Page 8 - Cadet Review Summer 2021
P. 8

Joint Service News
BRAVERY AND COURAGE
ON THE BATTLEFIELDS
OF KOHIMA
By Bob Cook, Curator, The Kohima Museum, York
INTRODUCTION:
Throughout history, there are countless thousands of cases of ‘courage’ and ‘bravery’, and formal definitions do not really give a full picture. I hope to present some particular cases that will enable a greater understanding of the definitions.
No one actually knows how they or others will behave until we are in the type of situation that
in wartime occurs frequently, and in peacetime, occasionally. It isn’t necessarily the big powerful person who displays bravery or the noble person who acts with courage.
These two characteristics are within the grasp of everyone but they need to be reached for and held onto until the particular situation has passed or the objective reached. They can also be enhanced and strengthened in the company of others who may be in the same situation or have the same objective
Acts of bravery and displays of courage are more prevalent in wartime, and none more so that during the Siege and Battle of Kohima which took place between 4th April – 22 June 1944 in the Naga Hills of North East India. Here, the British and Indian forces on one side, faced a determined Japanese offensive by the Imperial Japanese Army on the other.
BACKGROUND
The Battle of Kohima was one of the major turning points of the Second World War in South-East Asia, which showed that ultimately, realistic training and good leadership, coupled with attention to logistics and morale, will win over strict adherence to a particular code or culture, especially when such adherence proves to be disastrous.
The remarkable initial Japanese victories were
in part due to the relative inexperience of the Indian and British troops and the limited (at that time) leadership of the British officers against the battle hardened and experienced Japanese forces that had been at war since 1935.
The Japanese paid little attention to logistics
and even less to morale. They continued to rely on abandoned allied stores and equipment, even when they must have realised that the British and Indian strategy had changed. They also completely relied on the Japanese Warrior culture and spirit. This was fine while they were victorious, but failed them almost completely as the British and Indian soldiers gained the upper hand.
A small British and Indian force of about 1,500 combatant troops were to stand against the might of around 15,000 Japanese troops
THE SIEGE AND BATTLE OF KOHIMA
On the 15th of March 1944, the Japanese 15th Army crossed the Chindwin River in force with Lieutenant General Mutaguchi Renya in command. His plan was to encircle and annihilate the 4th Indian Corps at Imphal with his 15th and 33rd Divisions, and to therefore capture the massed stores and supplies at Kanglatongbi. His third division – the 31st, was
to strike north and west to the small – and as yet – relatively unimportant hill station of Kohima in order to cut the Dimapur – Kohima – Imphal road to prevent allied reinforcements and supplies from reaching 4th Corps on the Imphal plain.
A small British and Indian force of about 1,500 combatant troops were to stand against the might of around 15,000 Japanese troops of the 31st Division for 14 days, until relieved by the British 2nd Infantry Division, creating a defence that will be remembered long into history as one of the greatest sieges of all time.
Without a doubt, there were numerous displays
of courage and many acts of bravery carried out by soldiers from all sides. Many of these would have gone without reward, and equally, there would be many that actually went without recognition. It is
a simple fact that in war, the history is written by
the victors. Therefore, there are many accounts of bravery and courage recorded from the British and Indian forces, but practically none from the Japanese perspective.
  The home of heroes - The early days of the Kohima War
 Cemetery taken not long after the battle in 1944
   8 CADET REVIEW SUMMER 2021






































































   6   7   8   9   10