Kohima

by Arthur Swinson

  10th Battalion, Indian Engineers

  INFANTRY

  1st Burma Regiment, Burma Army

  1st Chaman Regiment

  1st Assam Regiment

  Shere Regiment (Nepalese)

  Mahindra Dal Regiment (Nepalese)

  2ND INFANTRY DIVISION

  ARTILLERY

  10th Assault Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

  16th Assault Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

  99th Assault Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

  100th Light Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

  ENGINEERS

  5th Field Company, Royal Engineers

  208th Field Company, Royal Engineers

  506th Field Company, Royal Engineers

  21st Field Park Company, Royal Engineers

  SIGNALS

  2nd Divisional Signals

  INFANTRY

  2nd Reconnaissance Regiment

  2nd Manchester Regiment (Machine-Gun Battalion)

  143rd Special Service Company

  4th Infantry Brigade:

  Brigadier W. H. Goschen until 7th May 1944, then Brigadier J. A Theobalds until 4th June 1944, then Brigadier R. S. McNaught

  1st Royal Scots

  2nd Royal Norfolk Regiment

  1st/8th Lancashire Fusiliers

  5th Infantry Brigade:

  Brigadier V. F. S. Hawkins until 16th May 1944, then Brigadier M. M.

  Alston-Roberts-West

  7th Worcestershire Regiment

  2nd Dorsetshire Regiment

  1st Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders

  6th Infantry Brigade:

  Brigadier J. D. Shapland until 30th May 1944, then Brigadier W. G. Smith

  1st Royal Welch Fusiliers

  1st Royal Berkshire Regiment

  2nd Durham Light Infantry

  MEDICAL

  4th Field Ambulance

  5th Field Ambulance

  6th Field Ambulance

  161st Indian Infantry Brigade

  4th Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment

  1st/1st Punjab Regiment

  4th/7th Rajputana Rifles

  33rd Indian Infantry Brigade

  1st Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey)

  4th/15th Punjab Regiment

  4th/1st Gurkha Rifles

  (23rd [Long Range Penetration] Indian Infantry Brigade are not included here as they did not take part in the battle proper. 268th Indian Brigade, which appeared on the final days of the battle, are not included either.)

  JAPANESE FORMATIONS

  31ST DIVISION

  Right (Northerly) Column

  One battalion of the 13 8th Infantry Regiment with one battery of 31st Mountain Artillery Regiment, engineers, signals and medical detachments

  Centre Column

  Advanced Guard

  The 13 8th Infantry Regiment, less one battalion, and one battalion of the 31st Mountain Artillery Regiment less the troops used in the

  Right Column

  Main Body

  H.Q. 31st Division

  124th Infantry Regiment with the H.Q. and one battalion of 31st Mountain Artillery Regiment, together with engineers, signals, a field hospital and a transport unit

  Left (Southern) Column

  H.Q. 31st Infantry Group with the 58th Infantry Regiment, one battalion of the 31st Mountain Artillery Battalion, engineers, signals and medical detachments

  Bibliography

  A.J. Barker, The March on Delhi. Faber, 1963.

  Brigadier F. V. R. Bellers, History of the 1st King George V’s Own Gurkha Rifles, Vol. 2, 1920–47. Gale & Polden, 1956.

  Brigadier Gordon Blight, The Royal Berkshire Regiment 1920–47. Staples, 1953.

  Ursula Graham Bower, Naga Path. John Murray, 1950.

  Antony Brett-James, Ball of Fire. Gale & Polden, 1951.

  Historical Records of the Queen s Own Cameron Highlanders. William Blackwood, 1952.

  Major E. B. Stanley Clarke and Major A. T. Tillott, From Kent to Kohima: Being the History of the 4th Battalion the Queen’s Own West Kent Regiment (T.A.). Gale & Polden, 1951.

  John Ehrman, History of the Second World War: Grand Strategy, Vol. 5. H.M.S.O., 1956.

  Sir Geoffrey Evans and Antony Brett-James, Imphal. Macmillan, 1964.

  Major R. C. G. Foster, History of the Queens Royal Regiment, Vol. 8, 1924–48. Gale & Polden, 1953.

  Saburo Hayashi (with Alan D. Coox), Koguun: The Japanese Army in the Pacific War. The Marine Corps Assoc., Quantico, 1959.

  J. H. Hutton, The Angami Nagas. Macmillan, 1921.

  Toshikazu Kase, The Eclipse of the Rising Sun (Ed. David Nelson). Cape, 1951.

  Lieut-Commander P. K. Kemp, History of the Royal Norfolk Regiment 1919–51, Vol. 8. Royal Norfolk Regiment, 1957.

  Lieut.-Commander P. K. Kemp and John Graves, The Red Dragon (Story of the Royal Welch Fusiliers 1919–45). Gale & Polden, 1960.

  R. G. Kent, United States Army in World War II (China-Burma-India Theatre). Historical Div. Dept. of the Army, 1955.

  Major-General S. Woodburn Kirby, ‘History of the Second World War’, The War Against Japan, Volume III. H.M.S.O., 1961.

  Major M. A. Lowry, An Infantry Company in Arakan and Kohima. Gale & Polden, 1950.

  Henry Maule, Spearhead Generai. Odhams Press, 1961.

  Vice-Admiral the Earl Mountbatten of Burma, Report to the Combined Chiefs of Staff—South-East Asia 1943–45. H.M.S.O., 1951.

  Augustus Muir, The First of Foot (The History of the Royal Scots). The Royal Scots History Committee, 1961.

  Ray Murphy, The Last Viceroy. Jarrolds, 1948.

  Frank Owen, The Campaign in Burma. H.M.S.O., 1946.

  Major Mohammed Ibrahim Qureshi, History of the First Punjab Regiment 1759–10.56. Gale & Polden, 1958.

  David Rissick, The D.L.I, at War. D.L.I., 1953.

  Brigadier M. R. Roberts, D.S.O., Golden Arrow (Story of the 7th Indian Division in the Second World War, 1939–45). Gale & Polden, 1952.

  Colonel L. W. Shakespear, History of the Assam Rifles. Macmillan, 1929.

  Field-Marshal the Viscount Slim, Defeat into Victory. Cassell, 1956.

  Captain Peter Steyn, The History of the Assam Regiment, Vol. 1, 1941–1947. Orient Longmans, 1959.

  Colonel Masanobu Tsuji (Trans. Margaret E. Lake), Singapore: The Japanese Version. Constable, 1962.

  Major-General R. P. Pakenham Walsh, The History of the Royal Engineers, Vol. 9. Institution of Royal Engineers, 1958.

  Lieut.-Colonel O. G. W. White, Straight on for Tokyo (The Story of the 2nd Bn. The Dorsetshire Regiment, 1939–47). Gale & Polden, 1948.

  TRANSLATIONS FROM:

  Toshiro Takagi, Imphal. Tokyo, 1949.

  Takahide Hasegawa, Again the Genghis Khan Dream. Yamicuri Press, 1960.

  Takeo Komatsu, Imphal Tragedy. Yukihiko Imai, To and from Kohima. Tokyo, 1953.

  Colonel Iwaichi Fujiwara, The Tragic Imphal Operation.

  Toichiro Imanishi, Burma Front Diary. Tokyo, 1961.

  Officers and Men of the 58th Infantry Regiment, The Burma Front. Tokyo, 1964.

  Index

  Formations: under Brigades, Divisions, etc.

  Regiments: British and Indian under their names; Japanese (numbered) under Regiments.

  Air drops, 82, 90–1, 100, 119, 125, 130, 139–40, 168, 175, 247, 249

  Air supply to 4th Corps, 56

  Allen, Capt. Robert (D.L.I.), 100

  Alston–Roberts–West, Brigadier, see West

  Americans and China, 19, 20, 21

  Angami, Naik Dilhu, 91

  Anniversary celebrations in Tokyo, 253–4

  Aradura Ridge, 119–20, 129–30, 142, 231, 237; map of, 213; appreciation of battle, 237–8

  Aradura Spur, 10, 33, 54–7, 97, 138, 148, 185, 201, 208–9, 211–22, 232, 237, 255; map of, 213

  Aradura village, 211

  Arakan, the (Burma coastal sector), 8, 22, 24, 27–30, 38, 41, 100, 173, 212, 225, 248

  Armies (of) India, Eastern, 19;
Southern, 16

  Armies, Japanese, 15th, 6, 22–3, 64, 93, 185–6, 230, 240–1, 244–5; Burma (Southern), 8, 22, 64, 242

  Army, 14th (British), xiv, 1, 4, 16, 29, 32, 55, 70

  Army Group, 11th (Giffard’s), 1, 5, 20, 24

  Arnold, General H. H. (American C. of S.), 36

  Artillery, British, see Royal Artillery

  Artillery, Indian, 5th/22nd Medium Battery, 208; 20th Mountain Battery, 60, 197; 25th Mountain Regiment, 188

  Artillery, Japanese, 31st Mountain Regiment, 5, 43, 97

  Artillery support, 249

  Askew, Major (I.A.), 39

  Assam, as theatre of war, xiii; climate of, 10; terrain and topography of, 7, 10–11, 13, 74, 78, 110, 121–2; history of, 11, 13–14; defence of, 24, 38; Valley, 55; scenery of, 142

  Assam Barracks (area), 231, 254, 255; map of, 233

  Assam Regiment, 1st, 25–7, 29; at Jessami, 31–3, 35–8, 41–2, 45–6, 48 n; ‘last man’ order to, 37–8, 42–43, 48–9; at Kharasom, 48 & n; at Dimapur, 53–4; survivors from Jessami and Kharasom, 56; at Kohima, 56, 58–00, 68, 72, 91–2, 102–3, 250; Memorial, 255

  Assam Rifles, 3rd, 11, 16, 25, 26, 33, 38, 53, 60, 195, 250, 254; and Assam Regiment survivors from Jessami and Kharasom, 56; and I.G.H. Spur, 72, 74; and F.S.D., 82–3; and D.C.’s Bungalow, 91–2; Memorial, 255

  Auchinleck, General (later Field-Marshal) Sir Claude (‘the Auk’, last C.-in-C. India), 32, 46; quoted, 32, 46

  Baldwin, Air Vice-Marshal Sir John, 153

  Bamboo as smokeless fuel, 122–3

  Barbed wire, shortage of, 57

  Barker, Lieut.-Colonel A. J., quoted, 9–10, 208, 250 bis

  Basha Spur, 216, 217, 218, 224, 225, 227

  Bath unit at Zubza, 175

  Berens, Capt. Stanley, 208, 209, 222

  Bickford, Lieut.-Colonel Wilbur, 102, 126, 137, 211–16, 218–21; quoted, 102–3, 174, 215, 221–2

  Big Tree Hill, 231–4, 254

  Bishenpur track, 239

  Black, Lieut. Colin, M.C., 147

  ‘Black 7th, the’, 171–88; situation, 183–4

  ‘Black 13th, the’, 81–6

  Bokajan, 51, 73

  Bombay Grenadiers, 232–3; Memorial, 255

  Booty from Bunker Hill, 89

  Borrowman, Lieut.-Colonel (I.A.), 34, 55, 67

  Bose, Subas Chandra (see also Indian National Army), 22, 24; his ‘Special Order’, 25

  Bowles, Captain John, 132–3, 135, 150

  Boxes, defensive, at Kohima (see also under names), 33–4

  Bradford, Lieut.-Colonel J. M. K., 232

  Braithwaite, Lieut.-Colonel, 109, 211, 219, 220; quoted, 219, 220 bis

  Brett-James, Antony, xiv

  Brigade, British: 4th (Infantry), 108, 119, 121, 123, 137–9, 142–4, 148, 161, 166–7, 169, 172–3, 177–8, 183, 201, 207–8, 211, 222, 232, 237, 247, 250

  Brigade. British: 5th (Infantry), 38, 40, 51–2, 71, 76–7, 80, 86, 88–9, 106, 108, 115, 118, 123–9, 132–42, 145, 151, 158, 161, 166–7, 169, 175–178, 194, 204–5, 232, 236–7, 240, 247–8; and Merema, 110–25; life in Naga Village box, 179–80; Staff Captain’s reports: on Dimapur (quoted), 51–2; on booty, 89; on Naga coolies, 116–17; on Pfuchama panorama, 236

  Brigade, British: 6th (Infantry), 90–2, 99, 106, 118–19, 138–9, 142, 161, 166, 168–9, 178, 208, 211–12, 218, 221–2, 232

  Brigades, Indian: 14th (L.R.P.), 27–8; 23rd (L.R.P.), 27–8, 40, 171, 186; 33rd (Infantry), 38, 55, 135, 144, 170–3, 183, 188, 229, 231, 246, 248; 50th (Parachute), 24, 26–7, 30, 36; 77th (L.R.P.), 27; 114th (Infantry), 232; 161st (Infantry), 30, 37–8, 40, 44, 48–9, 55, 75, 78, 89, 119, 138, 167–8, 188, 229, 246; 268th (Infantry), 171, 232; Lushai, 55, 171

  Brown, Lieut.-Colonel (D.L.I.), 162, 194

  Brown, Lieut.-Colonel ‘Bruno’, 25–6, 37, 39, 42–3, 47, 56, 92

  Brown, Lieut. (Assam Reg’t), 60

  Brunel-Hawes, Lieut. (R.E.), 134

  Bulldozers, 79–80, 133, 135, 196, 254

  Bunker Hill, 80–1, 84, 86, 88–9, 106, 135, 158, 172–4, 183, 232, 247

  Bunting, Lieut.-Colonel John, 123

  Burke, Brigadier ‘Pat’ (C.R.A. 2 Div.), 78, 102, 136, 149

  Burma, terrain of, 6; map of, 7; Japanese offensive in, 18–24

  Burma Regiment, 1st, 26, 30, 211, 214, 219, 220; 2nd, 37; 5th 53, 72; Memorial, 255

  Burma Road, 20

  Burrell, Major Frank, 124–5

  Burt, Sergeant (Queen’s), 182

  Butler, Captain, on Naga villages (quoted), 15

  Callaghan, Lieut. (R.W.F.), 92

  Callistan, Major, 91

  Cameron Highlanders, 1st (Queen’s Own), 2, 51, 88, 100; and Khabvuma, 78–9; and Bunker Hill, 80–1, 84–7, 232, 247; and Merema, 106, 110–11, 123, 125, 132; and Naga Village, 144–6, 154–7, 179–80; and Church Knoll and Hunter’s Hill, 165–6, 204–5, 209; and the Pimple, 234–6; officers’ patrols, 248; Memorial, 255

  Cameron, Lieut. Peter (C.H.), 205, 248

  Canteen at Zubza, 175

  Carbonell, Lieut. (C.H.), 100, 105

  Carr, Captain (4/1 Gurkhas), 227

  Cavalry, 45th, 109, 132

  Cemetery at Kohima (War Graves Commission), 254–5

  Charapunge, 10

  Charles Hill, 217, 218

  Chedema, 10

  ‘Cherry Society’, 10, 63

  Cheswema-Merema ridge, 90, 97

  Chettle, Major Clive, 198, 233, 235

  Chezumi, 37

  Chiang Kai-shek, 19, 21, 105

  Chiefs of Staff, Combined (Washington), 21, 35, 36, 55, 130, 143, 239

  Chiefs of Staff, United States, 29

  Chin Hills, 10

  China, 19–22, 24, 35

  Chindits (see also Wingate), 31, 143, 230

  Chindwin, River, 5, 6, 8, 23, 26, 29, 37, 55, 63, 64, 93, 129, 240, 242, 243

  Chittagong, 29

  Christison, Lieut.-General Sir Philip, 22

  Church Knoll (Point 5120), 145, 146, 155–8, 165–7, 201, 204–6, 208, 222–4, 226, 229, 231; map of, 155

  Churchill, Sir Winston S., 21, 24, 153

  Clausewitz, quoted, 64

  Club area (Kohima), 68

  Comilla, 29, 32, 36, 40, 44, 45

  Command, complications and difficulties of, 20–1

  Conder, Major Henry, 115, 120–1, 160–1, 167

  Congress Hill, 138–9, 167, 170–2, 180–1, 254

  Congress Party, Indian, 3, 9, 131, 246

  Cook, C.S.M. Tommy (C.H.), 87, 158

  Cook, Sergeant (Dorsets), 197

  Cooks, devoted, 177

  Corlett, Lieut. John, 47, 68

  Corps (formations), 4th, 5, 22, 23, 28, 30–1, 34, 37, 40, 43, 46, 97, 143, 171–2, 188, 223, 239, 242; 15th (Indian), 22; 33rd (Indian), 1, 2, 16, 40, 55, 174, 187, 223, 229, 238, 239

  ‘Courage is expendable’ (Slim), 93

  Cowan, Major-General ‘Punch’, 28

  D.C.’s Bungalow (box), 53–4, 60, 67–8, 72, 74, 84, 91–2, 96, 98, 106, 108–9, 111–14, 126–8, 132–3, 150, 162–4, 168–9, 193, 196–9, 201; difficulties of its drive, 109–10; 163; terrain of, 126

  D.I.S. Ridge (box), 53, 61, 63, 65, 68, 70, 74, 82, 142, 161–3, 181–2, 187, 189–90, 192, 194–6, 255

  Daimats, Lieut. Hirobumi, 243; quoted, 243

  Daniells, Major Ken (R.E.), 168

  Davies, Capt. (Dorsets), 234

  ‘Death (or Happy) Valley’, 138

  ‘Deputy Commissioner’s Hill’ (Garrison Hill, q.v.), 63

  Derry, C.S.M. (R. Norfolks), 159

  Digboi, 25, 26

  Dimapur, 10–11, 20, 22, 30, 32, 36–7, 38–9, 40, 73, 75, 129, 174, 250, 253; defence of, 40, 44, 49, 50, 53, 57; 2 Div. arrives at, 51; situation at (1/4/44), 51–3; threatened, 64, 65, 76; rest camps at, 184

  Dimapur-Kohima Road (via Zubza), 133–5

  Diseases, 11, 175

  Division, British, 2nd (Infantry), (‘2 Div.’), 2–3, 5, 16, 17, 24, 29, 38, 40, 50–1, 55, 75, 80, 86 n, 88, 90, 119, 166; its arr
ival at Dimapur, 51–3; and mule transport, 55, 247; artillery of, 90, 99, 102, 103, 104, 150, 181; and relief of Kohima boxes, 95–8, 104; and India troops, 172; rumours of disbanding, 207; and Aradura Spur, 208; exhausted, 226; in pursuit, 238, 240; criticisms and appreciations of, 246–50; Memorial, 254–5

  Divisions, India, 5th, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 36, 242; 7th, 22, 24, 27, 29, 38, 55, 144, 171, 188, 208, 226; 17th, 8, 22, 24, 27, 28, 30, 36, 58; 20th, 22, 24, 27, 30, 58; 23rd, 18, 22, 25, 58; 23th, 27; 26th, 27

  Divisions, Japanese, 15th, 5, 8, 23, 58, 97, 115, 186, 200, 241–2; 31st, 5–6, 8, 17, 22–3, 30, 45, 48 n, 57, 64, 210, 242–4, 252–3; 33rd, 8, 28, 36, 58, 185–6, 200; 55th, 25, 27

  Dorsetshire Regiment, 2nd, 2, 51, 88, 89, 107; and Khabvuma, 79; and Kohima, 118; and D.C.’s Bungalow, 125–8, 132–3; and Garrison Hill, 135, 162; and tennis court, 150–1, 163–4, 169, 196–9; and Dyer Hill, 232; and Pfuchama, 235; officers’ patrols, 248; Memorial, 255

  Douglas, Major Angus (C.H.), 234

  Duncombe, Lieut.-Colonel (Queen’s), 182, 183

  Dupont, Lieut. Richard (Dorsets), 204

  Durham Light Infantry, 2nd, 2, 90; and Terrace Hill, 100; and D.C.’s Bungalow, 111–14; and Summer-house Hill, 128–9, 139; and F.S.D. Ridge, 162, 168; and Kuki Piquet, 164; to Dimapur, 174; and G.P.T. Ridge, 211; and Burma Reg’t, 219; in pursuit, 241–2; Memorial, 255

  Dyer, Brigadier, 232

  Dyer Hill, 231–3, 254

  Dysentery, 175, 216, 243

  Easter Day, 1944, 73

  Elliott, Major (Worcesters), 77, 101; quoted, 167, 205, 206, 237

  Evans, Sir Geoffrey, xiv

  F.S.D. Hill and Ridge (box), 53–4, 63, 65, 72, 82, 84, 88, 92, 94, 103, 106, 108, 138, 161–4, 166, 168–9, 187, 190, 192–5

  ‘False Crest’, 224, 225, 226

  ‘Fighting is de-hydrating’, 67

  Fighting tactics, British and Japanese, 187

  Firs Hill, 136–7, 139, 144–6, 154, 156, 158, 229

  Flame-throwers, see ‘Lifebuoys’

  ‘Flinging divisions…’ not done (Slim), 141

  Fowler, Major R. A. J. (‘Raj’), 189, 190, 209

  Fox-holes, 179

  Franklin, Major (R. West Kents), 67, 68

  Frontal attacks, 249

  Fukunaga, Colonel, 63, 111, 114, 130, 133

  G.H.Q., India, 2, 3, 4, 19, 20, 131, 175

  G.P.T. Ridge (box), 53–4, 57–9, 66–7, 70, 73, 82, 95, 102, 138–9, 143, 149, 158–61, 171, 173, 180–3, 190, 195, 201, 211, 214, 246–7, 254–5

  Garage Spur, 232, 235, 237

  Garrett, Sergeant (R. Berks), 194