Kohima War Cemetery, the Forgotten World War II Memorial in India

 

Introduction: What is the Kohima War Cemetery?

Battle of Kohima Memorial Site 

Kohima is a small town in Nagaland, India. It is also the site of the Kohima War Cemetery, which is one of the most beautiful and well-kept war cemeteries in Asia.

When you go home tell them of us and say for your tomorrow we gave our today.

The Kohima War Cemetery was built to commemorate those who died during the Battle of Kohima in 1944. The battle was fought between Allied forces and Japanese troops for control of this strategically important location.

The cemetery has a memorial wall with the names of those who died during World War II inscribed on it. There are also two monuments - one for British soldiers and one for Indian soldiers.

Hindu soldiers memorial 

British soldiers memorial 

The cemetery has been neglected by successive governments and there are no plans to maintain it or build any new memorials at this time.

The Battle of Kohima

Battle of Kohima was a major campaign fought in the village of Kohima, in the then British Crown Colony of Nagaland. The battle is often considered to be one of the turning points during World War II.

The Battle of Kohima started on April 7, 1944 and went on till June 22, 1944. It was fought between Allied forces and Imperial Japanese forces as part of Operation U-Go that was launched by the Japanese to drive towards India's eastern frontier.

The British had been attempting to put pressure on Japanese forces operating in Imphal and they anticipated that they would next make a move on Kohima. The Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army, General Sir William Slim, therefore decided to send reinforcements to Kohima and ordered Brigadier “Daddy” John Masters to plan an attack on the Japanese positions.

The battle ended with a decisive victory for the Allied forces and an overwhelming majority for Britain who had 12,500 troops fighting against 4500 Japanese soldiers.

The Aftermath of the Battle

The aftermath of the Battle of Kohima was a time when the British and Indian troops were able to hold on against the Japanese forces. This battle was a turning point in World War II, with Allied forces defeating the Japanese and taking back territory they had lost.

The Battle of Kohima took place in 1944 between Japan and India. The Japanese were trying to take over India but were stopped at Kohima. The battle took place for three weeks before Allied Forces won, with more than 4,000 casualties on both sides.

The History of the Kohima War Cemetery

Areal view of war cemetery Kohima 

Kohima War Cemetery, also known as the Battle of Kohima Memorial Site, is a war memorial site in Kohima, Nagaland. The site was established by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in 1947. It commemorates 853 casualties of World War II who are buried there and also has ten tombs of unknown soldiers.

The cemetery is located on what was formerly known as Garrison Hill and was formally inaugurated by then Governor-General of India, C. Rajagopalachari on 27 October 1945. The total area covered by the cemetery is about 3 acres and it contains graves from both World Wars as well as plots for civilian casualties from bombings in 1944 and 1945.

The cemetery is located at Naga Village on a hillock which offers commanding views of Kohima village about two kilometres away and its airfield about two miles away.

How to Visit the Place and Make a Tour?

Visiting the place where we have lost loved ones can be emotional and poignant. When it has been a long time since we last visited their final resting place, it will be doubly touching to go back and visit their graves. Remembrance days are just a huge chance to educate the youth about history.

As Nagaland's capital, Kohima is well-connected to the rest of the country. You can get to Kohima in this manner.

By Aeroplane

The nearest domestic airport is Dimapur Airport, which is roughly 74 kilometres from Kohima. The airport in Dimapur is well-connected to major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata.

By Rail

Dimapur, around 74 kilometres from Kohima, has the nearest railway station. Guwahati, Kolkata, New Delhi, Chennai, Jorhat, and Dibrugarh are all within easy driving distance.

By Automobile

Buses run between Dimapur and Kohima by the Nagaland State Road Transport Company. Apart from government-run buses, private luxury buses and taxis connect Guwahati, Shillong, and nearly all of Assam's districts.

Why You Should Visit the Kohima War Cemetery?

The Kohima War Cemetery is a place which is usually overlooked by tourists and travellers. It is not one of the most popular destinations, but it holds a very important place in the history of India.

The cemetery was built to commemorate the fallen Indian soldiers who died in the Battle of Kohima during World War II. The war was fought between Japanese troops and Allied forces, including British and Indian soldiers. The battle took place in 1944 and lasted for three days before British troops were able to regain control of Kohima from the Japanese army.

Dedicated to an unidentified soldier.

The cemetery holds more than 1,000 graves for Indian soldiers who died fighting for their country during World War II. It also includes two memorials which are dedicated to those who were killed in action during World War I and World War II.