James Holland visits Shenam Saddle, Shangshak, Imphal and Kohima.

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by mikky, Jan 24, 2022.

  1. mikky

    mikky Member

    Historian James Holland visits Shenam Saddle, Shangshak, Imphal and Kohima. Some tremendous views of the battlefields and well worth a watch.



    Mike
     
  2. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Nice video. Somewhat too short for more detailed tour of various battlefields but it is still it is nice to have better grasp of the terrain over which so much blood was spilled. Also starting to wonder should I be worried that I immediately recognize Gibraltar ans Scraggy hills when they visited Recce hill on Shenam Saddle.
     
  3. mikky

    mikky Member

    Is that Scraggy in front?

    Mike temp Shenam Saddle.png
     
  4. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    My mistake, not Scraggy but Malta. These are Gibraltar and Malta. Scraggy is in front of Malta down the road. Hill between Gibraltar and Malta, barely visible in distance should be Nippon hill, if I am not wrong.

    Screenshot from 2022-01-24 16-18-15.png

    Here you can find more photos

    1st Devons, Sgt Harry Jones
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2022
    mikky likes this.
  5. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    I would appreciate some advice on the subject of Burma as to date I have covered the war in Europe. More info is appearing as the campaign ground on through 1945 so has found more post Normandy media interest.
    What significance are Scraggy, Gibraltar, Malta etc. Would you recommend any books or websites.
    I had two relatives who were in India /Burma. One with the 1st Northants, who I have largely covered very recently and one who trained at the school of Signals in the UK, went to India on a General Service enlistment arriving at Deoulali as a Devon, was transferred to South Lancs at Bawli, then went to the 1st Wilts. Moved to 14th Army Signals then returned to 1 South Wilts ending his service in Poona as an instructor in Signals. It seems he was likely to have been filling gaps as signaller being a casualty replacement during a very busy time throughout 1944.
    For interest I have attached part of his service record.
    Sadly I am of an age where I have never been to the Far East nor am unlikely ever to do so. However I enjoyed the James Holland Video (I see there are more on YT) and took a motorbike ride on the Silchar Track on line on Sunday afternoon. (Did a similar exercise in Italy last year). Camera Drones have given us old folk the opportunity to travel to "Far away places with strange sounding names" even if the places are filmed for entirely different reasons.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Jan 25, 2022
  6. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Scraggy, Malta, Gibraltar, Crete East, Crete West, Nippon Hill, Recce hill and number of others are names given to prominent features on the Shenam saddle on the road from Tamu to Imphal. They cover south-eastern approach to Imphal plain and between April and July 1944 were scene of very heavy fighting.

    [​IMG]

    Fighting there is probably the closest thing that resemble the Great war type trench warfare in CBI theater during ww2. Unfortunately, outside official histories and Imphal-Kohima battle dedicated books it is not well covered, probably because few British troops, like 1st Devon and 2nd Border, fought there.

    What kind of the books you are looking for? More general history, some particular battle, unit or some personal memories? If you want to know more about Imphal-Kohima battles, about which above video is, there are some nice books but you can start with this one, simply because it is free

    Imphal - A Flower on Lofty Heights

    It is one of the older books, and possibly outdated in some areas, but it is still a good place to start. But if you are looking for something else, just tell us what it is and someone could suggest you a good book to read.
     
    stolpi and Uncle Target like this.
  7. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    Hi Uncle Target

    My father-in-law was with the Northamptons in Ceylon, India and Burma and I have researched them in depth. He was wounded on Pt 5846 in April 1944. I have been able to visit Imphal twice (and once to Kohima) and have visited a number of the battlefields. On each of the trips I have been to the Silchar Track and climbed the hills. I'd be very interested in who your relative was as I am slowly pulling together a list of the 1st Northamptons and would like to add him to it.

    The best book for the Northamptons is The Silchar Track by Molloy. Now getting expensive at £40+ but a good day-by-day account.
     
    4jonboy and dbf like this.
  8. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Thanks for the tip, also I think, mentioned in the 1st Northants thread.
    I took the bull by the horns and paid way more than I would do normally for "The Silchar Track". I obviously hadn't read the description properly. Much to my surprise it is signed by the author with best wishes to someone that he knew. The book is in near perfect condition.
    It is however very short only 150 pages 123 of which consists of various personal accounts including the author who was in Command of the Support Company which included the Carrier Platoon.
    Definitely no complaints as the first few pages mention the formation of their Carrier Platoon in Ceylon in 1942. The date corresponds with my uncles Service Record Disembarked Bombay India posted Dinapoor, Embarked India 4.7.42 Disembarked Ceylon. Embarked Ceylon 13.8.43 Disembarked India.
    This has refreshed memories from my cousins who recalled his odd mentions of his time in Burma. He was a nervous wreck on returning home and had suffered much time in and out of hospital with Malaria and Dysentery (much of this is mentioned in the book). He spent much time working with Mules delivering medical supplies to the forward units which fits in with comments regarding the Carrier Platoon leaving their vehicles at Moreh moving on foot with mules into the Kabaw Valley. Collecting their vehicles on their return during their withdrawal to Imphal and Bishenpur.

    He had a hard time having been plucked out of the sea at Dunkirlk by a French Trawler on 2nd June having been on board HMHS Paris. On 7th June he appears in the North Wiltshire Herald having dived into a lake in Swindon to help save a young man from drowning. It looks like he volunteered for the 1st Northants when with 30th Searchlight Regiment similar to Percy in the Peoples War article, who thought he was going to the Commandos.
    Well worth the "Premium" price in my case.

    Also found this: The Silchar-Bishenpur Track | Battle of Imphal

    Steadily reading this as recommended: Imphal Flower On Lofty Heights : Lt Gen Sir Geoffrey Evans & Antony Brett-James : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

    Many thanks everyone.
     
  9. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Skoyen89 I tried sending you a PM but I think it timed out while looking up his personal details and photos. Will try again later.
    We might raise a few more inspiring facts that the girls could recall.
    You are welcome to PM me if you wish.
     
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2022
  10. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    Hi Uncle Target

    Got the PM and will reply to you there.

    I am interested on the 'motor bike ride on the Silchar Track by video'. Who did that for you?

    The Silchar Track area is changing rapidly as they push a metalled road through the area. Luckily in some areas the 'old' road still exists as the new road takes a more direct route using heavy machinery.
     
  11. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    Agree on the video. It covers a lot of ground but equally leaves a lot out. The Shenam Saddle is one of the harder areas to visit as a couple of the key battlefields are now Assam Rifles camps and photography and visits are frowned upon. However most of the rest of the Imphal battle sites are untouched. I do agree it helps to see the ground the battle was fought on. Unfortunately I hadn't studied the Battle at Sangshak before I visited it and now (wth the aid of some war Diaries) I understand the layout better.
     
    sol likes this.
  12. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    There are a few videos of the area on YT these are some of them. Cant remember exactly which one . You certainly get a feel for the type of terrain.
    The second one goes south from Silchar not sure how close it gets to the Silchar track. There are also drone videos of the area but it takes time to find them . It is my Sunday Afternoon hobby now. Last year it was Monte Grande Italy.



     
    Last edited: Feb 7, 2022

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