by Fergal Keane
Kameyama, Lieutenant Shosaku Mazakazu 115, 167, 198–9, 200, 202, 208, 210, 250–1, 258–9, 261, 262, 263, 264, 286, 320
Karen 15
Kawabe, Lieutenant General Mazakazu 115, 117, 290, 291, 292, 339, 389, 391–2, 393, 395, 405, 423
Kay, Robert 70
Keast, Diana 101
Keene, Buster 340
Kempeitai 147–8, 151, 326
Kharasom village 116, 364
1st battalion, Assam Regiment in 161, 183, 189, 193, 213–17, 356
Assam Rifles in 214
attempts to relieve 212–13, 216
defences 215
defensive position established at 161, 214
evacuation of 216–17
garrison strength 212–13, 214, 215
‘last man, last round’ order, Richard’s fails to communicate rescinding of to 212–13, 212n, 214
161 Brigade sent to aide evacuation of 212, 213, 216
retreating Japanese army in 396
supply problems 215
V Force in 214
Khasi tribesman 218
Khiamniungan, Sepoy Mukom xviii
Khonoma 37, 39, 40, 234, 235, 440n
King, Sergeant Victor 348, 350
Kobayashi, Lieutenant Naoji 236
Kohima xvii
ADS (advanced dressing station) 248, 255–8, 264, 266–8, 271, 297–302, 304, 305, 308, 311, 331, 332, 333, 335, 343, 345, 350, 351, 352
air war over 279–80, 288, 290, 304, 317, 320–5, 332, 337–8, 339, 340–1, 337–8
Aradura Spur 32–3, 220, 227, 234, 239, 371, 384, 393
attrition, becomes battle of 357–69
Black Thirteenth 301–5
British first take control of 39
bungalow, district commissioner’s 32, 33, 34, 44, 226–7, 239, 243, 251, 302, 305–12, 336, 346, 358, 380, 382, 383, 384, 439
casualty numbers 260, 278, 286, 291, 298–302, 311, 333, 343, 350, 355, 373, 374, 380, 381
command of garrison 170–5, 180–5, 224–5, 244–7, 251, 252–3, 433–7 see also under individual commander name
command posts 221, 226, 227, 229, 239, 247, 303, 336, 348, 353
communications 183–4, 242, 251, 252, 284, 339, 365, 368
confusion of battle and rapid changing of positions 265–6
criticism of garrison officers 244–7, 433–7
defences 188–9, 220, 221, 225, 226, 244
defensive positions see Jessami, Kharasom, Phek, Sangshak and Zubza villages
Detail Hill 226, 247, 249n, 251, 252, 258–64, 265–6, 267, 268–71, 273, 274, 286, 297, 299, 305, 311, 333, 336, 340, 343, 347, 357, 374, 378, 432
effect of battle upon post-war world 427–8
evacuation of wounded 219, 252–3, 255, 266–8, 311–12, 345, 350–2, 353
first Japanese attacks upon 236–9, 242–4
first Allied encounters with Japanese 227–31
first siege of, 1879 39–40
fleeing/deserting soldiers 229, 230, 237, 239, 242, 244, 247, 250, 251–2, 254, 267, 272, 353, 360–1
Garrison Hill (formerly Summerhouse Hill) 32, 226, 239, 242, 244, 247, 251,266–7, 271, 305, 317, 325, 329, 331, 333, 336, 338, 340, 343, 344, 346, 348, 349, 352–3, 354, 356, 366–7, 372–4, 377, 380, 407, 439
garrison strength xvii, xviin, 169, 182, 212, 221–4, 231, 265
GPT Ridge 226, 229, 231, 250–1, 254, 259, 260, 286, 305, 311, 336, 374, 377, 378, 379–80, 381, 384
hand-to-hand fighting xvii, xx, 288–9, 306, 310–11, 333–4, 368, 373
‘hold to the last’ order 185;
hospital buildings 219, 226, 267, 340, 343, 352 see also ADS
Imphal road 29, 33, 80, 80n, 221, 226, 235, 282, 288, 365, 366, 384, 394, 455
Jail Hill 225, 226, 231, 239, 249–50, 257, 258, 259, 260, 286, 299–300, 302, 305, 311, 320, 336, 374, 376, 377, 381, 382, 384, 439
Japanese arrival at 227–31
Japanese first attack 236–9, 242–4
Japanese siege of 258–64, 289–90, 317–20, 326, 333–4, 374–7, 388–91
Japanese withdrawal from 389–91, 396
Kohima Ridge 185–6, 220, 223, 226, 227, 239, 279, 291, 305, 317, 326, 327, 339, 340, 360, 369, 372, 377, 380, 381, 384, 386, 390–1
Kuki Piquet 226, 230, 247, 336, 344–5, 346–8, 350, 353, 354, 373, 374, 378, 381
line of communication troops within 183, 220, 222, 245
medical arrangements within 248, 255–8, 264, 266–8, 271, 297–302, 304, 305, 308, 311, 331, 332, 333, 335, 343, 345, 350, 351, 352
moral collapse within garrison 244–6, 245n
morale 242, 244–6, 245n, 248, 257, 304–5, 312, 330, 336, 384
Mount Pulebadze 33, 220, 234, 379
Naga Village 33, 227, 231, 236–9, 272, 293–4, 374, 378, 380–1, 389, 402
natural defences 29, 30, 31;
Nepalese troops in 226, 227, 229, 230, 231, 236, 237, 239, 244, 251–2, 272, 288, 305, 353
non-combatants in 183, 220–1, 241–2, 245, 267, 303, 305, 336, 348
1/1 Punjabs push into 350–1, 353
161 Brigade leave 221–5
role in Japanese plan to attack India 116, 120
perimeter xvii, 226, 227, 231, 238, 239, 248, 249, 250, 251, 260, 261, 267, 268, 276, 306, 311, 317, 329, 330, 332, 334, 336, 337, 340, 342
political importance of xix, 368–9
preparations for attack 183, 185–6, 220–7, 229, 244
put in larger context of war, spring, 1944 281–2
refugees arrive in 27–8, 29–30
reinforcement of 185, 186, 209, 226, 252, 272, 273, 278, 285, 292, 312, 317, 353–6
relief of garrison 275, 312, 336, 337, 338–40, 345, 348, 354–6, 357–65, 400
reporting of conflict 283–4, 361–2
settlement of 32–4
siege of 233–394, 232, 315, 349
strategic importance of xvii–xix, 427–8
Summerhouse Hill see Garrison Hill
supply operation 227, 236, 240, 242, 245, 249, 278, 283, 288, 290, 302, 303, 304, 317, 321, 322, 324, 337–8, 339, 352, 357, 364, 368, 377
Supply Hill 226, 230, 260, 262, 271, 329, 336, 340–5, 346, 384
tennis court, district commissioner’s xvii, 226, 286, 305, 306–12, 317, 326, 328, 329, 330, 333–5, 337, 338, 340, 346, 349, 352–3, 354, 374–6, 382–3, 384, 413, 436, 439
Treasury 225, 227, 251–2, 378, 384
uprising, 1931 41
water supply 220, 227, 244, 246, 247, 302–3, 304, 328, 329, 351, 380
withdrawal, Allied orders in the event of a 224–5
withdrawal from, Japanese 389–91, 396
wounded, treatment of see medical arrangements/dressing station
Kuki tribe 35, 37, 40–1, 191, 217
Kunomura, Major General 106, 114, 154, 393–4
Kuwaki, Dr Takehide 153, 287–8, 326, 398, 402, 447
Lambert, Lieutenant Colonel H. W. 66–7
Lambert, Mark xvii, 67, 68, 308, 337, 351
Laverty, Lieutenant Colonel John: appearance 95, 96
Arakan 121–2, 124, 127, 128, 135–6, 137–8
army career 97–8
and General Slim 435, 436
Burma, sent to 104
congratulates West Kent’s 359–60
deserters, treatment of 361
at Dimapur 176, 177, 359
family and childhood 96–7, 438
garrison staff, poor relations with 328–9
Kohima, arrives at 220, 221, 240, 241, 242, 244–5, 245n, 246–7
Kohima, leaves 355
Kohima, siege of 250, 251, 252–3, 255, 257, 262, 265, 267, 268, 271, 284, 285, 300, 302, 305, 306, 307, 312, 328, 336, 341, 348, 350, 352–3, 355, 432, 442
lecture tour 411, 436
nickname 96
personality 96, 97
post-war attitude towards Japanese 448
post-war life 437–9, 448
rebuilding of regiment, comments on 359
Richards and 181, 244, 245n, 246–7, 329, 433–7
takes over command of West Kents 95–6, 98
Laverty, Patrick 97, 434, 438, 448
Laycock, Doctor Handley 26
League of Nations 108n
Leal, Mrs 3
Ledo 78n, 169
leeches 94, 122, 196, 233, 314
Leese, General Sir Oliver 416–17
Lewis, Edward 49
Life 13–14
Linlithgow, Lord xix
Lipmann, Walter xix–xx
Litan 199
Long, Lance Corporal W. 24
Loverseed, John 415–16
Lowry, Major Michael 133, 316, 381
Lunn, Captain A. N. 439
Lunt, Captain James 15–16, 17
Lyman, Robert 417
MacLachlan, Captain WPG 283–4, 329
Malaya 1, 9, 10, 17, 18, 77, 78, 85n, 106, 110, 111, 149, 415, 428
Malins, Philip 447, 448
Manchukuo 143
Mandalay 2, 13–14, 105, 147, 411
Manipur 30, 39, 39n, 40, 50, 51, 82, 292, 292n, 441n
Mao Songsang 221
Mao Tse-Tung 427
Massar, Sepoy Wellington 160, 218, 335, 413
Mato, Captain Keizo 326
Maymyo 105–6, 113–14, 116, 117, 118
Mayu range 75, 91, 124, 129, 134, 135
McCann, Fusilier John 384
McDonald, Alexa 50
McDonald, Lance Corporal 22
McLeod, Major General D. K. 4, 12
Mechieo, Salhoutie 293
Mellican, Donald 11–12, 16
Mellican, Patrick 16
Mellican, Reggie 16
Messervy, General Frank 130, 385
Midway, Battle of, 1942 76–7
Milestone 42 257, 360
Millem, Corporal Fred 5, 10
Mills, J. P. 408–9
Mingaladon airfield, Burma 10–12
MI6 157n
Miyazaki, Major General Shigesaburo 234
anger at losses of men 399
character 146
Kohima, arrival at 235
Kohima, march to 234
Kohima, retreat from 399
Kohima, siege of 291, 317, 318–19, 333, 373, 377, 389
pet monkey 146, 399
prisoners, treatment of 208
Sangshak 198–9, 201, 204, 205–6, 208, 209, 209n, 215, 233
Sato’s funeral, attends 423
suicide attacks, asserts non-approval of 318–19, 333
Ukhrul 166
monsoon 24, 30, 32, 35, 36, 53, 73, 76, 92, 114, 116, 140, 243, 290, 291, 292, 318, 322, 323, 324, 373, 395–6, 407, 412, 416
Morton, Flight Sergeant Jack 321
Moses, Ken 325
Mountbatten, Edwina 80, 171, 172
Mountbatten, Lord Louis 362, 365, 442
aircraft, diverts to Imphal front 323, 339, 366, 368, 369
Americans, relationship with 80, 169, 170, 171–2, 279, 323, 339, 366, 368, 369
Arakan, visits troops in 123–4
Burma, visits with King
Giffard, sacks 416
Imphal, visits front 280–1, 282
INA, asks for intelligence assessment of 86–7
Kohima, visits 407
Leese and 417
reinforcements, campaigns to gather for Imphal front 169–70, 171–2, 173
SEAC, appointed head of 79–80
weaknesses as a commander 79–80
Mullen, Lance Corporal 165, 166n
Murray, Lieutenant Colonel E. D. ‘Moke’ 192
Mutaguchi, Lieutenant General Renya 104, 147, 155, 165n, 169, 235, 236, 238, 280, 282, 384, 459
appearance 106
army career 107–11
birth and early life 106–7, 108, 109
bushido ethic 106, 106n
in China 109, 110, 110n
coup, 1936, role in 110, 111
death 107
Dimapur, failure to attack 154n, 289–90, 339
dissenting voices, eliminates 114, 117–18, 289
dismissed as commander of 15th Army 406
drinking 110
18th Division command 106
15th Army, appointed to command 110
ignores reported new spirit in British Army 114
ignores vital intelligence 113, 114
Imperial Way and 110
Indainggyi headquarters 391
Kohima and Imphal operations, role in defeat 112–20, 140, 141, 146, 147, 148, 149, 149n, 150, 154, 155, 163, 165n, 204, 235, 236, 238, 291, 316, 319, 371, 389, 390, 391–4, 395, 305, 397, 398
Marco Polo Bridge incident 110, 110n
Maymyo headquarters 106, 113–14, 116, 117, 118, 155, 370
military ethics and training 106, 107–8, 107n
plan to attack Indian frontier 112–20, 140–1, 148–9
post-war life 423–4
retreat towards Chindwin 404
sacks commanders 114, 392, 404
Sato and 141, 154, 289–92, 316, 319, 370–1, 389, 390, 392–4, 370, 371, 392–4, 404–5, 423
self-justification 423–4
self-serving nature 392–3
supply operation for 15th Army in India, role in failure of 112–20, 148–9, 150, 204, 307, 291, 319–20, 326
temper 289
unable to grasp reality of defeat 391
underestimates enemy 371
war criminal, acquitted as 423–4
war game, Maymyo 116, 118
wounded 106, 110
Nag, Sajal 409
Naga Hills xvii, xx, 29, 30, 32, 34, 35, 36–57, 140, 146, 149, 158, 179, 182n, 184n, 189, 338, 339, 340, 364, 396n, 441n
Naga people 33, 34, 194, 216, 334
appearance of 36
attack Japanese on retreat from Kohima 401–2
British attitude towards, post-war 441–2
British wartime use of/attitude towards 36, 43, 46–50, 52–6, 158–9, 184n, 189–91, 212, 223, 293, 296, 352, 363, 364–5
Bower and see Bower, Ursula Graham
Civil war, 1955 440, 440n
compensation for those killed in action, British 296
culture 36–8, 50–1
effect of war upon 292–3, 407–9
headhunting 50, 56, 220, 408
intelligence of 295
intelligence gathering 36, 46–50, 52–6, 184n, 189–91, 212, 223, 293, 295–6, 364–5
interpreters 296
Japanese, relations with 196, 233–5, 237–8, 293, 326, 401
looters and deserters attack villages 293, 364
National Council 439, 440
Pawsey and see Pawsey, Charles
porters 36, 293, 294, 295, 378
post-war 407–9, 439–40, 441–3
present-day 441
rebellion, history of 36–44
refugees 292, 292n, 352, 363–4
rewards for intelligence gathering, British 295–6
shelling of villages by British 293–4
support for British 43, 46–50, 52–6, 218, 223, 224, 237, 268, 276, 293, 294–5, 352
as part of V Force 47–9, 36, 46–50, 52–6, 184n, 189–91, 212, 223, 293, 295–6, 364–5
Nagaya, Major 258, 264
Naka, Lieutenant General 154
Namkiabuing 54–5, 189, 190, 410
Nangadeikon 402
Napper 330–1
Natsume, Soseki 318
Nazi Party 3, 158
Nehru, Jawaharlal xix, 43n, 70, 439
Neild, Captain Eric 199, 201, 203, 206
Nepalese Army, Royal 183, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231, 236, 237, 239, 244, 251–2, 272, 288, 305, 353
Ngakyedauk tunnels 134–8, 175, 220, 256, 309
Ngulkathang, Sepoy 218–19
Nishida, Susumu 118–19, 146, 162, 163–4, 166, 202–3, 204
Nomonhan, battle of, 1941 143, 143n
Norman, Private Bill 19, 20, 22
Norman, Private H. F. 177, 221, 240, 249, 249n, 260, 264, 265, 266, 268, 269, 270, 341, 343, 351–2, 353, 357, 358
North Africa
62–5, 66
O’Donnell, Frank Hugh 40
Obata, Major General 114
Old, Brigadier-General 133
Ollier, Private Gordon 276
Ord, Lieutenant Colonel 49
Orwell, George 5, 7
Owen, Frank 362
Page, Lieutenant Geoffrey 314
‘parajute’ 81
Pardoe, Captain Thomas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Paschar, Krusischi 293, 363–4
Patrick, Captain Jimmy 251–2
Pawsey, Charles 53, 158, 160, 216, 226, 268, 279, 286, 407, 413, 457
appearance 29
Bower and 52, 57
bungalow 33, 34, 44, 226–7, 239, 243, 251, 302, 305–12, 336, 346, 358, 380, 382, 383, 384, 439
character 31, 33–4, 57, 340
deputy commissioner, Kohima 31, 32, 34
Dimapur, evacuated to after relief of Kohima 352, 363, 364
First World War 31, 40, 340
India, first goes to 31–2
Indian Civil Service 32
intelligence gathering 46, 55–6
Kohima, arrival at 35
Kohima, decision to stay in 225
Kohima siege 299, 303, 340
leaves India 441
leaves Kohima 352
Naga Hills, first arrives in 35, 41
Naga intelligence gathering, role in 46, 52, 55–6, 57
Naga loyalty to British, encourages 36, 43
Naga separateness, ensures 42–3
Naga Village shelling, attempts to stop 293–4
Naga, love for 57, 225
Naga, on post-war 408, 439
paternalist 34
post-war life 439, 440, 441
publicity/press 362–3
refugees, assists 29, 30, 45, 212, 363–4
Richards and 181, 182, 212
withdrawal of West Kent’s from Kohima, reaction to 222, 223
Pearl Harbor 5, 9, 76, 80, 142, 325
Pearson, Squadron Leader Alec ‘Fatty’ 321–2, 325
Pegu 144–5
Percival, Arthur 172
Perowne, Brigadier Lancelot 399
Persse, Colonel ‘Atte’ 81
Phan, Phanit 294
Phek village 161, 162
Phizo, A.Z. 440
Powell, G. R. 4
Pownall, Lieutenant General Sir Henry 170–1, 279–80, 369
Prendergast, Professor W. H. 13, 35
Prince of Wales, HMS 10
Pulebadze, Mount 33, 220, 234
psychology, soldier 22, 28, 60, 83, 279, 309, 321–2, 333, 344, 345, 429
Quit India campaign 43, 43n, 69
Radice, Captain H. L. T. 45, 46
RAF 10, 19, 20, 23, 42, 90, 133, 177, 178–9, 214, 218, 235, 292, 296, 304, 321, 322–3, 325, 337, 368, 380, 407
Ramsden, Private Benjamin 24–5, 25n
Randle, Captain Jack 379
Randolph, Reverend Roy 123, 240, 299–300, 345, 357, 361–2, 418
Rangoon 1–4, 5, 6, 10–12, 13, 16, 18, 23, 78, 91, 105, 114, 117, 147, 281, 411, 415, 417