Duke joins Kohima veterans service in York

The ceremonies in York Minster and in the Minster Gardens marked the Battle of Kohima in north east India, which was fought from April 4 to June 22, 1944.

Nearly 4,000 British and Indian soldiers lost their lives when Allied forces halted the advance of the Japanese army in Asia. The fight ultimately proved to be the turning point of the Burma Campaign.

Sea Cadets from TS York lined the steps to the Minster as the Duke, who is their Admiral, entered the west door.

This is the first time the 14 to 17-year-olds have taken part in the memorial service. They also formed a guard of honour to the Chapter House when the Duke met the veterans after the service.

The ceremony was conducted by the Rev Jonathan Gough, the Deputy Assistant Chaplain General, 15 (North East) Brigade and the Duke gave a reading from Romans.

Following the service, the Duke met the surviving veterans, their families and local Sea Cadets before joining them in Dean’s Gardens adjacent to York Minster for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Kohima Memorial.

Those that fell in battle 69 years ago were remembered by a minute’s silence and a bugler from the Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai Band sounded the “Last Post” and “Reveille”.

“Today has brought back a lot of memories,” said Edgar Merrey who served with the 7th Battalion The Worcester Regiment and now lives in Sudbury, Derbyshire.

“The battle at Kohima was nasty and I am sorry that we had to be nasty.

“We have links with the Japanese now. I had a Japanese friend from the 31st Division who used to come to this reunion but sadly he has now died.

“The Japanese sent a model of a Samurai in his armour to ‘ the courageous 2nd Division’ and we sent them a gift with the 2nd Division’s crossed keys emblem.”

Ninety-year-old Ronald Brown, who served with the Royal Signals, said: “It has been a great day for me, absolutely great. To be in the Minster with that gathering including the Duke was wonderful.”