The History Chap
Published 9 Nov 2023What is the Kohima Epitaph and what has it got to do with Britain’s forgotten battle that changed the Second World War? Well, those of you living in the UK and who attend Remembrance Sunday services will probably know the words even if you don’t know the story behind them:
“When you go home, tell them of us and say,
For your tomorrow, We gave our today.”The memorial which bears those powerful words, stands in a cemetery containing the graves over over 1,400 British servicemen and memorials to over 900 Indian troops who died alongside them. They died in one of the bloodiest, toughest, grimmest battles of the Second World War. A battle sometimes called the “Stalingrad of the East.”
Outnumbered 6:1 and half of whom were from non-combat units, the multi-national British garrison stood their ground in bloody hand-to-hand fighting, refusing to retreat or surrender for two weeks until relieved. And even then the battle continued for another vicious month. That stand stopped the Japanese invasion of India in its tracks and turned the tide of the war in South East Asia. Both for its ferocity and its turning point in the war, it has been called: “Britain’s greatest battle”.
The Japanese lost 53,000 men from their army of 85,000.
The British (14th Army) lost 4,000 men killed and wounded.This forgotten victory was made possible by General William (Bill) Slim commanding the 14th Army. Rather like the battle and the 14th Army, General Slim has not received the recognition that he is due. And yet, it is almost completely forgotten. Rather like the army that fought against the Japanese in Burma.
So, as we near Remembrance Sunday, I think it is time to reveal the story of the Battle of Kohima in 1944.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:29 The Rising Sun
02:04 General Slim & the 14th Army
03:16 Japanese Invasion
05:50 Kohima
08:22 Siege of Kohima
09:21 Battle of the Tennis Court
10:10 John Harman VC
11:08 Holding Out
12:10 Relief & Battle
13:18 John Randle VC
14:29 Victory
16:08 Bill Slim’s Springboard
17:20 The Kohima EpitaphRegiments who fought at the battle of Kohima include:
2nd Royal Norfolk Reg.
1st Royal Scots
1/8th Lancashire Fusiliers
7th Worcestershire Reg.
1st Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders,
2nd Dorset Reg.
1st Royal Welch Fusiliers
1st Royal Berkshire Reg.
2nd Durham Light Infantry
4th Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Reg.
1st Somerset Light Infantry
1st Queen’s Royal Regiment
2nd Duke of Wellington’s
4th Border Reg.
1st Essex Regiment
Royal Artillery
Royal Signals
Royal Engineers
2nd Manchester Regiment1st Punjab Reg.
4/7 Rajput Reg.
4/15 Punjab Reg.
4/1st Gurkha Rifles
4/14th Punjab Reg.
4/5th Royal Gurkha Rifles
1st Burma Reg.
1st Assam Reg.
1st Chamar Reg.
Shere Regiment (Nepal)
Mahindra Dal Reg. (Nepal)
2/4th Bombay Grenadiers
5/4th Bombay Grenadiers
17/7th Rajput Reg.
Ist Royal Jat Reg.
7/14th Punjab Reg.
8/13th Frontier Rifles
1st Bihar Reg.Follow me at:
http://www.thehistorychap.com
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3iySrAjMy name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens. So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life. My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: “Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!” Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the “Comments” section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the “Comments” section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
February 1, 2024
The Kohima Epitaph: Britain’s Forgotten Battle That Changed WW2
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