How Did The Allies Stop Japan From Conquering India?

I am from Imphal but currently stationed in Kohima. Both places have dedicated commonwealth war cemeteries for the fallen during WW2. Both well maintained and respected. For families who can't visit the places i can look up the names and share pics.

My grandma was in her early teenage years when the war reached Kakching, Manipur. Later on when i was a young kid, she would tell me stories about the war, how the kids used to go the nearby allied airfield to watch the planes, the excitement,suffering and horrors. She instilled in me the love and fascination for WW2. The airfield still remains today but not used. With Love From Kakching, Manipur, India

Let us not forget either, those Indian & Gurkha Regiments that stood and fought steadfastly by Britains side. May those souls that lost their lives there, be at peace.

India played a huge role in WW2, I salute its contribution

My uncle, Abdul Ghani, died in battle of Kohima, and buried there, family was just informed about his death by telegram. He was unmarried, so my grand father received family pension, though he did not know where his son died and buried. Family moved to Pakistan in 1947. He was able to meet the educational expenses of my father, with this pension. Few years early, I discovered, his grave is in Kohima. I show the cemetery to my father, on internet, and he was in tears, reading the lines written on cemetery wall. " When you go home, tell them, we gave our today, for your tomorrow."

My late father-in-law was dug in at the tennis courts with his machine gun platoon. When I returned from Malaya in mid 1970, after 4 months of jungle training. He told me his story I was almost in tears as I sat there listening to him. It was the only time he ever spoke of his time during the war. He retired from the army in 1968.

I haven't forgotten this. My dear cousin Dominico Zaccardelli was killed at Imphal on 10 June 1944 and his loss has been remembered and lamented ever since.

My uncle fought at Kohima, with the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry. He left two fingers there, and always said he was giving the Japanese the old two fingered salute at the time.

My parents met at Imphal. Dad was a Major RAMC, Mum a Capt in the Nursing Corps, both in the 14th Army under Maj. Gen Macalevey and Gen. Slim . Mum was evacuated (as were all the women) prior to the battle. Both long gone now, they NEVER spoke of it. The last words my Mum said before she died were `India, Burma, Malaya, Singapore'.

My father was in India and Burma and was in the battle of Imphal. My auntie said my father came back from India a different man. He loved India, if it hadn't gained independence my mother thought my dad would have stayed and probably married there. He was scared but also knew that he had a connection with the people of India. I always remember an Indian family moving into our street in the 60's. No one except my dad used to talk to them, probably about India. He spent three years there, and was torpedoed by the Japanese but was a very young man in his early 20's. He had so much respect for the Indian soldiers he served with, he ended up a WO2 but I think he always looked after the men he was in charge of. India needs to look at the sacrifice the Indian soldiers made for India, and their eventual independence.

Hardened Indian troops were equally important to the success of this battle along with their British officers.Indians fought in SE asia and north Africa as well but mostly have gone unnoticed sadly.

It is nice see documentary of these battles, forgotten indeed. I lost an uncle, my mum's youngest brother, fighting as a "Chindit" with the 77th Brigade just before they took Mogaung. He had joined at 15(!) in 39, and after training joined the Lancashire Fusiliers. He was almost immediately sent off to the middle east and then India. Killed in 44, he had not been home in 5 years. Believe he is buried at Rangoon, but no family member has ever seen the grave. Different world, different generation. The 14th Army campaign is an incredible story that really needs more light shed upon it.

My father transferred from the RA to the REME and following training in England became a member of a tank recovery unit in India. He fought at Kohima and Imphal. During training in India he suffered shrapnel wounds but came through the actions unscathed.

Interesting thing about Gurkhas is that no matter where ever they are deployed in the world they have always been kind & courteous towards local populous.Gurkhas:The best of Friends and worst of Enemies.

Thank you so much for this film. Before I was born I lost two uncles the 1st in the Arakan and the 2nd in Imphal and Kohima the first was James 23 years old just married the second was Arthur 39 yours old with a young son. These were two lads from Bury Lancashire joined the Lancashire Fusilier and were subscripted into the (Skins ) Royal Inniskilling and the Yorkshire Regiment. This theatre of war is so over looked. The 14th Army were solders from all corners of the Empire who came together to withstand the Japanese invasion.

"When you go home, tell them of us, and say, for their tomorrow, we gave our today" The monument commemorating the men that died in Kohima.

Just to make those who are not aware, an Indian Army infantry division of the day was composed of 3 brigades, with each brigade containing two Indian battalions and one British battalion. As an aside, he is wearing the puggaree (the cloth band around the hat) incorrectly, the two thinnest sections of the puggaree are worn to the front and rear of the hat. Sorry for being nit picking, but I am ex Australian Army and like it to be worn correctly.

My uncle was a captain in the forgotten 14th army. He survived the battles but due to starvation and neglect he died prematurely.

My father was the head of US Army Intelligence in New Dheli, 1942-1945. Reported to Mountbatten directly. He said there were no harder fighting units in the world than the British/Indian forces in India/Burma—they went into battle with perfect courage. He called it their Yoga of War!

Although this video gives a good insight to the country of this campaign, the story only covers a tiny part of the battle. My brother fought with a Gurkha battilion at Shenam saddle. General Slim's book "Defeat into Victory" tells the whole story of how 3 Indian / British Divisions were cut off and supplied by air for 6 weeks while the 3 Japanese divisions starved because of poor supplies.