Descendants of Allied soldiers who fought in the historic Battle of Kohima from April 4 to June 10, 1944, participated at the 80th anniversary Thursday at the Kohima War Cemetery. Speaking at the event, Mark William Rawdon Slim, grandson of General William Slim, the World War II hero, shared his reflections on the significance of the Kohima campaign. Slim expressed gratitude for the opportunity to travel to Kohima and follow the footsteps of the 1st Assam Regiment. He highlighted the experience of seeing the forests and jungles where his grandfather had once traversed and fought.
He also spoke of the pivotal role of Kohima and the Burma campaigns, and described them as the longest and largest British-led campaign of the World War II. Slim also spoke of the critical nature of the battles that if the Allies had not emerged victorious at Kohima, then the overall fight would have been considerably harder.
Slim expressed his admiration for all those who had fought in the campaign and added that all of them deserved eternal admiration for their bravery and sacrifices.
Following a solemn commemoration ceremony, Charlotte Carty, granddaughter of Lt Col Bruno Brown, commanding officer of the 1st Assam Regiment, shared her emotions as she interacted with reporters.
“It has been a journey of discovery,” she said as she recounted the 39-hour walk from Jessami to Kohima which culminated on Tuesday.
Carty, a trustee of Kohima Education Trust (KET), had led the 26-member team including her three children and her husband, on journey retracing the steps of her grandfather Lieut Col William Felix “Bruno” Brown in World War II. The team walked 77 miles (124km) across hills and jungle from the village of Jessami to Kohima from April 2 to 3.
Recalling the impact of the war on her family, Carty emphasised the importance of passing down the legacy of the bravery and sacrifice of her grandfather. Carty’s children joined her on the journey, seeking to gain insights into the battleground and its significance.
“I have been trying to make sure that the next generation have the knowledge and understanding,” she affirmed as she described the Battle of Kohima as a turning point in World War II.
Rozelle Mero chaired the programme, while the commemoration prayer was offered by Rev Dr Vevo Phesao, senior pastor of Chakhesang Baptist Church Minister’s Hill, Kohima. Khedi Baptist Church Youth Kohima presented a special number. After the brief commemoration service, descendants of the soldiers laid wreaths at the war memorial.