Battle for Imphal

The Japanese command in Burma had been reorganized in March 1943, and Lieutenant-General Renya Mutaguchi was appointed to command the Army. Mutaguchi had a clear objective - invade India. Imphal seemed to be the perfect location for the invasion, given its proximity to Burma and the strategic logistical base that the Allies had built there. Imphal was also linked to a larger base at Dimapur in the Brahmaputra River valley via a road, which would serve as a crucial supply route for the invading forces.

Mutaguchi strategized to capture Imphal by advancing to the Brahmaputra Valley, and he obtained the approval of Prime Minister Hideki Tojo. The Indian National Army also made a substantial contribution to Japan in this battle on the insistence of Subhas Chandra Bose. However, Japan made a grave mistake by leaving behind their anti-tank weapon, assuming that the British would not be able to use tanks on the steep jungle-covered hills around Imphal. This left their forces with little protection against the enemy tanks.

Imphal was held by the IV Corps, which was under the command of Lieutenant General Geoffry Scoones, and was a part of the Fourteenth Army under Lieutenant General William Slim. When Scoones and Slim received the information that Japan was planning to attack, they increased their force strength in Imphal. Unfortunately, they misjudged the date of the attack, resulting in heavy losses for the British.

The battle was intense and the losses were significant for both sides. Japan lost 13,376 soldiers, and the Allies suffered 12,603 casualties. The Japanese forces even lost all their pack horses and mules! By mid-1944, air supremacy over Burma was taken over by the Allied air forces, and the Japanese were left with no choice but to retreat back into Burma.

The Imphal War Cemetery stands as a solemn reminder of the brave soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle of Imphal and the Battle of Kohima. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has set up this cemetery, where many soldiers have been buried with honor.