We Will Remember Them - The Kohima Memorials: 80 Years On

The Kohima Educational Trust is delighted to welcome back our trustee Charlotte Carty as guest speaker for this webinar on 18th November 2024 about the Kohima Memorials.

During this period of Remembrance, and in this 80th anniversary year of the Battle of Kohima, it is perhaps a good time to take a closer look at the many memorials which stand on the battlefield to commemorate the Fallen. 

A number of different Allied units fought in what was then a small village in the remote mountains of Nagaland. It is a testament to the intensity of the 3 months of bitter fighting that many felt compelled to place a memorial to their men who were not able to come home. 

From the iconic Memorial to the 2nd Division standing at the foot of Garrison Hill, to the small, wooden plaque dedicated to those of the Reconnaissance Corps, each memorial pays witness to the losses suffered in this corner of NE India. 

The webinar took take place on the 80th anniversary of the unveiling of the 2nd Division Memorial by Field Marshal Slim. 

Many of the memorials still stand in the city today, a reminder to all that:

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

The recording of the talk is now available to watch below:

Speakers: 

Charlotte Carty - Charlotte grew up in Surrey and, upon graduating from Christ's College, Cambridge, qualified as a solicitor and pursued a career in the Law. After a break to raise her family and time spent in various countries for her husband's postings, she started work once again back in the UK, this time within the education sector.

Charlotte's grandfather was Lt Col William Felix Brown, CO of the Assam Regiment at the Battle of Kohima. He was killed on 6th January 1945 in action near Shwebo in Burma. Charlotte's initial interest in the Battle of Kohima was due to her grandfather's involvement and later, through her research into his war, Charlotte found the Kohima Educational Trust and subsequently became a Trustee. 

She is married to Tim and has three children.

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.