We Tell Their Stories: Casualties of Kohima and Imphal

March 1944 saw the start of two of the most climactic and iconic battles of the Second World War: Kohima and Imphal. Here, we share the stories of some of those who fell fighting here.

We Tell Their Stories

The Battle of Kohima and Imphal 

In 2015, the National Army Museum took a poll to find out Britain’s greatest battle. Public opinion put one clash above even the storied victories at Waterloo, Trafalgar and even D-Day: the battle of Kohima and Imphal.

Fought between March and June 1944, the battles saw Indian and British forces clash with Imperial Japanese forces close to the borders of India and Burma (present-day Myanmar).

In February 1944, the Imperial Japanese Army launched Operation U-Go: an attempted invasion of Northern India.

The first strike fell on the Indian XV Army in a region of northern Myanmar called the Arakan. Using infiltration and encirclement tactics, the Japanese force aimed to isolate the surrounded Indian army, force its surrender and then scavenge supplies to continue to onward push.

Instead, the British and Indian troops stood their ground in what’s now called the Battle of the Admin Box. Supplied by air, they mounted such a determined defence that blunted the Japanese advance.
March 1944 saw the Imperial Japanese come on again.

This time, the plan was to target the Allied base at Imphal, capital of Manipur State, located on a wide plain surrounded by mountains. They would also simultaneously Kohima, a small village on the Imphal-Dimapur road.

Knocking out the Indian and British units at Kohima and Imphal would halt any further Allied attempt to renter Burma and give Imperial Japan forward bases from which to strike at India.

The attack at Imphal was launched in early March and lasted until May. Despite hurling men and materiel at the Indian and British defenders, the Imperial Japanese failed to dislodge the defenders. 

For two months, the garrison at Imphal held out. By May, the exhausted and heavily depleted Japanese force was in full retreat and, despite the oncoming monsoon rains, an Allied counterattack was launched.

Further down the road at Kohima, things were even more desperate. Located on a ridge, the 2,500 garrison was cut off by a Japanese force numbering some 15,000 men. 

Fighting at Kohima was some of the most bitter close quarters combat experienced by Allied troops in the war, with notable battles taking place across the garrison’s tennis court and Deputy Commissioner’s bungalow.

Once again, the Allies used their air superiority to drop supplies into Kohima. Despite incredible odds, the Kohima Garrison stood its ground. A relief force arrived and by May, the Japanese were pulling back from Kohima.

On June 22nd, the forces at Kohima and Imphal linked up and stopped U-Go for good.

The Imperial Japanese Army had lost 60,000 men at Kohima and Imphal. Crucially, the victory at Kohima and Imphal proved the Japanese could be decisively beaten and gave the British and Indian Armies a launchpad from which they could retake Burma. 

Historian Robert Lyman in his book Japan’s Last Bid for Victory says “Kohima/Imphal was one of the four great turning-point battles in the Second World War, when the tide of war changed irreversibly and dramatically against those who initially held the upper hand”.

Stories of Kohima and Imphal 

Captain John "Jack" Randle VC

In 1944, John “Jack” Randle was serving in India with the 2nd Infantry Division. Following the Japanese attack at Kohima the Division fought its way through the mountain pass to relieve the Kohima Garrison.

Over the next four weeks, they fought to drive the Japanese back. During the battle, John performed several deeds of incredible bravery. He had been badly wounded in the knee by a grenade but refused to be relieved. Despite the pain, he went into no-man’s land on 4 May and brought back several wounded comrades.

Two days later his company was ordered to take a Japanese position on a ridge which was heavily fortified and where several attacks had already failed.

John was hit several times during the advance but, undeterred, he charged a Japanese bunker. He threw in a grenade and then flung himself across the entrance to seal it. He was 26 years old.

For his incredible actions at Kohima, John was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. He is buried in Kohima War Cemetery. 

Upon his grave marker are inscribed the words ‘Remembered by his devoted wife, only son Leslie John, Parents and Sisters’.

Jemadar Abdul Hafiz VC

Born in the Punjab region of India on 1 July 1918, Abdul Hafiz was one of several Indian Army soldiers to win the Victoria Cross during the Second World War.

At Imphal on 6 April 1944, the young jemadar led a daring counterattack against a fortified Japanese position. He was twice wounded, but continued his advance, charging a machine gun, taking out the crew.

Abdul collapsed, understandably, under pain and exhaustion. Reports say he was last seen alive shouting words of encouragement to spur his men on.

For his complete lack of regard for his personal safety and his gallantry under fire, Abdul was awarded the Victoria Cross. The medal citation goes into more detail on Abdul’s actions:

“In Burma on 6th April 1944, 10 miles north of Imphal, the enemy had attacked and occupied a prominent feature. Jemadar Abdul Hafiz was ordered to attack with two sections up a completely bare slope, very steep near the crest. 

“Jemadar Abdul Hafiz so inspired his sections that from the start the attack proceeded with great dash. 

“The enemy opened fire with machine-guns and grenades, causing several casualties, but the assault continued without hesitation up the last few yards of the hill. Jemadar Abdul Hafiz was wounded, but seeing a machine-gun firing, he immediately went towards it and, seizing the barrel, pushed it upwards whilst another man killed the gunner. 

“He again advanced, killing several of the enemy, but was badly wounded in the chest. He died shortly afterwards. 

“The inspiring leadership and bravery displayed by Jemadar Abdul Hafiz in spite of having been twice wounded so inspired his men that the position was captured and severe casualties inflicted on the enemy. 

“His complete disregard for his own safety, and his determination to capture and hold the position at all costs, were an example to all ranks.”

Sepoy Wellington Massar

Sepoy Wellington Massar was born in the Khasi Hills in Meghalaya, India, in 1925. He was the son of Padma Saikia and Rodamai Massar.

Massar grew up to serve with the first battalion of the Assam Regiment and was recognised for his role in the Battle of Jesami on 28 March 1944 - the first battle with the Japanese to be fought on Indian soil.

He held his post despite repeated attacks and when the withdrawal was finally ordered, he was the last man to leave the sector.

Massar also saw action at the Battle of Kohima on 15 April 1944. He set up his machine gun on the top of a billiard table in a bombed clubhouse and provided continuous covering fire for his comrades. Despite being wounded in the leg he refused to be evacuated and had his wounds dressed on the spot.

Massar survived the action but later died of gangrene on 18 May 1944, aged 19. He was posthumously awarded the Indian Distinguished Service Medal for his actions at Jessami and Kohima.

Massar is commemorated at Imphal War Cemetery.

Flight Lieutenant James Henry Whalen DFC

Canadian pilot James “Jimmy” Whelan was born in Vancouver on 23 April 1920.

As a 17-year-old, Jimmy enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders in 1937, but it was not in the infantry that Jimmy’s destiny lay. 

Jimmy’s real ambition was to be a fighter pilot.

In 1940, the Royal Canadian Air Force dropped its requirement for pilots to be university graduates. James immediately dropped out of his studies to pursue pilot training and became one of the first candidates for the new Commonwealth 
Air Training Plan.

Taking up training in Ottowa, Jimmy earned his pilot wings in January 1941. He was initially commissioned as a Pilot Officer but, after being caught low-flying a training aircraft under the Ottawa-Hull Bridge, his commission was rescinded. 

After completing training, Jimmy was transferred to England, joining No.129 (Mysore) Squadron on 1 August 1941. 

After serving with distinction in Europe, Jimmy volunteered to be sent to India following the Imperial Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in December 1941. 

Jimmy was sent to Colombo in modern-day Sri Lanka, joining No.30 Squadron. While in the Far East, Jimmy’s exploits saw him become a fighter ace, i.e. a pilot with more than five confirmed victories.

He was even used as a propaganda tool with a comic book published telling his story.

James was killed in action in August 1944 running support missions for troops engaged in the battles of Imphal and Kohima.

The incident was recorded by his wingman Sergeant Jack Morton:

"We were flying from Dergaon when Jimmy was killed. He led six Hurricanes on an attack on the Rifle Range and I was his No. 2.

“We bombed in Sections of two and Jimmy and I were first in bombing with two 250 lb. Bombs with 11-second delays fitted. I was slightly behind Jimmy and we dropped our bombs at about 50 feet and as we left the target area Jimmy's plane did a barrel roll and crashed.

“It was a very sad day on the Squadron because he was by far the most popular officer and pilot in both the Officers and Sergeants Mess. We carried out two more attacks that day and on both occasions we looked for his plane but there was nothing to be seen in the dense jungle."

James is commemorated at CWGC Kohima War Cemetery, India.

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