The Kohima Memorial
This Memorial was unveiled by Field Marshal Sir William Slim, who was at the time commanding 14th Army in Burma.
It is made from once piece of solid stone which formed part of a Naga formation of stones similar, but smaller, than Stonehenge. These stones were situated on a Spur near the village of Maram, south of Kohima.
The 7th Battalion, supported by Tanks, M.M.G.'s and Artillery, captured the village and the spur after a battle lasting one day.
It was subsequently discovered from captured documents that the Japanese had been ordered to hold this position for ten days. The 75 m.m. gun which is in the Regimental Museum was captured during the action, the Japanese gunner being bayoneted by a member of the 7th Battalion.
The stone was with great difficulty, and with the assistance of the Naga Hillsmen, moved to its present site, at one end of the 2nd Division's War Cemetery. The Cemetery is situated on a commanding piece of ground at Kohima on the site, which was originally the District Commissioner's Bungalow.
2nd Division Memorial at Kohima |
7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment
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Pte. L. Ballard.
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Cpl. C. Levy.
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Sgt. Tommy Brookes |
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The Military Cemetery as it was in 1945
CSM Arthur Hooper Harcourt (5248078) centre of photo
He was killed in action on the 9th May 1944 (age 34) whilst serving with the 7th Battalion
Photo submitted by Mrs Susan Marsh (his niece)
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The Japanese advance into India was halted at Kohima in April 1944 and Garrison Hill, a long wooded spur on a high ridge west of the village, was the scene of perhaps the most bitter fighting of the whole Burma campaign when a small Commonwealth force held out against repeated attacks by a Japanese Division. The fiercest hand to hand fighting took place in the garden of the Deputy Commissioner's bungalow, around the tennis court, but the heaviest casualties on both sides occurred after relieving forces reached the Garrison and the Japanese were driven off the ridge, so re-opening the road to Imphal. KOHIMA WAR CEMETERY lies on the battle ground of Garrison Hill.
2nd Division Memorial at Kohima (1946) |
Private Jack Nock (5257364)
standing - 7th Battalion (photo submitted by Nigel Cox - great nephew) |
Private Jack Nock was originally interred at Khuzama village cemetery, a few miles north of Maram ridge and subsequently exhumed to Kohima where he is now commemorated. |
Kohima War Cemetery (2009)
(Photo submitted by Mrs Susan Marsh niece of CSM Arthur Hooper Harcourt)