Imphal-kohima 1942 India and Burma Part Seven World War Two

On 4 February Operation Ha-Go opened as planned in ARAKAN and though by 24 of February the Japanese had been completely routed losing more than half the number with which they had begun the attack the operation had  had the effect KAWBE hoped for and Slim had been forced to use his reserve. In the meantime Slim and scoones who were in close touch throughout since the Fourteeth Army’s headquarters were at COMILLA only a short distance by air from Imphal, were planning to meet MUTAGUCHI offensive if and when it came. In Scoones’s opinion with which Slim agreed the Imphal Plain was the key since its loss would prevent any further resistance but if they fought a defensive battle with the corps so widely dispereed with the possibility of one or both outlying divisions being cut off he would be at a grave disadvantage. there semed to be no alternative other than to concentrate the corps in and around Imphal; by so doing his position would be more favourable as he would be fighting the battle on ground of his own choosing.

Because the surrounding country was open full use could be made of Allied air superiority and his powerful Lee-Grant tanks could manoeuvre more freely and of great importance. His communications would be considerably shortened when to withdraw the 17th and 20th Divisions from their forward positions was by far the most difficult decision to make.

The British and Indian soldiers had reached their present positions with much blood and sweat and to bring them back without telling them the reasons which for security reasons could not be divulged could only have a bad effect on morale. If they were withdrawn and the Japanese did not attack it would be infinitely worse but in view of the intelligence reports this was an unlikely contingency. With the initiative lying with the Japanese timing was an all-important factor and Slim having accepted Scoones’s plan made it clear that he Scoones the man on the spot should put into effect when and only when he was as sure as he could ever be that the Japanese offensive had begun.

His fundamental aim being to hold the Imphal Plain and destroy any enemy who entered it. Scoones intended when the Japanese plans were clearer to use the minimum to defend the vital approaches  while employing the maximum for counter-attack . To this end he ordered the 17th division to be prepared to make a clear break when the moment came and moving to Imphal with all speed blowing the demolitions on the TIDDIM road as it withdrew to leave one brigade to cover the southern end of the plain and come into the corps reserve the 20th division on the other hand was to continue with its operations in the KABAW Valley without moving further south. But on orders from the IV corps Gracey was to concentrate his division near TAMU to cover the withdrawal on destruction of the stores in the base and the evacuation of the thousands of labourers working on the road together with all the mechanical equipment. That  completed the 20th Division was to move back slowly to the SHENAM heights overlooking PALEL and hold them to the last.

By relieving the brigade of the 23rd division at UKHRUL with the 50th parachute brigade from Kohima and leaving three unattached battalions to watch the approaches to it Scoones expected to have a reserve comprising the whole of the 23rd division (who would also have the responsibility of destroying infiltration into the plain or onto the road to Kohima) ,the 17th division less one brigade and the valuable 254th Tank Brigade. Finally corps headquarters the airstrips and various installations were to form themselves into “Boxes” area off all-round defence with ten days supply of water,food and ammunitions.These orders issued only to those who had to know were sent out on the 29th of February so that they could come into force at the press of a button but the burning question remained : when to press it.

I hope you all like this story and let me know what you think of it.

George T Saviel

10 December 2010

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia