Ursula Graham Bower: Anthropologist and Guerrilla

KET is delighted to introduce this webinar talk on the life and story of Ursula Graham Bower: her story, told by her daughter Catriona Child and introduced by Dr Robert Lyman MBE.

This talk will tell the story of Ursula Graham Bower, a British amateur anthropologist who, in the 1940s, lived among the Zeme Nagas in Assam’s North Cachar District. As the Japanese advanced rapidly through Burma to the Naga Hills, her outpost became closer and closer to the front line. Due to her excellent relations with the local people, she was recruited into ‘V’ Force and asked to organise a ‘Watch and Ward’ system comprising 150 Naga and Kuki Scouts, armed initially with ancient muzzle loaders. By 1944, the Japanese had advanced so far that she and her scouts were behind enemy lines and almost the only defenders of a valuable rail link.

At Ursula’s urgent request her scouts were given modern rifles and ammunition. A platoon of Assam Rifles and a captain arrived and Ursula was given the rank of acting captain. She thus became the only woman to hold a de facto combat command in the British Army during the Second World War. Her weapon of choice was a Sten gun, and she is said to have worn out two of these weapons in active service.

Ursula’s story is quite well known, especially among anthropologists and students of the Battle of Imphal and Kohima. However, Catriona will take us behind the scenes to explore what drove Ursula, a girl denied a university education, to first settle in one of the world’s most remote locations and then plunge actively into guerrilla warfare with no training. She will also share some less well-known stories about Ursula, as told to her by the Naga villagers with whom she has interacted over the last 20 years.

The recording is now available to view below:

Speakers: 

Catriona Child - Catriona Child is the eldest daughter of Ursula Graham Bower and Lt. Col. ‘Tim’ Betts, who both served in ‘V’ Force in the Second World War. Married to an Indian citizen, Catriona has lived in India since 2005. Growing up with her parents’ stories of north-east India, she longed to follow in their footsteps, something that was impossible until the year 2000. Her background is in environmental science, and she is now the Executive Director of The Highland Institute, a research centre in Kohima. Whenever possible, she has visited the communities her parents knew and collected stories of their exploits.

Sylvia May - CEO of The Kohima Educational Trust Sylvia May was born in New Jersey, USA in 1957. Her parents moved to England in 1963. Educated at High Wycombe School for Girls, she decided to pursue a career in the world of books. Sylvia worked for HarperCollins for 37 years, the last eleven of which she headed up their UK-based International Sales team. Sylvia May is the daughter of the late Gordon Graham, Founder and President of the Kohima Educational Trust. She is proud that her father has inspired many people to share his vision to commemorate those who fought and died in Kohima, and the wonderful Naga people who have done so much for the British in the past. She first visited India in 1994 with her husband Robert, and has returned on numerous occasions, staying in Kohima several times. In 2000, they followed the WWII route of the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, her father’s regiment. The regiment’s first main engagement in this theatre of war was at Zubza shortly before the Battle of Kohima.