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

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Battle of Kohima: 1RWF 10 May 1944 - 1530hrs.

Today the battalion Large Packs and blankets arrived on position, later the men were issued a pint of water for washing & shaving. This was their first opportunity have a change of clothes and shave since the 28 April.

Early tomorrow a series of barrages against the high features in the south of the ridge, namely Jail Hill, DIS and Pimple will occur, the prelude to attacks by 4 Brigade.

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Battle of Kohima: 1RWF 11 May 1944:

Although the enemy would not win this battle or achieve their ultimate goals, the individual Japanese soldiers were still stubbornly hanging onto their captured ground. It was clear the only way to capture the enemy bunkers was by use of medium artillery and the 75mm tank gun, fired at point blank range!

As the battle moved into its final and bloody phase, A Coy 1RWF began to take a more active role, as they had not been directly involved in the attacks on FSD or Kukis Piquet. By night they carried out aggressive patrols against all suspected enemy movements. The intention most likely being to deny the enemy any freedom of action, or the ability to carry out resupply, no matter how minor.

Sitrep 1RWF 1830hrs.

Overnight digging heard by A Coy 30-40yrds east of 7 Platoons position.

At approx 0430, the barrage on DIS, jail Hill and Pimple commenced as 4 Bde launch their assaults on the southern high features .

At 0500hrs the Queens Royal Regiment(QRR) launched an attack on Jail Hill. It cost them 61 KIA with 112 WIA in two attacks. A Gurkha battalion also took heavy casualties. QRR managed to secure a foothold on jail Hill, only yards from the enemy's bunkers. They were about to spend an uncomfortable night on the feature.

Their(QRR) experience today, was very similar to the RWF's on FSD 4-6 May.

I x RWF - WIA(Battle Shock) caused by 3 x 25 pounders dropping short onto the battalion position.

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Battle of Kohima: 1RWF Belated Death Entry - 11 May 1944.

William John Owen aged 22yrs. Son of William and Laura May Owen, of Bushbury, Wolverhampton.

Total Deaths = 68

Not Forgotten.

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Battle of Kohima: 1RWF 12 May 1944.

1500hrs. A Coy's 2inch Mortars laid smoke on Jeep Track, as British tanks managed to get up onto Garrison Hill and began firing at enemy bunkers on Kukis Piquet and FSD from Point blank range. The enemy later shell Jeep Track with 75pounders.

At 1830 this evening, the battalion watches as 1R.Berks creep up the west slope of FSD, to launch an attack, with flamethowers in support.

By 0530 tomorrow morning(13th) 1 R.Berks will report that they have finally taken FSD and are commencing mopping up operations.

Kukis Piquet is still occupied by enemy forces..

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Battle of Kohima: 1RWF 13 May 1944. This is how the day unfolded:

0830. C Coy come under comd Dorsets(possibly on Tennis Courts).

0900. Dorsets launch a 1 x Coy(with tanks) attack against DC's Bungalow.

1030. Enemy shells Jeep Track and the Nullah leading from Garrison Hill to Kukis Piquet.

1230. Recce Patrol from GR(Battle Patrol) Platoon 1RWF, move to Kukis Piquet, remainder of platoon + 1 x platoon from B Coy 1RWF follow up. Remainder of B Coy stood by ready to attack.

1300. REPORT: Jail Hill evacuated by the enemy. Part of DC's Bungalow cleared by the Dorsets.

1330. GR Platoon 1RWF report Kukis Piquet clear of enemy. B Coy on objective.

1345. A Coy 1RWF occupy enemy positions on Garrison Hill, linking up with 1R Berks and Dorsets on the flanks.

From 1400hrs onwards, consolidation takes place. Identification, documents etc collected from our own dead. Wire, tools and line sent up to Kukis, as 1RWF secure the position.

The 1RWF War Diary notes for the night of the 13th

"A notably quiet night"

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Battle of Kohima: 1RWF 14 & 15 May 1944:

The 1RWF War Diary notes that burying of the dead, general cleaning and salvage of equipment continued for both days. The men were still on the position.

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Battle of Kohima: 1RWF 16 May 1944: The Final Entry!

At 1515hrs this afternoon, 70yrs ago, 1RWF handed over Garrison Hill & Kukis Piquet, after 4 weeks of gruelling operations. By 1745 the battalion was at Forest Gate Rest Camp, Dimapur. That evening they watched a free concert starring Doris & Elsie Waters!

Within 4 days they would be back in the Kohima area, dealing the enemy who occupied areas north and south of the ridge. Within 12 days, the battalion would get caught out by the enemy at "Burma Box", which resulted in the Commanding Officer Lt Col Braithwaite being replaced immediately. The battalion would quickly recover from this setback and would commence the fight to recapture Imphal.

During the 4 weeks of operations approximately 69 men had been killed, with at least a further 130 men wounded. One man would die in August 1944 of the wounds he received in early May.

Over a quarter of the battalion had suffered injury during the battle.

In November 1944, members of the battalion returned to Kohima, for an unveiling of a memorial built by the Regimental Pioneers.

Finally: On average 2-300 individual Facebook members have been reading the Kohima entries since we started the project in late March 2014. We have published the name of every Royal Welchman killed during the battle(that we're aware of) on Facebook, Twitter and the RWF Forum website.

I hope everyone enjoyed the brief glimpse into the lives of our comrades who went before us. Made all the more poignant by the very fact that some of them are still with us.

We will remember them.

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[lucky]

many thanks al

[Baconwallah]

Excellent job, Al. My compliments.

John

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Thank you John…(chuffed) :-)