Veterans of the Second Word War’s Battle of Kohima laid wreaths in York to remember the fallen in what was described as “one of the most savage and unrelenting battles” in which more than 4,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers died…
The ten veterans now in their nineties each laid a wreath of poppies assisted by soldiers from 2 Signal Regiment in a moving ceremony held in front of the Kohima memorial in the Dean’s Gardens adjacent to York Minster.
The Reverend Nia Williams, Padre to 2 Signal Regiment based in Fulford, York was assisted by the Precentor at York Minster, the Reverend Canon Peter Moger, at the outdoor service held in front of the stone memorial. The address was given by the former Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend James Jones, describing the conditions faced by the military. Civic and military dignitaries and the Head Boy and Head Girl of Manor Academy in York, Jake Steele and Molly Adams, also laid wreaths.
The battle of Kohima in North East India was fought from 4 April to 22 June 1944 when Allied Forces halted the advance of the Japanese army in Asia. This battle was ultimately to prove to be the turning point of the Burma Campaign.