Veterans gather in Norfolk

County dignitaries and veterans of the Royal Norfolk Regiment gathered in Norwich Cathedral on Sunday 28 April 2024 to mark the 80th anniversary of The Battle of Kohima, and also The Battle of Almanza on April 27 1707.  

The Battle of Kohima was the turning point of the Japanese offensive into India in 1944 during the Second World War. The battle took place in three stages from 4 April to 22 June 1944 around the town of Kohima, now the capital city of Nagaland in Northeast India. The Royal Norfolks fought and died in Kohima,  in one of the bloodiest battles of the Second World War. Six officers and 79 soldiers from the Royal Norfolk Regiment gave their lives at Kohima. 

Representatives of the county of Norfolk, Royal Norfolk Regiment and the Kohima Education Trust gathered to mark the occasion. Langley School and its CCF was represented by CSgt Joseph Holmes (pictured below, third from the right).

The sacrifice is remembered in the Kohima Epitaph: When you go home tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today.  

L to R: Angus Barclay (Secretary Kohima Education Trust), John Steele (standard bearer), Margaret Stone, Lt Col Mark Nicholas (Chairman Regimental Association), Canon Aidan Platten (Norwich Cathedral), Michael Gurney (Vice Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk), CSgt Joseph Holmes (Langley School), Cllr Barry Stone (Chairman Norfolk County Council) and Peter Hornor.