Photograph taken by PP Yoonus

The Kohima Epitaph is the epitaph engraved on the Memorial of the 2nd Division in the cemetery of Kohima (North-East India). It reads:

'When You Go Home,
Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Your Tomorrow,
We Gave Our Today.'

Credited to: Major John Etty-Leal the G.S.O. II 2nd Division Gloucestershire Regiment.

KOHIMA
It was down at a place called Kohima
Where most of the fighting was done
T'was there that a poor British Tommy
Was shot by a Japanese gun

As he lay on his elbow and dying
The blood from his wound did flow red
He called this comrades around him
And these were the last words he said

Bury me out in the jungle
Under the old Burmese sun
My duty for England is done

But when you go home to old blighty
And the war is all over and won
Remember the poor British Tommy
Buried under the old Burmese sun

The poem was written by Major A. C. H. W. McCulloch, M.C. Royal Artillery, who served with the Chindits during World War II.
This poem reflects the experiences and sacrifices of soldiers during the Battle of Kohima.

The Chindits were a special operations unit of the British Indian Army during World War II, known for their long-range penetration missions behind Japanese lines in Burma.

The Battle of Kohima took place from 4th April to 22nd June 1944, during World War II.
It was a significant battle in the Burma Campaign, where Allied forces, primarily British and Indian troops, defended against the Japanese advance.

The battle lasted for approximately eleven weeks.

Allied Forces at Kohima:
British Indian Army: This included various Indian regiments, such as Punjabis, the Baloch Regiment, as well as the Gurkhas (Nepalese soldiers).
British Forces: British troops from the Royal Artillery and other units were also involved in the battle.
Canadian Forces: Some Canadian units participated in the broader Burma Campaign, although their direct involvement in Kohima was limited.
Other Commonwealth Nations: Troops from other Commonwealth nations, including those from Australia and New Zealand, provided support in various capacities during the campaign.
Royal Navy: Personnel from the Royal Navy, including those attached to the Chindits, contributed to the operations in the region.

Casualties:
Allied Forces: The Allied forces suffered around 4,000 to 4,500 casualties, including killed, wounded, and missing.
Japanese Forces: Estimates of Japanese casualties range from 10,000 to 15,000, including killed, wounded, and missing.

The battle was marked by intense fighting and is often regarded as one of the turning points in the Burma Campaign, halting the Japanese advance into India.