Burma veterans honour fallen of historic battle

And 18 veterans travelled from across the UK to York yesterday to commemorate the 68th anniversary of the Battle of Kohima, in which British and Indian forces halted the invading Japanese troops.

Nearly 4,000 British and Indian soldiers lost their lives in the battle which was fought from April 4 to June 22 in 1944 around the town of Kohima in north-east India.

The surviving veterans and their families travelled from as far afield as Kent, Cornwall, Scotland and Wales to attend a memorial service in York Minster. It was followed by a ceremony in the Minster Gardens, where Major General Nicholas Eeles, General Officer Commanding Scotland, and Major (Retd) Gordon Graham placed wreaths on the Kohima memorial before a bugler played the Last Post.

Major Graham, a Kohima veteran from Surrey, said: “It was a great privilege to represent the veterans today in laying the wreath. I’ve done it for several years, but each time still moves me. I served with The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, which was an infantry regiment, and I still remember everything vividly like it was yesterday. Time is an illusion, you never forget.”

The veterans were later hosted by Brigadier Greville Bibby, Commander 15 North East Brigade, at a lunch in Imphal Barracks where they had the opportunity to browse the Kohima Museum which houses photos, letters and memorabilia most of which have been donated by the veterans themselves.

The 2nd Division Kohima Museum Trust’s curator, Robert Cook, said: “The Kohima Memorial Service is a great tribute to the defenders of Kohima. Without their efforts and bravery our lives today would be very different.”

email [email protected]