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Japanese forces in April 1944.
When you go home
Tell them of us and say
For their tomorrow
We gave our today
At Sangshak, 84-year-old local YA
Shishak proudly showed us his museum
set up at home. It contains rare Allied,
Japanese and INA artefacts, photographs,
medals, flags, paintings besides other
collected items from the World War sites.
The Sangshak War Memorial honouring
the valour and sacrifice of the martyrs The author paying homage at the Imphal War Cemetery
of 152 Para Bn, 4/5 Maratha and locals of British popular image, the greatest
Sangshak village was made many years battles and heroes were all in Europe.
back, while the Japanese have recently Scholars the world over are recognizing
constructed a War Memorial in honour of the significance of this Campaign as the
their martyrs who died during this battle. beginning of modern integrated mobile
Closing Ceremony: The Closing Ceremony warfare (air supply etc) and a model of
of the three-month long programme held defensive and offensive warfare. The
at the Imphal War Cemetery on June 28, Campaign is now taught in the UK and
2014 was attended by representatives US military academies. Imphal is now
from Britain, the United States, Australia recognized as the longest battle of WW II
and Japan. Dr Hugo Slim, grandson and the combination of so many different
of Field Marshal Slim was among the nationalities in the XIV Army makes it an
dignitaries. The highlight was the important example of what today is called
presence of few World War II veterans diversity.”
including 93-year-old Sokhojang, who Louis Allen in his book Burma – The
had fought in the Battle of Imphal. Longest War writes, “Imphal… the last
place on earth one would choose as the
Importance of the Battles venue of a vast military campaign. Yet it
The Battle of Imphal also highlights the was here that Japanese, British, Indians,
importance of the air battle. No 1 Sqn, Gurkhas, arrived in 1944 to kill in their
IAF played a crucial role in support of thousands. The Japanese were driven by
the Allies during the land battle. By the the dream of invading India: the others by
time they were relieved by No 7 Sqn, IAF the need to stop them.”
in March 1945, it had earned nine DFCs Unfortunately, we in India seem to
and 1 MBE. The first DFC went to Sqn Ldr have forgotten these famous battles.
Arjan Singh, the CO who later became Independent India has never shown any
marshal of the IAF. care or concern about these war veterans,
Dr Slim says, “The India/Burma as they are a living memorial of India’s
Campaign was long known as the colonial past – men who fought a ‘foreign
‘Forgotten Army’ in the UK. In the war’ for a foreign government. It was for
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #19 | JANUARY 2021 31
