Road of Bones Read online

  Japanese plan to capture 116, 140, 154, 168, 170, 184, 184n, 223

  railhead at 27, 29, 30, 35, 223, 279

  threat to extinguished 316, 368, 369

  West Kent’s at 221, 223, 236, 240, 244, 355–61, 364

  wounded taken to, Allied 182, 183, 218, 226, 268, 352, 364

  disease and illness: Allied xvii, 13, 14, 24, 25, 27, 28, 76, 82, 160, 161, 218, 256, 266, 328, 338, 376, 411

  Japanese xvii, 14, 114, 155, 291, 297, 388, 395, 396, 396n, 398, 399, 401, 420

  Domei News Service 154–5

  Dower, John 107, 420

  Driscoll, Corporal G. W. xiv

  Dunkirk 61–2, 98, 274, 359, 378, 379, 411

  Earley, Lieutenant Desmond 401

  Easten, Billie 63, 333, 410, 430

  Easten, Captain (later Major) Donald 359

  Arakan 134–5, 138

  background 62

  India, arrival in 68–9

  Iraq 67

  John Harman and 103–4, 128, 129, 255, 268–9, 340

  joins army 62–3

  jungle warfare, describes 134–5

  Kohima, arrival at 242

  Kohima, journey to 178, 240

  Kohima, leaves 355

  Kohima, siege of 247, 248, 249, 250, 260, 262, 263, 264, 265–6, 268, 269, 271, 303, 333, 340, 341, 343–4, 345, 346, 347, 348

  Laverty, on competence of 98

  North Africa 63–4

  post-war life 410, 430–1

  Saville, role in removal of 95

  West Kent’s movement to Dimapur, attitude towards 221

  wounded 271, 333, 341, 410

  Edward VIII, King 1–2

  Elwell, Captain Donald 329, 332

  Evans, Wally 103, 127–8

  Eves, Sergeant Jack 337

  Fanning, Paddy 135

  Faulkner, Janet 431

  Faulkner, John 241, 242–3, 247–8, 254–5, 269, 305–6, 307, 341–3, 350, 353, 355, 431

  Faulkner, Margery 254

  First World War, 1914–1918 24, 31, 32, 34, 40, 52, 54, 59, 60, 83, 90, 97, 99, 132, 132n, 181, 183, 184, 225, 273, 340, 361, 380

  FitzClarence, Geoffrey 416

  Fitzpatrick, Captain Gerald 25, 26

  Folgore Division 64

  food/hunger see supply operations

  Forsdyke, Eric 323

  Foster, Reg 362

  Foucar, Lieutenant Colonel Emile Charles 6–7, 8, 9, 10, 105

  Foucar, Mollie 6

  Franklin, Major Peter 257, 267, 302, 304, 329

  From Kent to Kohima (Clarke/Tillott) 434

  Frost, Lance Corporal 20–1

  Fujiwara, Lieutenant Colonel Iwaichi 86, 113–14, 147, 150, 215n, 235, 289, 326, 372, 392, 394, 395, 396

  Gade, Felix 100, 102, 432

  Gaidiliu 41, 41n, 51–2

  Gandhi, Mohandas K.41, 43, 43n, 69, 70, 87, 440

  Gatpoh, Reverend L. 409

  Giffard, General Sir George 169, 170–1, 170n, 173, 180, 184n, 223n, 416, 436

  Gilani, Lieutenant M. A. 132

  Glover, Captain F.R. 301

  Goodwin, Private Peter 60, 65

  Gordon, Private George 378, 379

  Goschen, Brigadier Willie 380

  Graham, Captain Gordon 43, 374, 380, 386n

  Grant, Major Ian Lyall 88

  Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere 109, 117n

  Greatly, Private Tom 266, 429

  Greenwood, Captain (later Major) Walter 182, 183, 229, 283, 302, 303, 304

  Grocock, Deryck 324

  Grover, Lieutenant Colonel David 386

  Grover, Major General John xx, 284, 458

  appearance 174

  Dimapur, ordered to 173, 185, 186, 272, 273, 275

  fired 384–7

  Kohima offensive 378, 380, 381, 383, 387n, 439

  Kohima Ridge, plan to retake 339–40

  mistakes 313, 338, 384–7

  Nagas, opinion of 295

  overstates likelihood of quick breakthrough to Kohima 313, 386

  relief of Kohima 278, 313, 338

  slow to enact orders 278, 313, 338, 365–8, 377, 384–7

  Stopford and 278, 365–8, 377, 384–7

  Guadalcanal, battle of, 1942–3 146, 146n, 151, 163, 167, 288, 318

  Gurung, Lieutenant D.B. 216

  Ha-Go, Operation 104

  Haines, Company Sergeant Major Bill 266, 341, 347–8, 354

  Hall, Private Nobby 268, 270

  Halnan, Captain Keith 72, 275–6, 314

  Harman, Amy Ruth 100

  Harman, Diana 100, 433

  Harman, Lance Corporal John 99–104, 127–9, 138, 240, 254–5, 265, 268–9, 269n, 340, 361, 432–3, 458

  Harman, Martin Coles 100, 101, 102, 103, 432–3

  Harwood, Company Sergeant Major 137m 263, 312, 332

  Hawkins, Brigadier Victor 186, 274, 276, 285, 313, 314, 354, 365, 381

  Hayllar, Lieutenant Bruce 188–9, 225–6, 228, 230, 234, 249, 250, 257, 298, 300, 345–6, 351, 358–9, 448

  Heath, Private T. J. 126

  Hemingway, Ernest 321

  Hewitt, Private W. 22

  Hill, Fred 42

  Hirakubo, Lieutenant Masao 149–50, 166–7, 168, 204, 233, 238, 320–1, 371, 374–5, 418–19, 445–6, 447, 448, 459–60

  Hirayama, Lieutenant Yoshiteru xviii, 147–8, 151, 164, 196–7, 198, 199–200, 207–8, 286, 375–6, 402, 420–1

  Hirohito, Emperor xvi, 109n, 117, 150, 371

  Hiroshima, Japan 418–19

  Hitler, Adolf 4, 58, 62, 123, 238

  Hogg, Lieutenant Tom 66, 67, 93, 96, 135, 136, 177–8, 220, 221, 242, 243, 310, 311, 338, 348, 355, 410

  Hong Kong 5, 10, 84n

  Hope-Thomson, M.R.J. ‘Tim’ 193, 194, 199, 201, 203, 204, 206, 209–10, 211

  Hopkinson, Lieutenant Colonel Paul 194, 195, 197, 200–1, 205, 206

  Howell, Private Charlie 358

  Hudson, Lieutenant John 189

  Humine 396–7, 398

  Hussein, Khaddam 89

  Hutton, Lieutenant General T. J. 12–13

  Imai, Yukihiko 155, 167, 196, 208, 238, 377, 391

  Imperial Japanese Army see Japanese Army, Imperial

  Imperial Way 109n, 110

  Imphal xviii–xix, xx, 27, 31, 53, 115–16, 119, 120, 140, 141, 147, 156, 157, 165, 165n, 170, 180, 181, 209, 210, 212, 238, 278, 280, 290, 325, 369, 384, 389, 415

  battle/siege of xviiii–xix, xx, 172, 189, 236, 278, 289, 368, 369, 384–5, 387n, 396, 415, 441n

  breakthrough to, Allied 384

  British plan to withdraw from and lure Japanese onto Imphal Plain 157, 175, 235, 387n

  Burma, troops arrive in on retreat from 27

  cut off by Japanese 235, 236

  defences 194, 212

  Dimapur Road 82, 116, 140, 168, 288

  garrison strength 175n, 212

  Japanese failure to prioritise 291, 316–17, 319, 370, 371, 389–91, 392, 393–4, 395

  Japanese plan to attack 115–20, 140–1, 156, 157

  Kohima road 29, 33, 80, 80n, 221, 226, 235, 282, 288, 365, 366, 384, 394, 455

  non-combatants in 198

  order to withdraw from mistimed, British 157, 175, 235, 387n

  reinforcements arrive at, British Army 278, 389

  siege/blockade broken 368, 384–5, 387n

  supply problems 236, 278, 368

  V Force in 49, 165, 189

  Imphal Plain xx, 31, 141, 147, 157, 175, 235, 292

  India: battles in see under individual area, battle, campaign or place name

  British Empire in (Raj) xix, xx, 5, 77, 174, 282, 408, 427–8, 442, 448

  British use of nationals in intelligence gathering 36, 46–50, 52–6, 184n, 189–91, 212, 223, 293, 295–6, 364–5

  effect of Kohima upon xix, 427–8

  Independence 409, 410, 427, 442

  Japanese advance into 111–20, 140, 148, 163–6, 173, 176, 193, 194, 195, 196, 209, 291

  Japanese attempts to turn people against British xix, xx, 85–7, 85n, 116, 156
, 158, 160, 230, 237, 239, 296, 402

  Japanese spies in 111, 146, 156, 157, 158

  Japanese withdrawal from xvii, 3984, 389–91, 396, 410–17

  Naga people and see Naga people

  nationalism 41, 43, 43n, 69, 70, 72, 84, 85n, 85, 87–8, 385, 409, 427

  partition 442

  retreating British troops arrive from Burma in 26–8, 29–30 see also under individual area or place name

  Indian Air Force 133

  Indian Army xvii, 184, 385

  barracks life 89

  battle readiness 76

  battles see under individual area, battle, campaign or nation name

  in Burma 5, 9, 12, 12n, 13, 17, 18, 19

  Churchill’s mistrust of 84–5

  importance to British Army of 84–5

  INA and xx, 85–7, 85n, 116, 156, 160, 230, 237, 239, 296, 402

  Indian nationalism and xx, 85–7, 85n, 116, 156, 160, 230, 237, 239, 296, 402

  ‘josh’ groups 87, 160

  loyalty/desertion of troops 17, 84–8, 84n, 85n, 87, 90, 116, 160, 230, 237, 239, 267, 353, 360–1

  morale 76, 87, 160

  officer corps, transformation of 88

  pay 88

  proportion of 14th Army 84

  recruitment 76

  reform of 88–9

  refugees from units overrun by Japanese 292

  retreat from Burma into India 14–17, 18, 21, 23, 29, 30–1

  Singapore, fall of and 84, 85

  units see British/Burmese/Indian/Nepalese Army units see also British Army

  Indian Civil Service 32, 190, 282

  Indian National Army (INA) (Japanese) xx, 85–7, 85n, 116, 156, 160, 230, 230n, 237, 239, 296, 402

  Infanti, Lance Corporal Frank 96, 136, 137, 297, 301–2, 328, 360, 418

  intelligence: Allies xx, 1–5, 25, 36, 46–50, 52–6, 93, 112–13, 156, 157, 157n, 158, 165–6, 169, 184n, 189–92, 212, 223, 293, 295–6, 364–5

  Burma Intelligence Corps 157n

  Chindits xx, 25, 46, 93, 112–13, 112n, 114, 149, 156, 165–6, 165n, 170n, 171, 180, 278, 316, 368, 399, 401, 401n, 411, 459

  Force 131 47n

  Force 136 157n

  goes astray 194, 194n, 201

  INA, Japanese use of 86–7

  ISLD (Inter-Services Liasion Department) 157n

  Japanese Army 3, 4, 9, 86–7, 111, 112–14, 146, 147, 156, 157, 158, 316, 325–6

  Japanese plans 156, 157n, 166, 169, 184–5, 194

  Japanese spies in Burma 3, 4, 9

  Japanese spies in India 111, 146, 156, 157, 158

  Japanese troop strength 194, 194n, 201, 212, 223

  Japanese use of Chindit 112–14

  Naga gathering of 36, 46–50, 52–6, 158, 184n, 189–91, 212, 223, 293, 295–6, 364–5

  Special Operations Executive (SOE) 47n, 157n

  Ultra code breakers 157n

  V Force 47–50, 47n, 52, 54, 55, 56, 147, 148, 156, 157n, 161, 165, 189, 190, 191, 192, 194, 194n, 195, 212, 214, 229, 293, 296, 364, 365, 401, 406, 409

  Z Force 47n, 157n, 194n

  Ismay, General ‘Pug’ 369

  Ito, Masanori 404

  Jackson, Private Tom 347, 348, 354

  Japan: ‘Absolute Defence Sphere’ 117

  atomic bomb, U.S. attack with 418–19

  China, war with 4, 5, 109, 110, 110n, 111, 150, 151, 152, 287, 318

  coup attempt, 1936 109–10, 109

  Hiroshima 418–19

  military ethics and training 106, 107–8, 107n

  Pacific war 110, 111, 147, 151, 290

  post-war 418–24, 446

  U.S. Occupation of 420–1

  Japanese air force 5, 10–12, 14, 22–3, 91, 105, 121, 132, 133, 146, 147, 149, 325, 326

  Japanese Army, Imperial xv–xvi

  air support 5, 10–12, 14, 22–3, 91, 105, 121, 132, 133, 146, 147, 149, 326

  artillery xvii, 125, 146, 164, 168, 193, 199, 201, 204, 214, 217, 218, 226, 235, 239, 243, 262, 286, 326, 338, 350, 352, 353, 370, 371, 376

  battles see under individual area, battle, campaign, operation or nation name;

  Burma, invasion and occupation of 3, 10–13, 14, 15, 17–23

  casualty numbers xvii, 126–7, 134, 136, 198, 200, 202–4, 209n, 215n, 250–1, 260, 278, 286, 291, 373, 398–9, 401, 401n, 402, 403–4, 406, 413

  character of men xvii–xviii, 20–1, 22, 76, 85n, 130, 131, 134, 138, 149–53, 208, 277, 281, 287–8, 318, 326–7, 388

  in China 4, 5, 109, 110, 110n, 111, 150, 151, 152, 287, 318

  Chindwin, crossing of 120, 140, 163–5, 164n

  coup attempt, 1936 109–10, 109

  disease and illness in xvii, 14, 114, 155, 167, 291, 297, 388, 395, 396, 396n, 398, 399, 401, 420

  Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere and 109

  intelligence 3, 4, 9, 86–7, 111, 112–14, 146, 147, 156, 157, 158, 316, 325–6

  Kempeitai 147–8, 151, 326, 421

  locals peoples, treatment of 15, 18, 144, 145, 196, 233–5, 293

  ‘March on Delhi’ 116, 117

  military ethics and training 106, 107–8, 107n

  morale 147–8, 150–1, 258–9, 317, 319, 372, 396

  Pacific war 110, 111, 147, 151, 290

  Plan 21 112

  plan to attack Indian frontier 111–20

  power of army over government 108, 109–10, 109

  prisoners, treatment of xvii–xviii, 20–1, 85n, 130, 131, 150, 208, 281

  Russia, war with 4, 18, 109, 107, 109, 143, 422, 423

  snipers 126, 135, 201, 206, 216, 229, 230, 251, 254, 255, 256, 262, 263, 268, 269, 298, 303, 306, 309, 310, 312, 319, 329, 334, 338, 344, 354, 355, 358, 379

  suicide attacks 319, 333, 372

  supply problems xvii, xviii, 112–13, 114, 115, 116, 117, 134, 140, 143, 146, 147–50, 151, 152, 154, 155, 157, 158, 162–3, 166–8, 198–9, 204, 209n, 215, 233–5, 238, 265, 288, 291, 292, 319–20, 326, 328, 337–8, 373, 376–7, 389, 390, 393, 394, 395, 396–8, 402, 404

  terror inspired in enemies xvii–xviii, 20–1, 76, 150, 277

  in Thailand 3, 4, 9–10, 12, 141, 147, 150, 152

  withdrawal from Kohima 389–91, 396

  withdrawal into Burma xviii, 384, 410–17

  Japanese Army units:

  15th Army xvii, 5, 30, 104, 110, 154, 289, 290, 319–20, 368, 371, 384, 390, 391, 393

  battles see under individual battle name

  casualties xvii, 126–7, 134, 136, 198, 200, 202–4, 209n, 215n, 250–1, 260, 278, 286, 291, 318–19, 373, 376, 398–9, 401, 401n, 402, 403–4, 406, 413

  command, disunity in 104, 105–6, 110, 112–20, 140–6, 155, 155, 289–90, 394

  headquarters 105–6, 113–14, 116, 117, 118, 288, 291, 391

  plan to invade India 112–20, 140–1, 156, 168, 170, 291

  preparation for march into India 140–1, 146–55

  retreat into Burma 406, 407, 410, 411

  retreat from Kohima to Chindwin 396–404, 406, 414

  return home of soldiers after war 419–25

  strength 5, 14, 150

  supply problems xvii, xviii, 112–13, 114, 115, 116, 117, 134, 140, 143, 146, 147–50, 151, 152, 154, 155, 157, 158, 162–3, 166–8, 198–9, 204, 209n, 215, 233–5, 238, 265, 288, 291, 292, 319–20, 326, 328, 337–8, 373, 376–7, 389, 390, 393, 394, 395, 396–8, 402, 404

  withdrawal from Kohima 389–91, 396

  withdrawal into Burma xviii, 384, 410–17

  15th Division 140–1, 150, 164n, 179, 199, 201, 205, 235, 339, 394, 404

  18th Division 106

  31st Division xvii, xviin, 140, 141, 144, 146, 148, 150, 153, 163, 201, 214, 217, 234, 238, 370, 394

  Burma 144–5

  casualties xvii, 126–7, 134, 136, 198, 200, 202–4, 209n, 215n, 250–1, 260, 278, 286, 291, 318–19, 373, 376, 398–9, 401, 401n, 402, 403–4, 406, 413

  Chindwin to Kohima, march from 148, 166–8, 179, 189–90, 196, 199, 233

  command see Sato, Lieutenant General Kotuku

  crosses Chind
win into India xvii, 148, 162–5

  cut Imphal road 116, 140, 235

  Jessami 211, 212, 217–19

  Kharasom 213–16, 396

  Kohima, march to 148, 166–8, 189–90, 196, 199, 233

  Kohima, retreat to Chindwin from 396–404, 406

  Kohima, siege of 258–64, 289–90, 317–20, 326, 333–4, 374–7, 388–91

  Kohima, withdrawal from 389–95, 396

  local peoples, treatment of 196, 233–5

  preparation for march into India 140–1, 146–55

  Sangshak 195, 196–210

  snipers 126, 135, 201, 206, 216, 229, 230, 251, 254, 255, 256, 262, 263, 268, 269, 298, 303, 306, 309, 310, 312, 319, 329, 334, 338, 344, 354, 355, 358, 379

  supply problems 112–13, 114, 115, 116, 117, 134, 140, 143, 146, 147–50, 151, 152, 154, 155, 157, 158, 162–3, 166–8, 198–9, 204, 209n, 215, 233–5, 238, 265, 288, 291, 292, 319–20, 326, 328, 337–8, 373, 376–7, 389, 390, 393, 394, 395, 396–8, 402, 404

  veterans 421, 422, 423, 424

  withdrawal into Burma xviii, 384, 410–17

  withdrawal from Kohima 389–91, 396

  33rd Division 21, 140, 141, 146, 164n, 179, 235, 289, 339, 368, 392, 394, 404

  55th Division 120

  58th Regiment 146, 149, 151, 155, 162, 164, 166, 167, 196–210, 215, 234–5, 236, 258–64, 265, 288–90, 318, 320, 326, 374, 375, 374–7, 389, 391, 424, 459

  2nd battalion 201, 205, 209, 259

  3rd battalion 196–8, 200, 204, 205, 258, 374

  75th Regiment 142–3

  124th Regiment 146, 153, 288, 372, 376, 398

  138th Regiment 144, 146, 151, 152, 214–16, 287, 319, 372, 390, 396, 402, 403, 419

  Burma Area Army 117, 154, 290, 389, 391

  Southern Area Army 116, 117, 119, 147, 393

  Jenner, Private Wally 61–2

  Jericho, Operation 124–9, 256

  Jessami village 146, 183, 189, 193, 211n, 212, 214, 226, 334, 339, 364

  1st battalion, Assam Regiment in 161, 183, 189, 193, 211–13, 217–19, 226, 356

  black magic, reputation for 161–2

  command of 161

  defences 211

  defensive position established at 161–2

  evacuation of 217–19

  garrison strength 211, 212, 212n, 213

  Japanese attack 211, 212, 217–19

  ‘last man, last round’ order, Richards cancels and orders evacuation of 211–13, 212n, 217–18

  161 Indian Brigade sent to aide evacuation of 212

  water supply 212

  Johnson, Dick 249

  Jotsoma 285, 286, 294, 304, 308, 311, 314, 330, 336, 338, 345, 350

  jungle warfare 75–6, 83–4, 93–5, 103, 122, 124, 126–7, 134–5, 156, 165, 276–7, 314

  Kabaw Valley 25, 141