by Fergal Keane
Japanese plan to capture 116, 140, 154, 168, 170, 184, 184n, 223
railhead at 27, 29, 30, 35, 223, 279
threat to extinguished 316, 368, 369
West Kent’s at 221, 223, 236, 240, 244, 355–61, 364
wounded taken to, Allied 182, 183, 218, 226, 268, 352, 364
disease and illness: Allied xvii, 13, 14, 24, 25, 27, 28, 76, 82, 160, 161, 218, 256, 266, 328, 338, 376, 411
Japanese xvii, 14, 114, 155, 291, 297, 388, 395, 396, 396n, 398, 399, 401, 420
Domei News Service 154–5
Dower, John 107, 420
Driscoll, Corporal G. W. xiv
Dunkirk 61–2, 98, 274, 359, 378, 379, 411
Earley, Lieutenant Desmond 401
Easten, Billie 63, 333, 410, 430
Easten, Captain (later Major) Donald 359
Arakan 134–5, 138
background 62
India, arrival in 68–9
Iraq 67
John Harman and 103–4, 128, 129, 255, 268–9, 340
joins army 62–3
jungle warfare, describes 134–5
Kohima, arrival at 242
Kohima, journey to 178, 240
Kohima, leaves 355
Kohima, siege of 247, 248, 249, 250, 260, 262, 263, 264, 265–6, 268, 269, 271, 303, 333, 340, 341, 343–4, 345, 346, 347, 348
Laverty, on competence of 98
North Africa 63–4
post-war life 410, 430–1
Saville, role in removal of 95
West Kent’s movement to Dimapur, attitude towards 221
wounded 271, 333, 341, 410
Edward VIII, King 1–2
Elwell, Captain Donald 329, 332
Evans, Wally 103, 127–8
Eves, Sergeant Jack 337
Fanning, Paddy 135
Faulkner, Janet 431
Faulkner, John 241, 242–3, 247–8, 254–5, 269, 305–6, 307, 341–3, 350, 353, 355, 431
Faulkner, Margery 254
First World War, 1914–1918 24, 31, 32, 34, 40, 52, 54, 59, 60, 83, 90, 97, 99, 132, 132n, 181, 183, 184, 225, 273, 340, 361, 380
FitzClarence, Geoffrey 416
Fitzpatrick, Captain Gerald 25, 26
Folgore Division 64
food/hunger see supply operations
Forsdyke, Eric 323
Foster, Reg 362
Foucar, Lieutenant Colonel Emile Charles 6–7, 8, 9, 10, 105
Foucar, Mollie 6
Franklin, Major Peter 257, 267, 302, 304, 329
From Kent to Kohima (Clarke/Tillott) 434
Frost, Lance Corporal 20–1
Fujiwara, Lieutenant Colonel Iwaichi 86, 113–14, 147, 150, 215n, 235, 289, 326, 372, 392, 394, 395, 396
Gade, Felix 100, 102, 432
Gaidiliu 41, 41n, 51–2
Gandhi, Mohandas K.41, 43, 43n, 69, 70, 87, 440
Gatpoh, Reverend L. 409
Giffard, General Sir George 169, 170–1, 170n, 173, 180, 184n, 223n, 416, 436
Gilani, Lieutenant M. A. 132
Glover, Captain F.R. 301
Goodwin, Private Peter 60, 65
Gordon, Private George 378, 379
Goschen, Brigadier Willie 380
Graham, Captain Gordon 43, 374, 380, 386n
Grant, Major Ian Lyall 88
Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere 109, 117n
Greatly, Private Tom 266, 429
Greenwood, Captain (later Major) Walter 182, 183, 229, 283, 302, 303, 304
Grocock, Deryck 324
Grover, Lieutenant Colonel David 386
Grover, Major General John xx, 284, 458
appearance 174
Dimapur, ordered to 173, 185, 186, 272, 273, 275
fired 384–7
Kohima offensive 378, 380, 381, 383, 387n, 439
Kohima Ridge, plan to retake 339–40
mistakes 313, 338, 384–7
Nagas, opinion of 295
overstates likelihood of quick breakthrough to Kohima 313, 386
relief of Kohima 278, 313, 338
slow to enact orders 278, 313, 338, 365–8, 377, 384–7
Stopford and 278, 365–8, 377, 384–7
Guadalcanal, battle of, 1942–3 146, 146n, 151, 163, 167, 288, 318
Gurung, Lieutenant D.B. 216
Ha-Go, Operation 104
Haines, Company Sergeant Major Bill 266, 341, 347–8, 354
Hall, Private Nobby 268, 270
Halnan, Captain Keith 72, 275–6, 314
Harman, Amy Ruth 100
Harman, Diana 100, 433
Harman, Lance Corporal John 99–104, 127–9, 138, 240, 254–5, 265, 268–9, 269n, 340, 361, 432–3, 458
Harman, Martin Coles 100, 101, 102, 103, 432–3
Harwood, Company Sergeant Major 137m 263, 312, 332
Hawkins, Brigadier Victor 186, 274, 276, 285, 313, 314, 354, 365, 381
Hayllar, Lieutenant Bruce 188–9, 225–6, 228, 230, 234, 249, 250, 257, 298, 300, 345–6, 351, 358–9, 448
Heath, Private T. J. 126
Hemingway, Ernest 321
Hewitt, Private W. 22
Hill, Fred 42
Hirakubo, Lieutenant Masao 149–50, 166–7, 168, 204, 233, 238, 320–1, 371, 374–5, 418–19, 445–6, 447, 448, 459–60
Hirayama, Lieutenant Yoshiteru xviii, 147–8, 151, 164, 196–7, 198, 199–200, 207–8, 286, 375–6, 402, 420–1
Hirohito, Emperor xvi, 109n, 117, 150, 371
Hiroshima, Japan 418–19
Hitler, Adolf 4, 58, 62, 123, 238
Hogg, Lieutenant Tom 66, 67, 93, 96, 135, 136, 177–8, 220, 221, 242, 243, 310, 311, 338, 348, 355, 410
Hong Kong 5, 10, 84n
Hope-Thomson, M.R.J. ‘Tim’ 193, 194, 199, 201, 203, 204, 206, 209–10, 211
Hopkinson, Lieutenant Colonel Paul 194, 195, 197, 200–1, 205, 206
Howell, Private Charlie 358
Hudson, Lieutenant John 189
Humine 396–7, 398
Hussein, Khaddam 89
Hutton, Lieutenant General T. J. 12–13
Imai, Yukihiko 155, 167, 196, 208, 238, 377, 391
Imperial Japanese Army see Japanese Army, Imperial
Imperial Way 109n, 110
Imphal xviii–xix, xx, 27, 31, 53, 115–16, 119, 120, 140, 141, 147, 156, 157, 165, 165n, 170, 180, 181, 209, 210, 212, 238, 278, 280, 290, 325, 369, 384, 389, 415
battle/siege of xviiii–xix, xx, 172, 189, 236, 278, 289, 368, 369, 384–5, 387n, 396, 415, 441n
breakthrough to, Allied 384
British plan to withdraw from and lure Japanese onto Imphal Plain 157, 175, 235, 387n
Burma, troops arrive in on retreat from 27
cut off by Japanese 235, 236
defences 194, 212
Dimapur Road 82, 116, 140, 168, 288
garrison strength 175n, 212
Japanese failure to prioritise 291, 316–17, 319, 370, 371, 389–91, 392, 393–4, 395
Japanese plan to attack 115–20, 140–1, 156, 157
Kohima road 29, 33, 80, 80n, 221, 226, 235, 282, 288, 365, 366, 384, 394, 455
non-combatants in 198
order to withdraw from mistimed, British 157, 175, 235, 387n
reinforcements arrive at, British Army 278, 389
siege/blockade broken 368, 384–5, 387n
supply problems 236, 278, 368
V Force in 49, 165, 189
Imphal Plain xx, 31, 141, 147, 157, 175, 235, 292
India: battles in see under individual area, battle, campaign or place name
British Empire in (Raj) xix, xx, 5, 77, 174, 282, 408, 427–8, 442, 448
British use of nationals in intelligence gathering 36, 46–50, 52–6, 184n, 189–91, 212, 223, 293, 295–6, 364–5
effect of Kohima upon xix, 427–8
Independence 409, 410, 427, 442
Japanese advance into 111–20, 140, 148, 163–6, 173, 176, 193, 194, 195, 196, 209, 291
Japanese attempts to turn people against British xix, xx, 85–7, 85n, 116, 156
, 158, 160, 230, 237, 239, 296, 402
Japanese spies in 111, 146, 156, 157, 158
Japanese withdrawal from xvii, 3984, 389–91, 396, 410–17
Naga people and see Naga people
nationalism 41, 43, 43n, 69, 70, 72, 84, 85n, 85, 87–8, 385, 409, 427
partition 442
retreating British troops arrive from Burma in 26–8, 29–30 see also under individual area or place name
Indian Air Force 133
Indian Army xvii, 184, 385
barracks life 89
battle readiness 76
battles see under individual area, battle, campaign or nation name
in Burma 5, 9, 12, 12n, 13, 17, 18, 19
Churchill’s mistrust of 84–5
importance to British Army of 84–5
INA and xx, 85–7, 85n, 116, 156, 160, 230, 237, 239, 296, 402
Indian nationalism and xx, 85–7, 85n, 116, 156, 160, 230, 237, 239, 296, 402
‘josh’ groups 87, 160
loyalty/desertion of troops 17, 84–8, 84n, 85n, 87, 90, 116, 160, 230, 237, 239, 267, 353, 360–1
morale 76, 87, 160
officer corps, transformation of 88
pay 88
proportion of 14th Army 84
recruitment 76
reform of 88–9
refugees from units overrun by Japanese 292
retreat from Burma into India 14–17, 18, 21, 23, 29, 30–1
Singapore, fall of and 84, 85
units see British/Burmese/Indian/Nepalese Army units see also British Army
Indian Civil Service 32, 190, 282
Indian National Army (INA) (Japanese) xx, 85–7, 85n, 116, 156, 160, 230, 230n, 237, 239, 296, 402
Infanti, Lance Corporal Frank 96, 136, 137, 297, 301–2, 328, 360, 418
intelligence: Allies xx, 1–5, 25, 36, 46–50, 52–6, 93, 112–13, 156, 157, 157n, 158, 165–6, 169, 184n, 189–92, 212, 223, 293, 295–6, 364–5
Burma Intelligence Corps 157n
Chindits xx, 25, 46, 93, 112–13, 112n, 114, 149, 156, 165–6, 165n, 170n, 171, 180, 278, 316, 368, 399, 401, 401n, 411, 459
Force 131 47n
Force 136 157n
goes astray 194, 194n, 201
INA, Japanese use of 86–7
ISLD (Inter-Services Liasion Department) 157n
Japanese Army 3, 4, 9, 86–7, 111, 112–14, 146, 147, 156, 157, 158, 316, 325–6
Japanese plans 156, 157n, 166, 169, 184–5, 194
Japanese spies in Burma 3, 4, 9
Japanese spies in India 111, 146, 156, 157, 158
Japanese troop strength 194, 194n, 201, 212, 223
Japanese use of Chindit 112–14
Naga gathering of 36, 46–50, 52–6, 158, 184n, 189–91, 212, 223, 293, 295–6, 364–5
Special Operations Executive (SOE) 47n, 157n
Ultra code breakers 157n
V Force 47–50, 47n, 52, 54, 55, 56, 147, 148, 156, 157n, 161, 165, 189, 190, 191, 192, 194, 194n, 195, 212, 214, 229, 293, 296, 364, 365, 401, 406, 409
Z Force 47n, 157n, 194n
Ismay, General ‘Pug’ 369
Ito, Masanori 404
Jackson, Private Tom 347, 348, 354
Japan: ‘Absolute Defence Sphere’ 117
atomic bomb, U.S. attack with 418–19
China, war with 4, 5, 109, 110, 110n, 111, 150, 151, 152, 287, 318
coup attempt, 1936 109–10, 109
Hiroshima 418–19
military ethics and training 106, 107–8, 107n
Pacific war 110, 111, 147, 151, 290
post-war 418–24, 446
U.S. Occupation of 420–1
Japanese air force 5, 10–12, 14, 22–3, 91, 105, 121, 132, 133, 146, 147, 149, 325, 326
Japanese Army, Imperial xv–xvi
air support 5, 10–12, 14, 22–3, 91, 105, 121, 132, 133, 146, 147, 149, 326
artillery xvii, 125, 146, 164, 168, 193, 199, 201, 204, 214, 217, 218, 226, 235, 239, 243, 262, 286, 326, 338, 350, 352, 353, 370, 371, 376
battles see under individual area, battle, campaign, operation or nation name;
Burma, invasion and occupation of 3, 10–13, 14, 15, 17–23
casualty numbers xvii, 126–7, 134, 136, 198, 200, 202–4, 209n, 215n, 250–1, 260, 278, 286, 291, 373, 398–9, 401, 401n, 402, 403–4, 406, 413
character of men xvii–xviii, 20–1, 22, 76, 85n, 130, 131, 134, 138, 149–53, 208, 277, 281, 287–8, 318, 326–7, 388
in China 4, 5, 109, 110, 110n, 111, 150, 151, 152, 287, 318
Chindwin, crossing of 120, 140, 163–5, 164n
coup attempt, 1936 109–10, 109
disease and illness in xvii, 14, 114, 155, 167, 291, 297, 388, 395, 396, 396n, 398, 399, 401, 420
Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere and 109
intelligence 3, 4, 9, 86–7, 111, 112–14, 146, 147, 156, 157, 158, 316, 325–6
Kempeitai 147–8, 151, 326, 421
locals peoples, treatment of 15, 18, 144, 145, 196, 233–5, 293
‘March on Delhi’ 116, 117
military ethics and training 106, 107–8, 107n
morale 147–8, 150–1, 258–9, 317, 319, 372, 396
Pacific war 110, 111, 147, 151, 290
Plan 21 112
plan to attack Indian frontier 111–20
power of army over government 108, 109–10, 109
prisoners, treatment of xvii–xviii, 20–1, 85n, 130, 131, 150, 208, 281
Russia, war with 4, 18, 109, 107, 109, 143, 422, 423
snipers 126, 135, 201, 206, 216, 229, 230, 251, 254, 255, 256, 262, 263, 268, 269, 298, 303, 306, 309, 310, 312, 319, 329, 334, 338, 344, 354, 355, 358, 379
suicide attacks 319, 333, 372
supply problems xvii, xviii, 112–13, 114, 115, 116, 117, 134, 140, 143, 146, 147–50, 151, 152, 154, 155, 157, 158, 162–3, 166–8, 198–9, 204, 209n, 215, 233–5, 238, 265, 288, 291, 292, 319–20, 326, 328, 337–8, 373, 376–7, 389, 390, 393, 394, 395, 396–8, 402, 404
terror inspired in enemies xvii–xviii, 20–1, 76, 150, 277
in Thailand 3, 4, 9–10, 12, 141, 147, 150, 152
withdrawal from Kohima 389–91, 396
withdrawal into Burma xviii, 384, 410–17
Japanese Army units:
15th Army xvii, 5, 30, 104, 110, 154, 289, 290, 319–20, 368, 371, 384, 390, 391, 393
battles see under individual battle name
casualties xvii, 126–7, 134, 136, 198, 200, 202–4, 209n, 215n, 250–1, 260, 278, 286, 291, 318–19, 373, 376, 398–9, 401, 401n, 402, 403–4, 406, 413
command, disunity in 104, 105–6, 110, 112–20, 140–6, 155, 155, 289–90, 394
headquarters 105–6, 113–14, 116, 117, 118, 288, 291, 391
plan to invade India 112–20, 140–1, 156, 168, 170, 291
preparation for march into India 140–1, 146–55
retreat into Burma 406, 407, 410, 411
retreat from Kohima to Chindwin 396–404, 406, 414
return home of soldiers after war 419–25
strength 5, 14, 150
supply problems xvii, xviii, 112–13, 114, 115, 116, 117, 134, 140, 143, 146, 147–50, 151, 152, 154, 155, 157, 158, 162–3, 166–8, 198–9, 204, 209n, 215, 233–5, 238, 265, 288, 291, 292, 319–20, 326, 328, 337–8, 373, 376–7, 389, 390, 393, 394, 395, 396–8, 402, 404
withdrawal from Kohima 389–91, 396
withdrawal into Burma xviii, 384, 410–17
15th Division 140–1, 150, 164n, 179, 199, 201, 205, 235, 339, 394, 404
18th Division 106
31st Division xvii, xviin, 140, 141, 144, 146, 148, 150, 153, 163, 201, 214, 217, 234, 238, 370, 394
Burma 144–5
casualties xvii, 126–7, 134, 136, 198, 200, 202–4, 209n, 215n, 250–1, 260, 278, 286, 291, 318–19, 373, 376, 398–9, 401, 401n, 402, 403–4, 406, 413
Chindwin to Kohima, march from 148, 166–8, 179, 189–90, 196, 199, 233
command see Sato, Lieutenant General Kotuku
crosses Chind
win into India xvii, 148, 162–5
cut Imphal road 116, 140, 235
Jessami 211, 212, 217–19
Kharasom 213–16, 396
Kohima, march to 148, 166–8, 189–90, 196, 199, 233
Kohima, retreat to Chindwin from 396–404, 406
Kohima, siege of 258–64, 289–90, 317–20, 326, 333–4, 374–7, 388–91
Kohima, withdrawal from 389–95, 396
local peoples, treatment of 196, 233–5
preparation for march into India 140–1, 146–55
Sangshak 195, 196–210
snipers 126, 135, 201, 206, 216, 229, 230, 251, 254, 255, 256, 262, 263, 268, 269, 298, 303, 306, 309, 310, 312, 319, 329, 334, 338, 344, 354, 355, 358, 379
supply problems 112–13, 114, 115, 116, 117, 134, 140, 143, 146, 147–50, 151, 152, 154, 155, 157, 158, 162–3, 166–8, 198–9, 204, 209n, 215, 233–5, 238, 265, 288, 291, 292, 319–20, 326, 328, 337–8, 373, 376–7, 389, 390, 393, 394, 395, 396–8, 402, 404
veterans 421, 422, 423, 424
withdrawal into Burma xviii, 384, 410–17
withdrawal from Kohima 389–91, 396
33rd Division 21, 140, 141, 146, 164n, 179, 235, 289, 339, 368, 392, 394, 404
55th Division 120
58th Regiment 146, 149, 151, 155, 162, 164, 166, 167, 196–210, 215, 234–5, 236, 258–64, 265, 288–90, 318, 320, 326, 374, 375, 374–7, 389, 391, 424, 459
2nd battalion 201, 205, 209, 259
3rd battalion 196–8, 200, 204, 205, 258, 374
75th Regiment 142–3
124th Regiment 146, 153, 288, 372, 376, 398
138th Regiment 144, 146, 151, 152, 214–16, 287, 319, 372, 390, 396, 402, 403, 419
Burma Area Army 117, 154, 290, 389, 391
Southern Area Army 116, 117, 119, 147, 393
Jenner, Private Wally 61–2
Jericho, Operation 124–9, 256
Jessami village 146, 183, 189, 193, 211n, 212, 214, 226, 334, 339, 364
1st battalion, Assam Regiment in 161, 183, 189, 193, 211–13, 217–19, 226, 356
black magic, reputation for 161–2
command of 161
defences 211
defensive position established at 161–2
evacuation of 217–19
garrison strength 211, 212, 212n, 213
Japanese attack 211, 212, 217–19
‘last man, last round’ order, Richards cancels and orders evacuation of 211–13, 212n, 217–18
161 Indian Brigade sent to aide evacuation of 212
water supply 212
Johnson, Dick 249
Jotsoma 285, 286, 294, 304, 308, 311, 314, 330, 336, 338, 345, 350
jungle warfare 75–6, 83–4, 93–5, 103, 122, 124, 126–7, 134–5, 156, 165, 276–7, 314
Kabaw Valley 25, 141