1RWF. Kohima – The Next Stage

Battle Of Kohima: The next stage:

The British are now on the Kohima feature, with 1RWF about to deploy onto it. So lets have a look at the broad idea of the plan. Remember! Everything in red on the map below is held by the Japanese. Our guys on the 28th April are just outside Kohima, close to the Dimapur Highway, waiting to be called forward.

The 2nd Inf Division was almost ready to begin the task of recapturing Kohima Ridge and in the process totally destroy the Japanese forces to task. This process would begin in early May.

The Ground:

Kohima Ridge itself was now almost totally dominated by the enemy. The British held a small piece of ground a couple of 100 metres long, that stretched from Garrison Hill, where the Durham Light Infantry clung precariously to the summit, through to the DC’s Bungalow in the north east of the ridge. And that was it, the enemy held every other feature.

On Garrison Hill, the forward slope ran south onto the enemy held Kukis Piquet. The distance from those British positions to the Japanese was in some cases 20-50 metres!

The Plan:

4 Bde to push south and east from Jotsama, to re-capture GPT Ridge in the south and open up the Imphal Road.

5 Bde To Loop round from the north and re-capture Naga Village.

23 Bde To swoop in a wide arc from the north through to the east, cutting of the enemies line of communication and withdrawal route at the track at Jessami, which the enemy used originally during their advance on Kohima.

6 Bde(of which 1RWF was part). To mount a frontal assault on Kohima Ridge from Garrison Hill.

Two years previous, these type of tactics would have been unthinkable in the British mindset, neither would our units have had the training or confidence in their ability to accomplish it. So lots of changes since Singapore 1942.

The plus points for the British:

1. Artillery, controlled by Forward Observers, which could be brought to bear on the Japanese positions.

2. Line of Communication: they now had control of the Kohima – Dimapur Rd, so that resupply and communication could be maintained.

3. Air superiority. The enemy was unable to get ammo/med/rations resupply through the thick jungle from the east.

The scene was nearly set for 1RWF