During the morning 30 miles east of Kohima. John Young, a 24 year old Lieutenant (acting Captain) attached to The Assam Regiment watched, through what must have been very tired eyes, the arrival of a fresh battalion of Japanese reinforcements coming to the aid of the enemy battalion he had been fighting for three days and nights. Delaying their relentless advance towards Dimapur and Kohima. John had been ordered to fight "To the last man and the last round"

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Battle of Kohima: Sitrep 1st Bn Assam Regt. 31 Mar 1944 - 1200hrs. Last night the message was finally received that the "Last man, last round" order had been rescinded. The withdrawal was finally under way. However Captain Young in charge of the defence at Kharasom never received it. He was completely overwhelmed by thousands of Japanese soldiers and cut off from his C.O Lt Col Brown who was located at Jessami. Last night Capt Young gathered his surviving officers and NCO's and ordered the men to make for Kohima (30 miles west, through thick jungle). The wounded were not to be left behind alone and he told his men he would not be leaving. Under darkness, his men exfiltrated the positions. By sunrise this morning the enemy had secured Kharasom. Young was killed defending the position. Two days later 56 of his men staggered into Kohima, His small company sized force had held back the enemy for over four days. Perhaps because of the pressures of war and the fact that his CO was later killed, Young's brave conduct and exemplary leadership was never officially recognised.

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[peterlansley]

We have a Kohima veteran still with us in Aberystwyth Gwylim Davies he has recorded his memories on to tape.

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Battle Of Kohima: Sitrep 1 April 1944 - 0900hrs. The 161st Indian Brigade (which includes 4 R. West Kents) are currently dug in on Kohima Ridge along with an adhoc force of admin troops. Since last night the brigade has been on 30mins NTM to head back to the supply dump area of Dimapur 30 miles North West. Gen Slim and the area commander Gen Ranking believe Dimapur is the objective. But they wrongly assume Kohima will just be a used as a road block, or dealt with by a regimental-sized enemy formation. At this stage they are not fully aware of the size of the enemy force (15,000 men) that has just overrun 1st Assam Regt at Jessami and Kharasom, or its direction of travel through the thick jungle. If the brigade moves, the garrison at Kohima will be left with approximately 2000 men, mostly inexperienced line of communication troops.

The road south from Kohima to Imphal is already in enemy hands.

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We have a Kohima veteran still with us in Aberystwyth Gwylim Davies he has recorded his memories on to tape.

Thanks I am aware of Gwylim, although I didn't realise he was still alive. I've picked up a briefing document from 2003 in which he is mentioned. My own branch at Welshpool is also fortunate to have a Kohima Vet with us…Mr Harold Jones.

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Battle of Kohima: Sitrep 2 April 1944 - 1300hrs. Kohima Ridge. In pouring rain the battle hardened 161 Indian Bde (which includes 4th R.W Kents) have been ordered to extract from Kohima. They are heading along the dirt road to Dimapur in order to help reinforce the allies supply dump. Kohima is now protected by 2000 inexperienced rear echelon troops commanded by Colonel Richards. The District Commisioner Charles Pawsey a civil servant, who had also fought at the Somme has chosen to remained behind. His local Naga tribesmen and some Nepalese Shere regiment soldiers are the only means of gaining information on the enemy's advance westwards. The Kohima defences are in a poor state, so the garrison works feverishly to implement improvements.

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