With the sun shining last Saturday morning, June 22, a parade marched up Church Street with standards aloft, to be be greeted by a good number of onlookers, both on the pavements and around the war memorial at the Parish church.

This particular ceremony is one of a number to be held this year in a programme drawn up jointly by the Town Council, local branches of the Royal British Legion and the Royal Naval Old Comrades Association: the purpose is to draw attention to the importance of remembering those who served so gallantly in theatres of war, especially with those with links to the Sid Valley. Also of significance is the help such ceremonies give to 'spreading the all important word' of these crucial events in our history, in particular those in younger age groups studying history at school/university, not forgetting family members and friends who served our country with such pride.

In his short opening address Chris Lockyear, Chairman of Sidmouth Town Council, reiterated this same message followed by his laying a wreath to be followed by those on behalf of the Royal British Legion and the Kohima Educational Trust. In the principle address reference was made to The Battle of Kohima being seen widely by historians as pivotal, for it was the first defeat suffered by the Japanese Army at the hands of the Allied troops, thus thankfully thwarting the plans of the Japanese to invade India. Accounts made at the time make it very difficult to imagine the harshness of the conditions endured by the Allies, for not only was the terrain dense jungle on very steep inclines, but with the start of the monsoon season the weather was more often than not atrocious. 

A special mention was given to the decision made in 2004 by the veterans at their last reunion in York to form the Kohima Educational Trust as a debt of honour to the local Naga people, as well as a means of sustaining the memory of the courage and sacrifice of those who fought and died in the battle: it was so important to honour the Nagas who were their allies in the war by bringing about assistance in the succeeding generations of Naga children in the field of education. Looking at the KET website was strongly recommended, especially the series of Zoom talks given by experts, thereby enabling a wider and greater understanding of the battle.

The 14th Army were often referred to as 'The Forgotten Army', but commemorations such as the one held last Saturday help to ensure that is no longer the case: in this regard consideration is being given in promoting a research project on the links between those of us in the Sid Valley and the Burma campaign, of which more information will be forthcoming in due course.

At the end of the ceremony it was really encouraging that a number who attended made their appreciation known or referred to their own family links to the Burma campaign. Some who had never heard of Kohima will now look at the KET website and other sources of information: all this augers well for the future thus fully justifying the decision to hold these important ceremonies.

By coincidence the next commemoration to be held on Thursday 18th of July relates to 'The Battle of Imphal', another pivotal battle of the Burma campaign, so readers please please make a note on your calendar and watch out for further announcements.

There is no more fitting ending to this article than the Kohima Epitaph:

'When you go home,
Tell them of us and say
For your tomorrow we gave our today'