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NATIONAL MEMORIAL
ARBORETUM. Contributed by:
Trevor Stubberfield (52A) National Memorial Arboretum
Visit 17th September 2009 Page Four |
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Armed Forces Memorial |
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The
Burma Star and Chindit Memorials Continued. ‘VE’ Day, 8th May 1945, marked the end of hostilities in
Europe, still acclaimed by many as the Declaration of Peace, but the
‘Forgotten Army’, an apt description at that time, continued the battle
against the Japanese might in the far east regions. |
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‘VJ’ Day, 15th August 1945,
marked two even more important results. Defeat and surrender of the Japanese
forces and the end of World War 2. To mark ‘VJ’ Day + 75 years,
this article has been updated with some additional early photographs and news
of the recent events at the National Memorial Arboretum. |
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2nd Division Memorial at Kohima
Cemetery. |
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Revised 2nd Division Memorial
at Kohima Cemetery. (Note the variation in the
Kohima Epitaphs. ‘Their’ replaced by ‘Your’). |
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The Kohima
Memorial |
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This Memorial was
unveiled by Field Marshal Sir William Slim, who was at the time commanding
14th Army in Burma. It is made from once
piece of solid stone which formed part of a Naga formation of stones similar,
but smaller, than Stonehenge. These stones were situated on a Spur near the
village of Maram, south of Kohima. The stone was with
great difficulty, and with the assistance of the Naga Hillsmen, moved to its present site, at one end of the
2nd Division's War Cemetery. The Cemetery is situated on a commanding piece
of ground at Kohima on the site, which was originally the District
Commissioner's Bungalow. |
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The Kohima Cemetery 1945. |
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Text extract
and photos above: Credit © The Worcestershire Regiment. |
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The original grave marker at
Kohima. A personal tribute to Uncle
James Tull. |
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The updated plaque for James
Tull. |
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The Kohima Cemetery in the care
of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. |
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An account of the ‘Battle of
Kohima’ can be read from this link (pdf.)
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The
National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas,
Staffordshire. |
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15th
August 2013. |
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On the 70th anniversary of
their historic battle, veterans of ‘The Chindits’ gathered at the N.M.A. for
the unveiling of a bronze statue of a ‘Chinthe’, the mythical figure, half
lion and half eagle, from which the Chindits took their title. It was to top the
existing memorial to them. |
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The local B.B.C. News, Stoke
& Staffordshire, recorded the occasion and to view the video please…….. |
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CLICK on the CHINTHE image below. |
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Video Credit ©
B.B.C. News. |
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The Chinthe surmounting the
memorial to ‘The Chindits’. |
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Photo Credit: ©
Mark Newton (WMR-61706) 19/09/2017. |
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Distant side-view by ‘The
Editor’. |
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Further information is
available from the web site of ‘The Burma
Star Organisation’. |
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To access their web site, CLICK on the Badge below. |
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Information
added 1st September 2020. |
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VJ
Day + 75 years. 15th August 2020. |
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The
Royal Family has led the UK's commemorations on the 75th anniversary of VJ
Day - the day World War Two ended with Japan's surrender. The
Prince of Wales led a two-minute silence at the National Memorial Arboretum
in Staffordshire, as part of a service of remembrance. |
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The B.B.C. News recorded the occasion and to view the full report
please…….. |
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CLICK on the CHINDITS FLASH below. |
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News Report and Video
Credit © B.B.C. News. |
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________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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First Published: 1st
August 2020. Latest Update: 1st
September 2020. __________________________________________________________________________________ |
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