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

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Battle of Kohima: 1RWF Citations 4-7 May 1944
SGT R Watson MM:

"Sgt Watson took Command of the GR Platoon after the Platoon Commander had been killed and has shown great dash and nerve. His platoon was allotted the task of carrying wire, ammunition and supplies past enemy positions and over ground covered by enemy fire to the isolated garrison on FSD Kohima. Sgt Watson volunteered to accompany every one of these parties and himself made no less than 17 journeys.

In addition to these duties, this NCO has led his platoon in many successful recce and fighting patrols. It is entirely due to his personal example and leadership that the GR Platoon has carried out several tasks with such aggressive success."

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Battle of Kohima: 1RWF Citations 4-7 May 1944
Cpl FC Sim MM:

(Sims brother Frank; a Fusilier was awarded an MID for his actions at Kohima)

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Battle of Kohima: 1RWF Citations 4-7 May 1944
Mentioned in Dispatches:

Maj PCR Carrington
Maj WD Cooke(Then a Capt)
LCpl Lewis Dark
Fusilier Frank Sim
Fusilier Frederick Gledhill

Certificate of Gallantry:
Fusilier Stanley Westlake ( He was the soldier who treated Fusilier Harold Jones(Welshpool Comrades Branch Member) after the "Blue on Blue" strafing on the night of the 2nd May 1944. Stanley was Killed in Action in 1945.

Additionally Sgt Sydney Young was later awarded an immediate emergency commission for his fine work as Mortar Platoon Sergeant at Kohima.

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Battle of Kohima: 1RWF 7 May 1944:

Killed in Action. Fusilier Albert Lane aged 29. Married to Dorothy Lane of Greenwich East London.

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[steve wright]

Al, really good read, Steve

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Battle of Kohima: 1RWF 8 May 1944:

A quiet day. In the War Diary, the diarist notes the casualties since the Kohima campaign began on the 14th April thus far as:

5 Officers Killed. 33 OR's Killed = 38
2 Officers Missing. 20 OR's Missing = 22
11 Officers wounded. 116 Wounded = 117

It's fairly safe to assume all the missing were men who's bodies had not yet been recovered, or indeed might never be found.

70yrs later, crosschecking with the CWGC Death Lists. So far we can re-estimate the Battalion had lost:

7 Officers and 58 men Killed = 65

All Ranks wounded = 127(not confirmed to be accurate) Reliant on the War Diary.

Total losses = 192 (22.7%, just under a 1/4 of the battalions strength). Based on 845 x Manning .

Final Thought: Tomorrow 70yrs ago, Cpl Burton MM lying in Military Hospital No 3 in Dimapur, finally succumbs to the wounds he received fighting alongside Lt Callaghan at Lone Tree Hill on the 17th April 1944.

[lucky]

thanks al..its been a fab read, hats off to you

[steve bird]

a big thank you really good

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Thanks Guys, about a week to go and I'll knock it on the head.

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Battle of Kohima: 1RWF 9 May 1944 - 1530hrs.

Overnight a new draft of 26 Other Ranks joined the battalion from the Rear Detail at Ahmednagar.

During today, a vigorous anti-sniper and snipe operation against all Japanese movement on the ridge continued.

Today two Royal Welchmen lost their lives, bringing the total to 67 All Ranks KIA since the 14 April. The fallen included Cpl Bill Burton, additionally:

Fusilier John Henry Anthony aged 25. Married to Edna Anthony of Morriston, Swansea.

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