"In March 1943, we landed up at a place called Donbaik and that was our first official experience of fighting the Japanese. Sadly to say, the 1st Batallion was cut up rather bad. I think there were about 130 casualties of killed, wounded and missing men.
Anyway, I got through that alright and we were brought out. The Japanese got behind us and we had to fight our way out along the coast. Eventually, we got back to where we started from - a place called Maungdaw.
Then we were pulled out of Burma and we went into jungle training in central India - a place called Belgaum - and we were training there for a few months. In 1944, the Japanese had broken through over the Chindin in Burma and were approaching the towns of Imphal and Kohima.
About 13 miles away was the supply depot of Dimapur which was a huge supply depot for that area and the Japanese were trying to get it for supplies. We went by train, the Royal Welsh. We were part of the 6th brigade, 2nd division and we arrived up at Dimapur in April '44.
Then we went on up to Kohima. By then, the Japanese were at the bottom end of Kohima (the Dimapur side) and after a few skirmishes, we eventually got to Kohima. I was there about 10 days. It was a terrible place.
When we first got off, we were taken by Bren Gun carriers. We jumped off the Bren Gun Carriers and ran up this hill which was rather steep. The shells and bullets were flying everywhere. I got down behind a chap there and it was only after about five minutes that I realised it was a dead Japanese with a notice on him saying, 'don't touch it's a booby trap'. They used to plant grenades like that and if you moved him, up you'd go.
Anyway, we fought our way up. We were on a hill called Garrison Hill but the battle of Kohima took place on a lot of features, small hills and there were such places as Kukis Piquet, Garrison Hill, Summerhouse Hill and different places like that.
On the night of May 2nd, the Indian airforce came over to strap the Japanese positions and we were that close to one another, that they strapped the British instead and I was wounded by the aircraft. Looking back, I was fortunate because I went out the following day and the chap who took my place - a chap from Blackburn - he was killed and it could well have been me.
The night I was wounded, they put me in a trench on my own and, of course, my arm was in a sling. I was rather incapacitated but the Japanese broke into our area and it was the worst night I ever spent because I had no arms and no way to defend myself. Fortunately, they never came near me and our chaps did drive them out eventually.
I was evacuated down to Dimapur and from there, to a hill station called Oshalong. I was convalescent there for about two or three months, I believe.
I rejoined the Batallion in the September of '44. Of course, the Battle of Kohima had almost finished then and then we went on right through Burma. We drove the Japanese right up to Rangoon.
Before Rangoon fell, they flew us back to Chittagong for a rest. We then boarded a ship to land on Rangoon but fortunately on our way there, Rangoon had fallen to the airborne division. Troopers had landed on it and the Japanese had evacuated the place.
Then we were stationed at a place called Syriam where the oil fields had been. In the November, they started to send us home. We'd been out in Burma and India for about three and a half years. We came home and I was transferred to clearing mines on the East Coast and then back to the depot at Wrexham.
I was discharged in the May of 1946. So that was some of the experiences. I could go on about a lot more of the incidents that happened but that's the main story of my war service as regards fighting the Japanese."
Harold Jones' photos from the war in the East...Part 1 of Harold Jones' war story...
your comments
Sarah Anne Smith, Kingston, NY, USA
On October 29, 2009 during my visit & tour of Nagaland friends took me to the "Kohima War Cemetery" as they referred to it. The experience opened my eyes, mind, and soul to the heroic effort demonstrated by the Naga defenders of freedom. I now have video footage of my tour of the cemetery and am searching for ways to unveil this dramatic & strategic part of World War II history to North America and Europe audiences. Contact me, please, with your ideas."When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today." I hope to do just t! hat!
Sun Nov 15 19:46:42 2009
Peter Court from Vancouver
Am at present writing a screenplay on a veteran from that war who evacuated with malaria a couple of hours before the Japanese attacked Kohima. That battle and the Midway sea battle were THE turning points in the war.
Fri Sep 4 07:21:28 2009
DJ Sarma from Assam , India
I have been researching the battle of Kohima for some years now . The twin battles of Imphal-Kohima) was also described as the "Stalingrad of Asia" turned the tide of WWII on the eastern front.I have heard that a number of officers had recorded parts of the battle on their private 8mm movie cameras .Anybody with any info on this ?
Sun Aug 9 17:17:24 2009
John Mounsey from Bradford
hello Mr Jones. My Dad served with the Royal Welch Fusoliers at Kohima His name was Bernard Mounsey and he was transfered from the South Staffordshire Regiment. He would never talk much about his time out there but I was very proud of him.
Sun Jul 26 08:59:28 2009
Khrienuo, Hyderabad.
Dear Mr. Jones i am a research scholar and in the process of my research i have collected lots of materails and has done a lot of reading. I can understand the suffering and the adversity that the British soldiers had to go through to stopped the Japanese invasion. The British soldiers faced with new topography and climate had faced a lot of hardship.It was because of the bravery and effort of the British soldiers that the Japanese expansionist policy and attempt to bring the Asian countries under their dominances was stop. I want to convey my heartfelt 'Thank You' to you and to all the British soldiers who fought n the Battle of Kohima.
Sun Jun 21 21:54:28 2009
Bernard Fox from Leicester
Did any veterans ever come across a Fus. Fredrick Sanford 1 Bat. RWF from Pebworth in Gloustershire. He was killed at Kohima on May 5 1944? Or his Brother John Henry Sanford who was with 2 Bat. Worcester's also at Kohima, who went to visit his younger brother Fred to learn from Fred's mates he had been killed that morning and already buried.
Wed May 27 19:41:50 2009
Ravinder Malhotra
My late father used to tell me of the valour of his uncle who died in Kohima and whose name appears on top of the stone plaque at the Kohima War Cemetery. I visited the cemetery in 2006. I am researching this battle to make a documentary to highlight the valour of all the men who laid down their lives for a secure future for us.I call upon all who can contribute to this research.
Sun Mar 29 18:09:55 2009
Temjen Longchar , Nagaland
During the 2nd world war 1944, which took place in kohima,my grandfather and some naga people were working as a porter as well as postel carrier under the British army at kohima.he used to carry postel parcels and letters from dimapur to kohima with barefoot faring all the way into the depths of thick jungles .thier job was known as (dhak)commonly known as dhakwala .My grandfather used to tell me a story of how a decisive battle was fought between the japs and the British soldiers at kohima. I salute all those brave men who have fought with valour and courage and sacrificing their life for our present from their past sacrifices for the nation. I am really touched with verse written on the epitaph on garrison hill at kohima,,"WHEN YOU GO HOME,TELL THEM OF US AND SAY,FOR YOUR TOMORROW,WE GAVE OUR TODAY".
Mon Oct 20 09:55:06 2008
Ian Ferguson, london
A Battle of Kohima, War Museum is under construction and furbishment. Recently returned from there and am keen to collect and collate text and images from the period to strengthen the display available to the Naga Govt.
Fri Sep 19 09:09:33 2008
Frank Sims Toronto
I read the account of Mr Jones sevice after posting my previous comment. The photo Mr.Jones posted of 1st Bat. signal platoon is identical to one in my possesion. I believe Mr.Jones would have known my father, Frank Sims who is shown on the top row 4th from the right. If Mr Jones remembers my father I would be pleased to hear from him. The story of Mr Jones service seems familiar to that of my father and it seems possible they may have served together for some time.
Mon Aug 18 09:37:13 2008
Francis Smith, Taunton
Anybody know a travel agent able to help with accomodation and permits for a short visit to kohima cemetery? thanks
Thu Jul 10 10:14:50 2008
Bob Youel Astley nr Manchester
George Boswell yep my dad was known as 'napper.' I lost him when I was a youngster [15] and would welcome any news
Thu Jun 26 09:11:04 2008
George Boswell from Newtonabbey
Bob,Was Walter Youel also known as "Napper Youel"? If so my grandfather has a picture of him, albeit in black and white and showing its age. His actions are folklaw around these parts.
Tue Jun 17 13:24:45 2008
Robin Sanderson of Paris
Fascinating story of brave men. My father too was a burma veteran 6 th battallion /11th Sikh retrained for Indian Airborne. He was almost the only survivor of his regiment. He was at Shangshak I believe where the 50th division held the Japanse back for 3 days similarly to Kohime and before then. They were almost decimated and ordered to withdraw: each helped a wounded comrade to get back. John survived on some supplies from the many Dakota drops that fell among the Japanese because they were dropped from too high. John and his buddy, jaw shot away, were eventaully picked up by a RN patrol boat. He spent months in hospital with Malaria. He later dropped on Thai POW camps to set our boys free.Does anyone out there have more inf on the ^th Battalion/11th Sikh regiment in The arakan.nb He eventually lived to 80 years to die in his bed, having retired as a Lt-Colonel after 46 years of military service.
Thu Jun 5 08:56:11 2008
Lynn Hay London
My father who recently passed away aged 90 William John Lawrence, Bill to his friends served in Burma for a number of years. He very rarely spoke about his experiences and it has been a small insight to read Harolds story
Wed May 7 15:27:29 2008
Yupangnenla Longkumer Nagaland
Interesting story...
Fri Apr 18 09:44:01 2008
Ekon N.Yanthan
Many people mistook Kohima as a part of Burma, but actually it is in the land of the Nagas ie., Nagaland.
Mon Apr 14 09:34:22 2008
Bob Youel
Anybody know my dad 'Walter Youel' who fought there?
Wed Jan 23 09:19:31 2008
Lee Sapsford
Very interested to read your story, my grandad George Cherry may have been with the 4th Btn Royal West Kents D coy. He didn't tell me much about the war but he left me his photos.
Mon Jul 9 16:42:57 2007
Medo Ragneil from Dimapur
Mr.Jones you guys from a different place came to an unknown place sacrifice your youth and life for the people whom you are not related with and save their identities, really in my opinion u guys deserve to be honour as the hero's of the 21st century and for you guys today i am the citizen of a free state and a part of the world larges democracy.Thank you.
Thu Jun 28 09:31:27 2007
Yanger, Kohima
Dear Mr.Jones, words cannot express the freedom we are enjoying now, thank you so much to you and your man for saving our "Identities".
Sun Jun 24 19:45:52 2007
Patrick Pugh, Shillong.
Hello Mr. Jones,
My eyes watered, as I read those words on the epitaph. Thankyou to all of you at the Fusilers for not having us speak Japanese or lose our identities.
Thu Dec 14 09:19:29 2006
Ejaz Hazarika, Shillong, India.
Having seen the Commonwealth War Graves Cemeteries all over North East India and after minutely studying the profiles of those who were laid to rest there, one cannot but Salute all those who made the supreme sacrifice-"Gave their todays for our tomorrows!!" I also salute those who were there and survived.
Tue Aug 15 11:17:27 2006
Antu Yhonzone Nagaland
As it says "for your tomorrow, we gave our today". Thanks a loads Mr. Jones.
Mon May 15 10:15:51 2006
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Harold Jones from Welshpool saw his first action against the Japanese in 1943. He went on to fight in the Battle of Kohima, one of the most violent struggles of the war in Burma.
