The Duke of York visits site of historic Indian battlefield
Kohima, which sits on a narrow strip of mountainous territory between the Brahmaputra Valley and Burma, is the site of a battle that is now considered an important turning point in the Second World War. The city, in the State of Nagaland, is difficult to reach: there are limited flights to Dimapur and then a long drive up a mountain-side. The Duke of York arrived in the city on Tuesday 1st May to a warm welcome. Throughout the forty-mile journey from Dimapur to Kohima, Naga children and their families stood in groups at the edge of the streets waving Indian and British flags.
The last Member of the Royal Family to visit Kohima was Lord Mountbatten in 1944, and His Royal Highness’ visit this week for a ceremony of remembrance is the first by a Member of the Royal Family to the war cemetery, constructed in memory of the Allied soldiers who lost their lives fighting in the region.
The Duke of York was met at the Kohima War Cemetery by the Chief Minister of Nagaland and escorted to the Stone of Remembrance where the Chief Minister and Major General Bas laid wreaths. His Royal Highness laid a wreath on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen. The Duke of York was given a tour of the War Cemetery by Mr. Angami whose family have looked after the grounds for three generations. Mr. Angami can still recount stories of the soldiers from 161st Indian Brigade, Assam Riffles and 1st Assam Regiment and the events of April 1944.
In a speech at the cemetery, His Royal Highness said:
“It’s very important for the modern generation, particularly across India, for people to remember and recognise the sacrifice that took place here, because without that sacrifice and that stand then the freedom that we now have … would not have been possible.”
The Duke was later shown the tennis court at the Deputy Commissioner’s Bungalow, a site that during the battle became “no man’s” land, with the Japanese and the defenders of Kohima entrenched on either side – close enough to throw grenades at each other. After the Japanese captured the tennis court area on the night of 17th April, but failed to attack Garrison Hill, giving the troops of 161st Indian Brigade the opportunity to relieve the garrison at day break.
Lord Mountbatten described the battle as “probably one of the greatest battles in history …in effect the Battle of Burma… naked unparalleled heroism… the British/Indian Thermopylae.” It was a decisive turning point in the Burma campaign and after a prolonged counter-offensive the British and Indian troops defeated the Japanese on 22nd June, 1944.
Today, there are 16 officially recognized tribes in the Nagaland state of India and music is very much at the centre of the rich cultural mix in the region. His Royal Highness was delighted to see first hand a celebration of this culture in the new Kohima Convention Centre.
The Duke of York visited Nagaland World War Two Museum and was pleased to meet a number of World War Two veterans. His Royal Highness inspected the Guard of Honour before returning to Dimapur.
