IMPHAL WAR CEMETERY
HISTORY INFORMATION
The easiest route from Burma (now Myanmar) to India is through Imphal into Assam and after the invasion of Burma, Imphal became a focal point in the defence of India against the Japanese. Early in 1942, as the Japanese approached Rangoon, a very large proportion of its Indian population fled from the city to India, many of them to Upper Burma and so by Chindwin tracks to Assam. In May of that year, Commonwealth forces followed the same route on their retreat to India. In their wake came still more civilian refugees, many of whom died on the arduous journey under ceaseless heavy rain, without transport and food. Of the 400,000 civilians who fled to India about 140,000 passed through Imphal into Assam. The defence of India and the retention of a position from which Burma could be re-entered now became of primary importance. The 23rd Indian Division was formed in Manipur State, new airfields were constructed there, and army and air force reinforcements arrived. Eventually there was a considerable concentration of Commonwealth fighting forces in the Imphal area and from November 1944 onwards, No. 38 General Hospital was posted there. Strategically well placed for attacks on the lines of communication by railway, road and river which were vital for the maintenance of all Allied operations in Burma, Imphal with its airfields was a main objective when the Japanese made their thrust towards India in the spring of 1944. There was severe fighting in the surrounding hills and on the outskirts of the plain and the Japanese succeeded in cutting a long section of the Imphal-Kohima road and holding it for over three months. The Fourteenth Army held on grimly, inflicting heavy punishment on the Japanese. Of all the battles on this frontier of India the siege of Imphal and its relief in the summer of 1944 rank next in importance to the Battle of Kohima. There were originally some 950 burials in Imphal War Cemetery, but after hostilities had ceased, the Army Graves Service brought in graves from two smaller cemeteries in Imphal and from isolated positions in the surrounding region. The cemetery now contains 1,600 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.
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SURNAME
Radclyffe
FORENAME
William Francis Digby
UNIT
153 (Gurkha) Bn (5 Gurkha Rifles,attached)
RANK
Lieutenant
NUMBER
EC/13969
DATE OF DEATH
26th March 1944
AGE
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery,India 8.G.24
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Major Ralph Arthur and Alice...
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SURNAME
McAlister
FORENAME
Brian Frier
UNIT
153 (Gurkha) Bn (2 Gurkha Rifles,attached)
RANK
Lieutenant
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
21st March 1944
AGE
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery,India 8.C.4
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Colonel R.J.F. (Argyll and Sutherland Highlander) and...
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SURNAME
Johnson
FORENAME
Alfred Thomas
UNIT
152 (Indian) Bn (14 Punjab Regiment,IA,attached)
RANK
Captain
NUMBER
EC/2246
DATE OF DEATH
26th March 1944
AGE
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery,India Coll.grave 7.D.4-6
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
died India
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SURNAME
Hockings
FORENAME
Ernest
UNIT
152 (Indian) Bn (1 Royal Bn 9 Jat Regiment,IA,attached)
RANK
Major
NUMBER
IA/1032
DATE OF DEATH
26th March 1944
AGE
26
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery,India Coll.grave 7.D.4-6
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Major Rupert Henry and...
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SURNAME
Gillett
FORENAME
Richard Hamilton
UNIT
152 (Indian) Bn (10 Baluch Regiment,IA,attached)
RANK
Major
NUMBER
EC/1166
DATE OF DEATH
26th March 1944
AGE
27
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery,India 8.G.23
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 13.2.1917 Ouseburn,Yorkshire
son of...
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SURNAME
Cox
FORENAME
Christopher Philip Bernard
UNIT
152 (Indian) Bn (Royal Artillery,attached)
RANK
Lieutenant
NUMBER
89773
DATE OF DEATH
26th March 1944
AGE
23
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery, India 4.F.5
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 1921 Kings Norton, West Midlands, UK...
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SURNAME
Cory
FORENAME
Frederick George
UNIT
152 (Indian) Bn (13 Frontier Force Rifles,IA,attached)
RANK
Lieutenant
NUMBER
EC/3200
DATE OF DEATH
26th March 1944
AGE
33
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery,India Joint grave 7.D.2-3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Albert Frederick...
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SURNAME
Buckle
FORENAME
Archibald Dorset Stewart
UNIT
152 (Indian) Bn (8 Punjab Regiment,IA,attached)
RANK
Lieutenant
NUMBER
EC/2754
DATE OF DEATH
26th March 1944
AGE
24
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery, India Joint grave 7.D.2-3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born British...
-
SURNAME
Delahay
FORENAME
Robert Rennard Stradling
UNIT
152 (Indian) Bn (15 Punjab Regiment,IA,attached)
RANK
Lieutenant
NUMBER
EC/3755
DATE OF DEATH
23rd March 1944
AGE
23
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery,India 7.D.10
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of William and Helen Rennard...
-
SURNAME
Roseby
FORENAME
Thomas Henry Maurice
UNIT
152 (Indian) Bn (16 Punjab Regiment,IA,attached)
RANK
Captain
NUMBER
EC/2835
DATE OF DEATH
20th March 1944
AGE
22
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery,India Coll.grave 8.H.6-13
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Thomas Ernest and...
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SURNAME
Luscombe
FORENAME
Harry
UNIT
152 (Indian) Bn (Hampshire Regiment,attached)
RANK
Captain
NUMBER
153269
DATE OF DEATH
20th March 1944
AGE
25
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery,India Coll.grave 8.H.6-13
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born Surrey
son of Henry and Gertrude Mary...
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SURNAME
Layton
FORENAME
Sidney Robert
UNIT
152 (Indian) Bn (9 Jat Regiment,IA,attached)
RANK
Lieutenant
NUMBER
EC/10535
DATE OF DEATH
20th March 1944
AGE
23
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery,India Coll.grave 8.H.6-13
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Sidney and Janet Annie...
-
SURNAME
Hatton
FORENAME
Wallace David
UNIT
152 (Indian) Bn (19 Hyderabad Regiment,IA,attached)
RANK
Lieutenant
NUMBER
EC/7627
DATE OF DEATH
20th March 1944
AGE
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery,India Coll.grave 8.H.6-13
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
died India
-
SURNAME
Fuller
FORENAME
John Annesley Odonnell
UNIT
152 (Indian) Bn (1 Bn 13 Frontier Force Rifles,IA,attached)
RANK
Major
NUMBER
A/1891
DATE OF DEATH
20th March 1944
AGE
24
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery,India Coll.grave 8.H.6-13
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Ralph...
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SURNAME
Frost
FORENAME
Edwin Douglas
UNIT
152 (Indian) Bn (10 Baluch Regiment,IA,attached)
RANK
Captain
NUMBER
EC/2780
DATE OF DEATH
20th March 1944
AGE
24
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery,India Coll.grave 8.H.6-13
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Arthur Edwin and Edith...
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SURNAME
Faul
FORENAME
John Andrew
UNIT
152 (Indian) Bn (18 Royal Garhwal Rifles,IA,attached)
RANK
Lieutenant
NUMBER
EC/7836
DATE OF DEATH
20th March 1944
AGE
27
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery,India Coll.grave 8.H.6-13
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Archibald and Elizabeth...
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SURNAME
Gaydon
FORENAME
Christopher Arthur Pax
UNIT
HQ 50 Indian Parachute Brigade (Middlesex Regiment,attached)
RANK
Captain
NUMBER
145614
DATE OF DEATH
25th March 1944
AGE
26
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery, India 6.E.25
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 11.11.1918 Essex...
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SURNAME
McCreanor
FORENAME
Gerard Francis
UNIT
HQ 50 Indian Parachute Brigade (Signal Section) (Royal Corps of Signals,attached)
RANK
Signalman
NUMBER
14221819
DATE OF DEATH
21st March 1944
AGE
31
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery,India Coll.grave 8.H.6-13
ADDITIONAL...
-
SURNAME
Owen
FORENAME
Eric
UNIT
13 Bn King's Regiment (Liverpool)
RANK
Private
NUMBER
5054545
DATE OF DEATH
12th May 1943
AGE
28
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery,India 9.D.24
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born Staffordshire
resided Stoke-on-Trent
son of William and Eleanor...
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SURNAME
Chapman
FORENAME
Alan
UNIT
King's Regiment (Liverpool),attached 4 Bn Border Regiment (23 Bde)
RANK
Second Lieutenant
NUMBER
320838
DATE OF DEATH
6th July 1944
AGE
20
GRAVESITE
Imphal War Cemetery,India 3.H.15
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born Manchester
resided...