Page 9 - Oundle Life November 2024

LEST WE
FORGET
The Battle of Kohima
Garrison Hill, Kohima
Major Eadie MC
John Maxwell Edmonds
Kohima tennis court
Most of you will be aware that 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Important as the invasion of Normandy was, there was another significant turning point in WW2 –
to manhandle an anti-tank gun up the hill and into position to dislodge them. For this and other gallant actions at the time, Major Eadie
The Battle of Kohima – which also took place 80 years ago.
For your tomorrow, we gave our today
was awarded the Military Cross. Denis was an ex-Oundle School pupil and survived the war.
John Maxwell Edmonds was another pre-war educated Oundle School student and is credited with authorship of the frequently heard epitaph which commemorates the fallen of Kohima...
Kohima, in Northwest India, along
with the simultaneous Battle of Imphal,
was the turning point in what was
known as the Burma Campaign. For
the first time in Southeast Asia the
Japanese lost the initiative to the allied 14th Army. It resulted in the rout of the Japanese Army in the region and its eventual surrender the following year.
The Battle of Kohima involved fierce fighting, some of it hand to hand. This is exemplified by the action around the Deputy Commissioner’s bungalow and its tennis court. The enemy overran the area and dug in. Major Denis Eadie of the Royal Engineers mounted an operation
‘When you go home, tell them of us and say, For your tomorrow, we gave our today’
Lest we forget.
Stephen Abbott
Oundle & District Royal British Legion
With grateful thanks to Oundle School for their kind assistance.
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