I understand that my Grandfather served in the 4th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment HQ Company during the Battle of Kohima. I have seen his war medals which are displayed in the dining room, but I never realised he served in such a ferocious battle against the Japs. BBC - WW2 People's War - Kohima 60 Years Ago I have found this article by David West which includes an image of HQ Company in 1944, sadly it is not of a high enough resoultion to see any clearer. Does anyone know anything further about HQ company or have any photos?
I can strongly recommend the new book by Fergal Keane, Road of Bones - a rivetting read on Kohima. I have been trying to put together a nominal roll of those who fought at Kohima but so far without success. All help gratefully received!
You may find this of interest, too.... Name: HARMAN, JOHN PENNINGTON Initials: J P Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Lance Corporal Regiment/Service: Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment Unit Text: 4th Bn. Age: 29 Date of Death: 09/04/1944 Service No: 295822 Awards: V C Additional information: Son of Martin Coles Harman and Amy Ruth Harman, of City of London. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 8. E. 3. Cemetery: KOHIMA WAR CEMETERY Citation: The following details are given in the London Gazette of June 20th, 1944:- At Kohima, Assam, on 8th April 1944, Lance Corporal Harman was commanding a section of a forward platoon. The enemy had established a machine-gun post within 50 yards of his position which became a serious menace to the remainder of his company. Unable to bring the fire of his section on to the post, Lance Corporal Harman went forward by himself and annihilated the post, returning with the enemy machine-gun. The next morning, having first recovered a forward position, he again charged an enemy post alone, shooting four and bayonetting one, thereby wiping out the post. As he returned Lance Corporal Harman received an burst of machine-gun fire in his side and died shortly after reaching our lines. Lance Corporal Harman's heroic action and supreme devotion to duty were largely responsible for the decisive way in which all attacks were driven off by his company. The Battalion suffered nearly 70 killed, a large number of them the junior NCO's... A pivotal battle as from then on the Japanese were retreating. More importantly, the "myth" of their invincibility was also shattered.
My father served in the same regiment HQ Company. I have a book which I'm reading at the moment that lists all the men who served the whole war in this Company and is the story of the regiment through the war. Very interesting read with some photos - they had a tough time in Burma. I understand that my Grandfather served in the 4th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment HQ Company during the Battle of Kohima. I have seen his war medals which are displayed in the dining room, but I never realised he served in such a ferocious battle against the Japs. BBC - WW2 People's War - Kohima 60 Years Ago I have found this article by David West which includes an image of HQ Company in 1944, sadly it is not of a high enough resoultion to see any clearer. Does anyone know anything further about HQ company or have any photos?
Hi Valencia, please could you give us the title of the book with the nominal roll of HQ Coy 4RWK? many thanks, Jawan
Hi All, I think I may have already replied to 'puntopower' on another forum, but if not here are the file reference numbers for the 4/West Kent War diaries, held at the National Archives, Kew. 1943= WO172/2514 1944= WO172/4884 Also, I have just finished reading 'Forgotten Voices of Burma' by Julian Thompson. It is a good read using extracts from the Imperial War Museum's audio tape memoirs of Allied soldiers that fought in the Burma campaign. It includes excerpts from men of the 4/West Kents, from Private soldiers to a Major. I hope this might be of use to some of you? Bamboo.
Hi Valencia, please could you give us the title of the book with the nominal roll of HQ Coy 4RWK? many thanks, Jawan Sorry I never answered your question - I've only just seen it. The book is called 'From Kent to Kohima'. Unfortunately I have given the book to my brother in Geneva to read so can't give you any more information. You should still be able to get a copy of it. Valencia
Many thanks one and all .... still be good to find a roll of all who served and fought at Kohima!! If you are refering to just this battalion there may be one in the units war diary. Almost certainly all the officers will be listed.
