Siege Of Kohima

Belle · 14-10-2005, 11:56 AM

My grandfather was in the Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment. He passed away on Friday, 7th of October 2005. Prior to this I had no knowledge of his war history. At his funeral on Tuesday, his service in Kohima were mentioned. I would like to find out as much information on this as I can, but am unsure where to start. Any information that you could give is greatly appreciated. I am living in Australia and there is not much information that I can access here. Any websites that you can provide would be of great assistance.

mahross · 14-10-2005, 03:12 PM

Here are a few books on the Burma campaign that will be a good starting place:

Field Marshal Viscount Slim Defeat into Victory

Louis Allen Burma: The Longest War

Jon Latimer Burma: The Forgotten War

Julian Thompson The Imperial War Museum Book of the War in Burma, 1942-1945

All of these have section dealing with the Sieges of Imphal and Kohima. More specific details can be found in these books:

Jon Colvin Not Ordinary Men: The Story of the Battle of Kohima

David Rooney Burma Victory: Imphal and Kohima, March 1944 to May 1945

I hope these give you a good starting point.

Ross

spidge · 14-10-2005, 04:16 PM

Hi Belle from the Aussie contingent.

Give this a try.

www.burmastar.org.uk/westkent.htm

mattgibbs · 06-12-2005, 08:24 PM

The new-ish Biography about Slim, Master of War also I recall covers this area. Was an interesting read.
Kind regards
MG

craftman · 28-02-2006, 09:39 PM

make sure you read the book Not Ordinary Men. it gives an almost day by day account of the battle.

Owen · 01-03-2006, 12:02 AM

Belle hasn't been to the site since 15-10-05. I'll PM her to let her know these answers are here.

halsaps · 01-02-2007, 01:43 PM

Just got new book the history of the RWK 1920 - 1950 so have if you have any
names I can look them up in this.

(Still searching for any body in D company the RWK who served with my
Grandfather George W Cherry shame there isn't a list of all the people that
served at Kohima anywhere)
regards Lee

Kyt · 01-02-2007, 03:29 PM

You probably know about the most famous member of D Company at Kohima:

LANCE CORPORAL JOHN HARMAN

4th Battalion,
The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment,
161st Indian Infantry Brigade,
5th Indian Division

Lance Corporal John Harman was a sniper in ‘D’ Company, defending DIS Hill from 6 April when the siege began. On the 7th, Harman crawled forward from his slit trench, towards a Japanese light machine-gun team which had taken cover in a captured trench. Before the Japanese could react, he sprinted the 35 yards to fling himself down below the level of the enemy fire slit. He took out a grenade with a four-second fuse, counted to three, and threw the grenade into the Japanese positions. Having verified that both of his opponents were dead, Harman then returned to his section with their weapons.

The following day, the Japanese resumed their attacks on DIS Hill. Once again, Harman, bayonet fixed, set out to attack a Japanese trench containing five men armed with automatic weapons. Harman shot his way into the trench,
wiped out the position, and then began walking back, ignoring his comrades’ shouts to run. He was hit by a burst of fire, and died, saying: ‘I’ve got to go. It was worth it – I got the lot.‘ These actions, which prevented the premature
fall of the hill, resulted in Lance Corporal John Harman receiving the Victoria Cross. The London Gazette on 22 June 1944 read:

Lance-Corporal Harman’s heroic action and supreme devotion to duty were a wonderful inspiration to all and were largely responsible for the decisive way in which all attacks were driven off by his company.

http://www.veteransagency.mod.uk/pdf...ohima_book.pdf

halsaps · 01-02-2007, 05:55 PM

Thanks for the replies. I have got a lot of books also and probably some of the one mentioned I have also got a good book called the siege and another excellent book by Rob Street (who I have spoken too it is about his father a runner in A company he couln't remeber my grandad) sadly none of these books mention my grandad. (have to get his records one day but don't really want to pay 30 pounds to get them)
Regards Lee.

D Jennings · 29-03-2007, 12:15 PM

I am sure my Grandfather was here, but does anyone know where I could find info about RWF at Kohima please?
Is it worth paying for service records? Will they contain details of military action?
Thanks.
Dave

14-10-2005, 03:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
mahross Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Penzance, Cornwall, UK Posts: 263	Here are a few books on the Burma campaign that will be a good starting place: Field Marshal Viscount Slim Defeat into Victory Louis Allen Burma: The Longest War Jon Latimer Burma: The Forgotten War Julian Thompson The Imperial War Museum Book of the War in Burma, 1942-1945 All of these have section dealing with the Sieges of Imphal and Kohima. More specific details can be found in these books: Jon Colvin Not Ordinary Men: The Story of the Battle of Kohima David Rooney Burma Victory: Imphal and Kohima, March 1944 to May 1945 I hope these give you a good starting point. Ross __________________ Thoughts on Military History

14-10-2005, 04:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
spidge Legendary Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 8,055	Hi Belle from the Aussie contingent. Give this a try. www.burmastar.org.uk/westkent.htm __________________ Spidge, ------------------------------------------------------- My Avatar is the memorial to the 22 Commonwealth Coastwatchers at the Temakin Cemetery on Betio (Tarawa Atoll) who were beheaded by the Japanese on 15th October 1942. http://www.dva.gov.au/media/publicat...mem_beito.html "You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war." (Winston Churchill made this prophetic pronouncement in a House of Commons speech in 1938, just after Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich agreement with Hitler. Chamberlain returned from Germany with the signed agreement in hand, proclaiming that "peace in our time" had been achieved. Churchill attacked Chamberlain's "politics of appeasement" in this and many other speeches.) What did the Australians do in ww2 and other conflicts? Check out this site: http://www.diggerhistory.info/00-pag...ster-index.htm

06-12-2005, 08:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
mattgibbs Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 141	The new-ish Biography about Slim, Master of War also I recall covers this area. Was an interesting read. Kind regards MG __________________ The enemy invariably attacks on one of two occasions: 1. When he is ready. 2. When you are not.

28-02-2006, 09:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
craftman Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: UK Posts: 20	kohima make sure you read the book Not Ordinary Men. it gives an almost day by day account of the battle.

01-02-2007, 03:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
Kyt Very Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,968	You probably know about the most famous member of D Company at Kohima: LANCE CORPORAL JOHN HARMAN 4th Battalion, The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment, 161st Indian Infantry Brigade, 5th Indian Division Lance Corporal John Harman was a sniper in ‘D’ Company, defending DIS Hill from 6 April when the siege began. On the 7th, Harman crawled forward from his slit trench, towards a Japanese light machine-gun team which had taken cover in a captured trench. Before the Japanese could react, he sprinted the 35 yards to fling himself down below the level of the enemy fire slit. He took out a grenade with a four-second fuse, counted to three, and threw the grenade into the Japanese positions. Having verified that both of his opponents were dead, Harman then returned to his section with their weapons. The following day, the Japanese resumed their attacks on DIS Hill. Once again, Harman, bayonet fixed, set out to attack a Japanese trench containing five men armed with automatic weapons. Harman shot his way into the trench, wiped out the position, and then began walking back, ignoring his comrades’ shouts to run. He was hit by a burst of fire, and died, saying: ‘I’ve got to go. It was worth it – I got the lot.‘ These actions, which prevented the premature fall of the hill, resulted in Lance Corporal John Harman receiving the Victoria Cross. The London Gazette on 22 June 1944 read: Lance-Corporal Harman’s heroic action and supreme devotion to duty were a wonderful inspiration to all and were largely responsible for the decisive way in which all attacks were driven off by his company. http://www.veteransagency.mod.uk/pdf...ohima_book.pdf __________________ _______________________________________ Squadron Leader Pujji - Audio Interviews (half way down the page)

14-10-2005, 11:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
Belle Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1	My grandfather was in the Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment. He passed away on Friday, 7th of October 2005. Prior to this I had no knowledge of his war history. At his funeral on Tuesday, his service in Kohima were mentioned. I would like to find out as much information on this as I can, but am unsure where to start. Any information that you could give is greatly appreciated. I am living in Australia and there is not much information that I can access here. Any websites that you can provide would be of great assistance.

01-03-2006, 12:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
Owen Grumpy Old Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 9,485	Belle hasn't been to the site since 15-10-05. I'll PM her to let her know these answers are here.

01-02-2007, 01:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
halsaps Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 16	Just got new book the history of the RWK 1920 - 1950 so have if you have any names I can look them up in this. (Still searching for any body in D company the RWK who served with my Grandfather George W Cherry shame there isn't a list of all the people that served at Kohima anywhere) regards Lee

01-02-2007, 05:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
halsaps Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 16	Thanks for the replies. I have got a lot of books also and probably some of the one mentioned I have also got a good book called the siege and another excellent book by Rob Street (who I have spoken too it is about his father a runner in A company he couln't remeber my grandad) sadly none of these books mention my grandad. (have to get his records one day but don't really want to pay 30 pounds to get them) Regards Lee.

29-03-2007, 12:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
D Jennings Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4	Royal Welsh at Kohima I am sure my Grandfather was here, but does anyone know where I could find info about RWF at Kohima please? Is it worth paying for service records? Will they contain details of military action? Thanks. Dave

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