BATTLE AND BUILD BATTLE AND BUILD KOHIMA 1944 KOHIMA 1944 Many vehicles needed to cross the Irrawaddy in pursuit of Bob Cook recounts the bloody Battle the Japanese. Here is a Morris Commercial C8 Field Artillery of Kohima which raged from April Tractor, more commonly known as a Quad Mk.I. 4 – June 22, 1944…and halted the Japanese invasion of India arly in 1944 the Japanese to be bisected at the small hill 15th Army commanded by station of Kohima, which sat at General Renya Mutaguchi the pass through the hills. Once E launched a pre-emptive strike this was achieved, Mutaguchi across Burma’s Chindwin River. further planned to head off It’s primary aim and purpose into India proper. He had been was to encircle and destroy convinced that the Indians would the British/Indian IV Corps at then rise up in support against This Bren Gun Carrier belongs to the 2nd Division, and is seen Imphal to prevent the launch of a the British. This, the Japanese negotiating the Irrawaddy River with 45 gal oil drum floats. British and Indian attack across claimed, was the start of their The crossing was made after the battle of Kohima, while driving out the border to re-take Burma. To “March on Delhi”. the Japanese. (All photos Kohima Museum) achieve this Mutagushi ordered two of his divisions, the 15th and The juggernaut covering of primary jungle. H U W Richards, consisted of the emergency the Division was 33rd, to encircle and destroy approaches Kohima was almost like a transit approximately 1,500 combatant rushed across India by road, rail British and Indian forces on the The British knew that the camp, with soldiers constantly ORDER OF BATTLE - KOHIMA troops. These were mainly about and air. Speed was of the essence Imphal Plain. His third Division, Japanese were heading towards coming and going. As the build-up 420 officers and men from the because the Japanese had also BRITISH 2nd DIVISION 6 Infantry Brigade the 31st commanded by Lt Gen Kohima but they didn’t fully in Imphal progressed, there was 4th Battalion of the Queen's Own cut the Dimapur-Kohima road and Royal Artillery 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers Kotoku Sato, was to strike west appreciate the vast numbers a field bakery, a hospital, vehicle Royal West Kent Regiment which, the small Garrison was completely 10 Assault Field Regiment - 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment to cut the road between the and the speed of approach. The repairs, a leave facility and a battle together with the remainder of surrounded. In Kohima itself, Royal Artillery 2nd Durham Light Infantry great supply depot and railhead Japanese 31st Division comprised casualty reinforcement camp. the brigade, the 161st from the the Garrison was holding on, 16 Assault Field Regiment - at Dimapur…thus preventing approximately 13,500 men and With the constant movement of 5th Indian Division, had been but was very nearly at the limit Royal Artillery DIVISIONAL SUPPORT TROOPS reinforcements from going to they were almost racing over men, the best estimate is that the airlifted from the Arakan to meet of its endurance. There was no the aid of IV Corps. The road was mountains, despite the dense garrison, commanded by Colonel 99 (Royal Buckinghamshire the threat. Elements of the Assam time to form a proper divisional Yeomanry) Assault Field Regiment - Medical 4 Field Ambulance Royal Army Rifles and Assam Regiment, concentration at Dimapur and, Royal Artillery together with soldiers from the as the 2nd Division arrived it went 100 (8 Gordon Highlanders) Light Medical Corps 5 Field Ambulance Royal Army leave and reinforcement camp, straight into action, piecemeal. Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank Regiment - formed the remainder. The Medical Corps Royal Artillery Japanese arrived in the Kohima 6 Field Ambulance Royal Army A change of fortune area on April 4, and were soon On April 12, 1944 the 1st Royal Engineers Medical Corps fully engaged with the garrison Battalion Queen’s Own Cameron 5 Field Company - Royal Engineers and cut the road either side of it. Highlanders, with artillery THE FORGOTTEN BATTLE 21 Field Park Company - Royal Army Service Corps Slowly, day by day, the defenders and tank support, attacked 2nd Division troops cross the Royal Engineers 2 Div RASC (8 Company, 24 Company, were inexorably driven back to and destroyed the Japanese Irrawaddy after the bridgehead 208 Field Company - Royal Engineers 29 Company) has been established. their final defensive position – the position near the 37th milestone. 506 Field Company - Royal Engineers Royal Electrical Mechanical Deputy Commissioner’s tennis Operations by 2nd Division to (Inset) Cross Keys Divisional Royal Signals Engineers court and his bungalow. relieve 161st Brigade and the shoulder flash of the British 2 Divisional Signal Regiment - 2 Div Wksp REME In the meantime, the British 2nd Kohima Garrison went on rapidly 2nd Infantry Division. Royal Signals Division (commanded by Maj gen and on Tuesday April 18, 1944 the Indian Army Units in Support J M L Grover MC and Bar) was small garrison was relieved and Divisional Infantry Troops 161 Indian Brigade from 5 Indian 2,000 miles away in the south- the siege lifted. The Japanese 2 Recce Regiment Royal Armoured Division west of India at Belgaum. To meet advance had been checked and Corps (6 Loyal Regiment (North 4th Battalion Queen’s Own Royal West Lancashire)) Kent Regiment 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment (Formed original garrison defending (Divisional Medium Machine Gun Kohima during the siege) Regiment) 1/1 Punjab Regiment 143 Special Service Company 1/7 Rajput Regiment 33 Indian Bde from 7 Indian Division 4 Infantry Brigade 1st Battalion Queen’s Royal Regiment 1st Battalion, Royal Scots (West Surreys) (The Royal Regiment) 4/1 GR 2nd Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment 4/15 Punjab Regiment 1/8th Lancashire Fusiliers 20 Mountain Battery from 24 Mountain Regiment Royal Indian 5 Infantry Brigade Artillery 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment Corps Troops in Support 2nd Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment 149 Regiment Royal Armoured Corps 1st Battalion Queen's Own Cameron (7th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Maj Gen Grover, Commander 2nd British Division (left), points out Highlanders Light Infantry) features on his tactical map with Lt Gen Stoppford, Commander 33 Corps and Maj Gen Briggs, Commander 5th Indian Division (centre). Airfix Model World Airfix Model World {26} www.airfixmodelworld.com www.airfixmodelworld.com {27}.