“The support Nagas gave to the allies is extraordinary”

April 5, 2024 18 Views No Comment

Descendants of WW-II Allied forces war veterans join Battle of Kohima’s 80th anniversary

Our Correspondent
Kohima | April 5

After completing 77 miles walk in 39 Hours (Walking in My Grandfather’s Footsteps), the 26 descendants of World War II Allied Forces war veterans from United Kingdom (UK), today joined the commemoration programme of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Kohima in Nagaland’s state capital Kohima.

The descendants laid wreath at World War II Cemetery and paid rich tribute to the heroes who fought in the Battle of Kohima from April 4 to June 10 in 1944. The trustee of Kohima Education Trust (KET), Charlotte Carty, led the team in paying homage to those who fought and died in the Battle of Kohima. Children from four schools also joined wreath laying ceremony.

The war veterans founded the KET as a debt of honour to the Naga people as well as a means of sustaining the memory of the courage and sacrifice of those who fought and died in the battle, and of honouring the Nagas who were their allies in the war through assisting the education of succeeding generations of Naga children.

The cemetery, maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, houses 1,420 Commonwealth burials and a memorial for 917 Hindu and Sikh soldiers.

Rev Dr Vevo Phesao, senior pastor, Chakhesang Baptist Church Minister’s Hill Kohima pronounced commemoration prayer while Khedi Baptist Church Youth, Kohima presented special number.

Speaking at the ceremony held at the war memorial, Viscount Mark William Rawdon Slim lauded the Naga people and the Indian forces for being the allies of the British army in successfully fighting against the Japanese forces.

Carty said the support that the Nagas gave to the allies is extraordinary. Terming the Battle of Kohima as one of the most ferocious wars ever, she hoped that a lesson has been learnt from the past and that it won’t be repeated in the future.

The commemoration programme was led by Rozelle Mero.

It may be recalled that the 26 descendants of World War II war veterans from UK undertook 77 miles walk in 39 hours with starting point from Jessami (Manipur) on April 1 and successfully completed their mission on April 3 with ending point in Kohima.

The 39 hours walk was Carty’s mission to re-creating the journey undertaken by her grandfather Lt Col Bruno Brown, Commandant of 1st Assam Regiment in 1944. Also marking the 80th anniversary of WW-II, Carty and team walked from Jessami in Manipur to Kohima from Monday till Wednesday covering a distance of 124 km.

(With inputs from PTI)