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

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The Battle of Kohima: 23 April 1944.

Today 70yrs ago the young Anglesey boy holding the sign in his school photo is killed at Kohima. Fusilier Hugh Clifford Sewell-Cook was 27yrs old and from Llanddaniel Anglesey. His parents were Arthur and Mary Ellen Sewell-Cook, they owned a shop in the village. Hugh's older sister Rita is also pictured in the school photo.

http://llanddaniel.co.uk/1930_school_photo.html


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The Battle of Kohima: The 1st Battalions War Diary, shows a relatively quiet period from the 23-28 April 1944.

The regiments written account of WW2(The Red Dragon) states that by this stage of the battle although the fighting had not been severe, the 1st Bn had suffered the following casualties:

KIA 3 x Officers, 9 x OR's
WIA 5 x Officers, 42 x Ors
Sickness 70 x All Ranks.
Total: 129 Men

We will now take a break from the battle as the regiment remains in defensive positions at Jotsama, a few short miles from Kohima Ridge. The 1st Bn's part in the Battle of Kohima resumes on the 29th April 1944 as they finally take up position on Garrison Hill, which is where our story will re-commence.

All comments/feedback welcome.

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Battle Of Kohima: 28 Apr 1944. Update.

The 2nd Inf Division was almost ready to begin the task of recapturing Kohima Ridge and in the process totally destroy the Japanese forces to task.

The Ground:

Kohima Ridge itself was now almost totally dominated by the enemy. The British held a small piece of ground a couple of 100 metres long, that stretched from Garrison Hill, where the Durham Light Infantry clung precariously to the summit, through to the DC's Bungalow in the north east of the ridge. And that was it, the enemy held every other feature.

On Garrison Hill, the forward slope ran south onto the enemy held Kukis Piquet. The distance from those British positions to the Japanese was 20-25 metres!

The Plan:

4 Bde to push south and east from Jotsama, to re-capture GPT Ridge in the south and open up the Imphal Road.

5 Bde To Loop round from the north and re-capture Naga Village.

23 Bde To swoop in a wide arc from the north through to the east, cutting of the enemies line of communication and withdrawal route at the track at Jessami, which the enemy used originally during their advance on Kohima.

6 Bde(of which 1RWF was part). To mount a frontal assault on Kohima Ridge.

Two years previous, these type of tactics would have been unthinkable in the British mindset, neither would the units have had the skills or training in order to accomplish it. So lots of changes since Singapore 1942.

The plus points for the British:

1. Artillery, controlled by Forward Observers, which could be brought to bear on the Japanese positions.

2. Line of Communication: they now had control of the Kohima - Dimapur Rd, so that resupply and communication could be maintained.

3. Air superiority. The enemy was unable to get ammo/med/rations resupply through the thick jungle from the east.

The scene was nearly set.

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Battle of Kohima: 28 April 1944. Warning Order.

1RWF Tasked to relieve 1st Durham Light Infantry on Garrison Hill during daylight 29 Apr 1944.

Today, Garrison Hill and the enemy positions surrounding it have been extensively reccied by the RWF company command teams. In preparation for this task, the 1st Bn has been moved closer to Kohima Ridge.

The plan is at 0830 tomorrow (29th) A & C Coys +TAC will proceed to Kohima Ridge by Bren Carriers and then relieve 1DLI on Garrison Hill. The remaining RWF Companies will follow up later that day.

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Battle of Kohima: Sitrep 1RWF 29 April 1944 - 1430hrs.

Relief of 1DLI complete. 1RWF now dug in on Garrison Hill. Company dispositions shown below. Area quiet.

Note: Some of B + C Coy's positions are on forward slopes, looking down(south and south west) 20 metres to the enemy below them.

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Battle of Kohima: 1RWF's first impressions of Garrison Hill:

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Battle of Kohima: Sitrep 1RWF 29 April 1944 - 2015hrs onwards.

During the late afternoon 2 x Curtiss Command aircraft dropped water + rations onto Garrison Hill. The Bn reported the drop as "Fair" with mists limiting visibility. The routine for the remainder of the night will be as follows:

1845-1930hrs - 100% Stand To
1930-2400hrs - 50% Stand To
2400-0545hrs - 100% Stand To

A long night ahead!

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Battle of Kohima: Sitrep 1RWF 30 April 1944 - 1115hrs. Slight enemy sniping and grenading overnight.
Digging and work on improving positions now being carried out.

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Battle of Kohima: 1RWF 30 April 1944

Life On Garrison Hill:

Garrison Hill was conical in shape with a small flat plateau that the battalion was clinging to. Likewise the enemy's trenches were just over the forward slopes and the surrounding high features. For those RWF companies at the edge of the British position any type of movement in the day was very difficult. Fusilier Harold Jones from Welshpool, a signaller with B Coy recalls that when the enemy was improving their positions at night, the spoil was landing on the British trenches.

Water was rationed to 1 pint per day(later 3 pints). Washing & shaving was forbidden. But there was a cup of tea 3 times per day! Space was so limited that dug-outs, latrines, cook-houses and graves were all close together. It was almost impossible to dig anywhere without uncovering either a latrine or grave.

The wounded and sick were evacuated via the British held part of the Dimapur Rd, additionally some supplies came in this way. However for most of its supplies the Battalion depended on air drops. In the late afternoon some half a dozen Dakotas, flying line ahead, would come up the valley, circle low around Garrison Hill, and release their many coloured parachutes(of supplies). Some of these would of course land in the enemy lines. Some would end up caught in trees, the fusiliers would shoot through the para cord or branches to release the precious cargo.

Certain loads were dropped without parachute. These consisted mainly of chloride of lime and were intended to discourage the plague of flies which bred in the dead bodies piled around the position.

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Battle of Kohima: 1RWF 30 April 1944: Overnight.

The Battalion comes under enemy rifle, LMG and grenade fire. 1 x Phosphorus Shell dropped on C Company area. 1 x Fusilier KIA.

Fusilier David Cousins was aged 22. He was the son of Thomas and Minnie Cousins, from North Ormesby Middlesborough.

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