80th Anniversary of the Battle of Kohima commemorated

KOHIMA — The 80th anniversary of the Battle of Kohima was commemorated at the Kohima War Cemetery, where Viscount Mark William Rawdon Slim of the United Kingdom recounted the pivotal events of the battle.

During the brief service, Slim highlighted the significance of multiculturalism in forming the allied force that fought against the enemy during the Battle of Kohima, contributing significantly to victory.

He said that all those gathered should be proud of the victory won by the allied forces 80 years ago in Kohima and stressed on the need to salute to all those who fought the battle with respect and admiration.

He also shared his experience of walking from Jessami to Kohima as a tribute to the soldiers.

Charlotte Carty, granddaughter of Lt. Col William Felix ‘Bruno’ Brown, Commanding Officer of 1st Assam Regiment, later spoke to the media, recounting her research findings on the support provided by the Naga people to the Allied forces during the battle.

She recounted that her grandfather had survived the Battle of Kohima but tragically lost his life later in the war. As a result, Carty’s mother, at a young age, was left without her father, which significantly impacted her life. However, her mother was incredibly proud of her father and ensured that his legacy was passed on to Carty and her siblings.

Carty emphasised her commitment to ensuring that the next generation possesses the same ability, knowledge, and understanding to properly remember and express gratitude for all that happened in Kohima, and said that she brought three of her children to witness the commemoration.

Further, she reflected on the significance of the Battle of Kohima, describing it as an ‘extraordinary story’ on many levels, as it was a very important battle for in World War II from the Allies’ point of view. She said the battle was ‘turning point’ as it marked the first defeat of the Japanese Imperial forces on land, and proved that the Japanese forces could be defeated.

On a personal level, Carty said that the battle was ferocious and acknowledged the resilience of the soldiers. Stressing the importance of remembering their sacrifices and learning from their experiences to avoid repeating history’s mistakes, she asserted that the future generations to glean lessons from the past and move forward positively.

During the commemoration, Khedi Baptist Church Youth presented a special song composed by R Kevichusa, followed by a prayer offered by Rev. Dr. Vevo Phesao, senior pastor of Chakhesang Baptist Church Minister’s Hill, Kohima

 Descendants, well-wishers, and students from four schools laid wreaths to honour the heroes who fought in the Battle of Kohima.

Also read: Retracing history: Descendants commemorate Battle of Kohima with tribute trek