Military historians James Holland and Robert Lyman will show extracts from the film Imphal and Kohima: Britain’s Greatest Battle and discuss the importance of this battle and that of the battle of Imphal which was taking place simultaneously further south. The Tiddim Road was where the Japanese 33rd Division (the ‘White Tigers’) faced off with the 17th Indian Division (the ‘Black Cats’), the main British force in the area, during the Battle of Imphal. The ensuing battle lasted two months and drove the Japanese into retreat.

The decisive Japanese defeat in north-east India became the springboard for the Fourteenth Army’s subsequent re-conquest of Burma. On the 21st of April, 2013 the British National War Museum declared the Kohima-Imphal Battle as the winner of a contest to decide the toughest battle ever in Britain's history. This epic battle was voted Britain’s Greatest Battle in a poll by the National Army Museum, yet few know or understand why this brutal but decisive engagement was so significant. Stream Kohima: Britain's Greatest Battle with Akiko MacDonald and Richard Greenwood by History Hit Podcast Network from desktop or your mobile device These formed the turning point of one of the most gruelling campaigns of the Second World War. britain’s greatest battle: imphal and kohima, 1944 6th March 2019 / in History Hub , Talks & Audio / by James Holland Audio from Chalke Valley History Festival 2018. *Updated 15 August 2018 by Spirit of Remembrance* Spirit of Remembrance will be operating a very historic tour in June 2019: the official 75th Anniversary Burma Remembrance Tour - paying our respects to the ferocious WW2 - 1944 Battles of Kohima & Imphal in Burma, now considered Britain's greatest battle … In April 2013, the Battle of Imphal-Kohima was voted as Britain’s greatest battle by the United Kingdom National Army Museum. The decisive Japanese defeat in north-east India in 1944 became the springboard for the subsequent re-conquest of Burma. The Battle of Imphal/ Kohima, when British troops fighting in horrendous jungle conditions turned the tide against the Japanese Army in World War II, has been chosen as Britain's greatest battle. In fact, in 2013, the British Army Museum voted the Battle of Kohima and the Battle of Imphal (seen as one overall battle) “Britain’s greatest ever battle.” The tennis court and terraces of the District Commissioner’s bungalow in Kohima. Take this tour to find out just why the UK’s National Army Museum named Imphal/Kohima as Britain’s Greatest Battle in April 2013 and to hear, for once, Manipur’s side of the story. Military historians James Holland and Robert Lyman will show extracts from the film Imphal and Kohima: Britain’s Greatest Battle and discuss the importance of this battle and that of the battle of Imphal which was taking place simultaneously further south. The ensuing battle lasted two months and drove the Japanese into retreat. Fought between 8 March and 18 July 1944, these were the turning point of one of the most gruelling campaigns of the Second World War (1939-45). We are delighted to offer this tour working with Bob Cook of Kohima Musuem. It is also the main turning point of the Second World War's Burma Campaign. The Tours We at Battle of Imphal Tours organise and conduct guided tours to the main Second World War battlefields in both India and Burma/Myanmar. Use code 'pod4' at checkout to get a 30 day free trial and your first 4 months for £4/$4. We are delighted to offer this tour working with Bob Cook of Kohima Musuem. It was on Kohima Ridge in 1944, that the invasion of India by the Japanese Imperial Army was halted by the bravery of a small garrison of just 1500 British and Indian soldiers, who, although outnumbered by about 10:1, held out for 14 days, until relieved by the British 2nd Division. In April 2013, Imphal/Kohima was voted 'Britain's Greatest Battle' by the UK's National Army Museum. Produced and supported by Boomerang Media.