“10th May 1942”- First Imphal Bombing of World War 2nd : Prelude, Facts and Consequences

                   Rangoon was abandoned on 7th March 1942( by British) and occupied by the Japanese the following day. The British managed to evacuate sufficient supplies of food and petrol to maintain their forces on the retreat, saving the army from starvation as it trudged towards India. After a fortnight on 19th March General Alexander appointed Major General Slim, a former officer of the Gurkha Regiment(Fergal Keane).

General Slim’s regiments came out of Burma as skin and bones, in rags, though under arms, and took post along the frontier for the monsoon…. The end of the retreat was in sight. The British columns disappeared into the mountains of Manipur as the monsoon rains broke. As the last echelons passed over the Tamu road it was washed out behind them. On May 20th, Alexander’s Army of Burma ceased to exist as a command, and his troops were incorporated into the IVth corps of the Indian Command based on Imphal… There is a tale which must be told elsewhere of the suffering of the 4,00,000 Indian and Burmese refugees who fled before the fire and sword of the enemy( Japanese). Probably 10,000 died on the road to India, most of them in the dreaded Hukawng Valley beyond Myitkina ( Frank Owen).

A refugee camp was established just north of Imphal at Koirengei. Here they came in their hundreds. Many had no money, food or spare clothing. Many, above all the women and children, were desperately ill. On most days the road was packed, until one felt one must be emerging from a football stadium. For the refugees India had become the Promised Land. Manipur was for them not India. They must go farther, beyond the Brahmaputra, in their search of safety…. Day and night the march went on. Those who dropped out lay where they fell. Vultures waiting above the refugee camps and halting-places could be seen from afar. Every night a score of corpes was burnt lest an epidemic break out. Children were leaving their parents, and parents their children. The farther they walked, the less they carried (Geoffrey Evans)..

On 9 March 1942, the 64th Sentai was transferred to Chieng Mai airfield, in Thailand, in preparation for operations over Burma… The Unit arrived with 15 Ki-43s and two Ki-27s, as well as one captured Hurricane. Both the Ki-43s and Ki-27s were used for escorts of 52 Ki-21s bombers which were operational at that time. From early May 1942, the 64th Sentai operate from its new air base at Toungoo in Burma (Hiroshi Ichimura).

In April (1942) Japanese reconnaissance planes began to fly over nearly everyday. The siren whined, but never a bomb dropped. After a sequence of false alarms the warnings became little more than tiresome interruptions to the day’s leisurely routine, and soon they were regarded with scant respect. Indeed Gimson (Christopher Gimson was the then British Political Agent) recalls that when the siren did sound mid – Morning on May 10th, he said to his assistant: “I must remember to tell Hurrell ( Commanding the 4th Assam Rifles at Singjamei) to stop these silly signals’. An hour later the siren wailed again. ‘Damn!’ exclaimed Gimson on his verandah. ‘I forget to tell Hurrell’… These were almost famous last words. Bombs crashed upon bazaar and cantonment alike. Seventy civilians were killed and another eighty wounded, while a score of European refugees, one of them, a judge, were caught either in camps or lorries and killed (Geoffrey Evans).

                     The Siren used for alarming air raids.

As per the British Records, following 84 Manipuries were recorded death on that fateful day of 10th May 1942. There are mistakes in spelling of names of individuals and name of places. The exact words from the record are reproduce to adhere to authenticity.

SL NO	SURNAME	AGE	IN GRAVE RECORDS
1	ABDUL HALIM	33	OF KHERAGAO. DIED AT IMPHAL.
2	ACHUNGPA KABUI NAGA	26	OF MANJER KHUL. DIED AT MANJER KHUL.
3	AJIGAR	34	OF MANTRI PUKHRI. DIED AT MANTRI PUKHRI.
4	AKOIJAM THARE DEVI	50	OF LAMABAM LEIKAI, IMPHAL AT LAMABAM LEIKAI, IMPHAL.
5	ALIGAR KHAN	32	OF KHAN SAHIB’S HATTA, IMPHAL. DIED AT EUROPEAN REFUGEE CAMP, IMPHAL.
6	AMARU NAGINEE	22	OF MANJER KHUL. DIED AT KHOYATHONG.
7	AMIR-UD-DIN MIAN	30	OF KAIRANG. DIED AT CHINGMEIRONG.
8	AMUREIMA DEVI	32	OF SINJABUNG LEIKAI. DIED AT LAMABAM LEIKAI.
9	ANGANGMACHA DEVI	80	OF LAMABAM LEIKAI. DIED AT LAMABAM LEIKAI.
10	BAJET PAO KABUE NAGA	35	AT MANJER KHUL.
11	BARUNI DEVI	32	OF KONSAM LEIKAI. DIED AT CHINGMEIRONG.
12	BHADUR THAMI	45	OF CHINGMEIRONG. DIED AT REFUGEE CAMP, BRITISH RESERVE, CHINGMEIRONG.
13	CHABANGBAM TOLMU SING	55	OF KHURAI, SOIBAM LEIKAI. DIED AT SOIBAM LEIKAI.
14	CHABUNGBAM ONGBI BHUMAR DEVI	40	OF KOIRENGEI. DIED AT CHINGMEIRONG.
15	CHINGANGBAM LALA SING	20	OF KHURAI, CHINGANGBAM LEIKAI. DIED AT MANTRI PUKHRI.
16	DALIP SINGH	43	AT IMPHAL.
17	GINAM BHUBAN SING	13	OF FOUSANGBAM LEIKAI, THANGMEIBAND. DIED AT THANGMEIBAND.
18	HACTOMBA KABUI NAGA	45	AT MANJER KHUL.
19	HEIKRUJAM MEINA SING	27	OF SAGOLBAND. DIED AT REFUGEE CAMP, BRITISH RESERVE.
20	HEIKRUJAM RAJMANI SING	19	OF NUNGU VILLAGE. DIED AT LAIKANGBAM LEIKAI.
21	IBEM LAL DEVI	34	AT LAMABAM LEIKAI.
22	IBEMCHAOBI DEVI	11	OF POLEM LEIKAI. DAUGHTER OF SAKHI DEVI. DIED AT POLEM LEIKAI.
23	IBETON DEVI	2	AT POLEM LEIKAI.
24	IROM IBOCHA SING	20	OF KHURAI KONKHAM, LEIKAI. DIED AT MANTRI PUKHRI.
25	JANAB ALI	50	OF KHAN SAHIB’S HATTA, IMPHAL. DIED AT EUROPEAN REFUGEE CAMP, IMPHAL.
26	JUBATI DEVI	20	AT MAINAM LEIKAI.
27	KAKHUPUM KABUI	25	AT MAJORKHUL, IMPHAL.
28	KAMINI DEVI	35	OF SAGOLBAND, NANDIEBAM LEIKAI, IMPHAL. DIED AT LAMABAM LEIKAI.
29	KAMINI DEVI	36	OF KONSAM LEIKAI. DIED AT CHINGMEIRONG.
30	KANGHUJAM THORI THORI SING	23	OF KHURAI LALANBUNG, KHEIDEM LEIKAI. DIED AT AWANG.
31	KARAM SINGH	28	AT IMPHAL.
32	KETUKI DEVI	20	OF NINGTHOUBUNG. DIED AT IYAMAPAL.
33	KHETRIMAYUM ANGRU SING	34	OF KONGPAL, KHETRI LEIKAI. DIED AT CHINGMEIRONG.
34	KHETRIMAYUM NINGOL PENU DEVI	36	OF KANGAJABI, NAGAMAPAL, MANIPUR. DIED AT KANGAJABI.
35	KHOMDON SANA RAJ KUMAR	14	AT POLEM LEIKAI.
36	KHOMEI DEVI	19	AT MAINAM LEIKAI.
37	KUMARI DEVI	36	OF KONSAM LEIKAI. DIED AT CHINGMEIRONG.
38	LAIMAYUM CHAOMACHA SHARMA	66	OF POLEM LEIKAI, IMPHAL. DIED AT POLEM LEIKAI.
39	LAISAM YAIMA SING	17	OF CHINGTHAM LEIKAI. DIED AT MXWELL BAZAR, IMPHAL.
40	LAISRAM TOMBA SING	30	AT TOP NOARIA.
41	LAMABAM IBOONGOTON SING	56	AT LAMABAM LEIKAI.
42	LEIRIK DEVI	21	AT MAINAM LEIKAI.
43	LEMABAM TAMPHAMANT DEVI	13	AT LAMABAM LEIKAI.
44	LOITONGBAM TOMBA SING	60	OF LALAMBUNG MAKHONG. DIED AT KWAI LALAMBUNG, IMPHAL.
45	LUCAS TOPPO		OF KUTUNIA, GANGPUR. DIED AT MANIPUR ROAD.
46	MADHUMATI DEVI	22	AT POLEM LEIKAI.
47	MALIKA DEVI	50	AT LAMABAM LEIKAI.
48	MANI SHARMA	24	OF TERA KEITHEL. DIED AT KHOYATHONG.
49	MOIRANG LEIMA DEVI	74	AT LAMABAM LEIKAI.
50	MUHAMMAD MIAN	30	OF KHERAGAO VILLAGE, IMPHAL. DIED AT THE IMPHAL-DIMAPUR ROAD.
51	NAKE NAGINEE	45	OF THANGMEIBAND. DIED AT MANJER KHUL.
52	NAMRAM YAIMA SING	25	OF NAMEIRAKPAM LEIKAI, MOIRANGKHOM. DIED AT MANTRI PUKHRI.
53	NANDIESBAM MOHAN SING	25	OF CHINGTHAM LEIKAI. DIED AT MAXWELL BAZAR, IMPHAL.
54	NGANGBAM AMUTHOI SING	18	OF LAMABAM LEIKAI. DIED AT TERA URAK.
55	NGANGBAM GOUREMANI SING	46	OF KANGABAM LEIKAI, IMPHAL. DIED AT KHOYATHONG.
56	NINGTHAN KHONGJAM NARAN SING	53	OF MOUGSANGEI, IMPHAL. DIED AT LEI INGKHOL.
57	NINGTHONJAM GOKUL CHAND SING	40	OF MOIRANG KAMPU. DIED AT REFUGEE CAMP, BRITISH RESERVE.
58	NIPAMACHA SING	1	AT POLEM LEIKAI.
59	NONGTHONBAM ONGBI TONSIJA DEVI	40	WIFE OF NONGTHONBAM TOMBA. DIED AT LAMLONGGEI, IMPHAL.
60	NUPIMACHA DEVI	35	AT POLEM LEIKAI.
61	PANCHASANI NAGINEE	50	OF THANGMEIBAND. DIED AT NAGA BAZAR.
62	PANTI SINGHIK NAGINEE	35	AT MANJER KHUL.
63	PENU DEVI	22	AT LAIKANGBAM LEIKAI.
64	PHIJAM CHAOBA SING	50	AT LALAMBUNG MAKHONG.
65	RULIA RAM	38	AT IMPHAL.
66	SAGOLSEM MANI SING	30	AT LOURUNGPUREL LEIKAI.
67	SAKHI DEVI	38	AT POLEM LEIKAI.
68	SAMSOO MIAN	35	AT KHETRI.
69	SANASAM MEINE SING	37	AT LOURANGPUREL LEIKAI.
70	SARAF-UD-DIN MIAN	26	OF KAIRANG VILLAGE. DIED AT CHINGMEIRONG.
71	SHYAMA	9	(ALIAS YAIMABI DEVI). OF SAGOLBAND, NANDEIBAND LEIKAI. DIED AT LAMABAM LEIKAI.
72	SHYAMA DEVI	9	AT LAMABAM LEIKAI.
73	THAKCHOM BRAJAMANI SING	20	OF URIPOK SOIRABAM THINGEN, KABRAMBAM, LEIKAI. DIED AT KHUYATHONG.
74	THAMBAL DEVI	40	AT KANGJABI LEIRAK, MEINAM LEIKAI.
75	THARO DEVI	40	OF KHONGHAMPAT. DIED AT CHINGMEIRONG.
76	THIAM IBOTON SING	28	OF KEISAMPAT, IMPHAL. DIED AT MAXWELL BAZAR, IMPHAL.
77	THIAM NARAHARI SING	39	OF THANGMEIBAND. DIED AT MAXWELL BAZAR, IMPHAL.
78	THIAM NARHARI SING	40	OF LILASINGKHONGRANG MAKHONG. DIED AT AWANG DUKAN.
79	THOKPAM LALA SING	21	OF KONGKHAM LEIKAI. DIED AT MANTRI PUKHRI.
80	THOUDAM DEVEN SING	4	AT MAINAM LEIKAI.
81	THOUDAM IPI SING	2	AT MAINAM LEIKAI.
82	THOUDAM UPENDRA SING	28	AT MAINAM LEIKAI.
83	YUMLEMBAM MANGI	16	SON OF YUMLEMBAM CHANDRAHAS. DIED AT KHUYATHONG POLEM LEIKAI, THANGMEIBAND, IMPHAL.
84	YUMNAM KAMAL SING	35	OF LAMABAM LEIKAI. DIED AT MANIPUR.
Disclamer: – The data represents the figure with present research status. Present data is not exhaustive.

Following Europeans and other refugees were also killed that day in Manipur because of the bombing.

SL NO	SURNAME	FORENAME	AGE	INFORMATION IN RECORDS
1	APPARAO	DEVASAHARAM	64	OF 6/263, LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. HUSBAND OF MARY HELENA RAJA MONEY APPARAO. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
2	APPARAO	MARY HELENA RAJA MONEY	56	OF 6/263, LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. WIFE OF DEVASAHARAM APPARAO. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
3	APPARAO	REGINA LILY SAMATHANAM	21	OF 6/263 LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. DAUGHTER OF DEVASAHARAM APPARAO. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
4	BIDGOOD	SUSAN	94	OF 38 SOUTH STREET, EXETER. INJURED 4 MAY 1942, AT EXETER; DIED AT 1 CASTLE WALK.
5	BIRSA PATRAS			OF KUTUNIA, GANGPUR. HUSBAND OF MAGDALI ORAON. DIED AT MANIPUR ROAD.
6	CHARLES	DAVID DEVASAHAYAM JOHNSON	1	OF 3/246 LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. SON OF A. CHARLES AND HELEN DAISY DHANAM CHARLES. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
7	CHARLES	HELEN DAISY DHANAM	20	OF 6/263 LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. DAUGHTER OF MR. ADISHTAM DAVID, M.A., B.L., INCOME TAX OFFICER, RANGOON; WIFE OF A. CHARLES, OF HOME DEPARTMENT, BURMA SECRETARIAT. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
8	CLARKSON
9	DALIP SINGH		43	AT IMPHAL.
10	DAVID	ADISHTAM	47	M.A., B.L.; INCOME TAX OFFICER, GOVERNMENT OF BURMA; OF 3/246 LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
11	DAVID	GRACE NESAMONEY	37	OF 186 LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. DAUGHTER OF THE LATE I. APPADURAI PILLAI; WIFE OF IMMANUEL DAVID. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
12	DAVID	ROSE KAMALAM	39	OF 3/246 LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. WIFE OF ADISHTAM DAVID. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
13	DAVID	VICTORIA JABAPAKIAM JEMIMA	9	OF 3/246 LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. DAUGHTER OF ADISHTAM DAVID, AND ROSE KAMALAM DAVID. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
14	DEVASINGAMONEY	I. ALEXANDER	12	OF 186 LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
15	DIXON	JOSEPH	69	S.J.A.B., MEDALLION AND BARS. SON OF THE LATE MR. AND MRS. JOHN DIXON, OF TAMWORTH; HUSBAND OF MABEL F. DIXON, OF 5 MELBOURNE VILLAS, STATION ROAD, NEW ROMNEY. DIED AT SANDS HOTEL, ST. MARY’S.
16	ELIAS	I. GNANAPRAKASAM	34	OF 186 LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
17	ELIAS	PHILIP KENNETH KIRUBAKARAN	11	OF 186 LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. SON OF I. G. ELIAS. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
18	ELIAS	VINCENT JONATHAN	5	OF 186 LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. SON OF I. G. ELIAS. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
19	GAYA SINGH			BURMA GOVERNMENT SERVANT. DIED AT IMPHAL.
20	GHOSH		38	M.SC.; ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, BURMA METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT, RANGOON. DIED AT IMPHAL.
21	GNANAMONEY	MABEL VICTORIA CHANDRAVATHANA	17	OF 3/246 LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
22	HARCOURT COOZE	GEORGE	32	AT IMPHAL.
23	LUCAS TOPPO			OF KUTUNIA, GANGPUR. DIED AT MANIPUR ROAD.
24	MAJUMDER			SUPERINTENDANT. OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, RANGOON. HUSBAND OF RUTNA PROVA DEVI. DIED AT IMPHAL.
25	MURPHY	JOHN JAMES CHRISTOPHER	45	I.C.S. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, RANGOON. DIED AT IMPHAL.
26	NICHOLLS	JOHN BOYTON	19	HOME GUARD. SON OF MRS. E. E. NICHOLLS, OF 8 LAUDERDALE, DYMCHURCH ROAD. DIED AT 2A RAMPART ROAD.
27	RAY	Mr.		HIS SON AND HIS ATTENDANT ALSO DIED WITH HIM (BOTH UN-NAMED). DIED AT IMPHAL.
28	RULIA RAM		38	AT IMPHAL.
29	SHAW	KATHLEEN	50	WIFE OF HARRY COTTRELL HUGHES SHAW, OF SURMA VALLEY LIGHT HORSE. DIED AT IMPHAL.
30	SOLOMON		43	OF 61 MURUGAPPA MUDALIAR STREET, PURASAWAKKAM, MADRAS. DIED AT MANIPUR.
31	SOLOMON	ALICE FLORENCE SUNGUNABAI	10	OF LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. DAUGHTER OF KIRUBAKADATCHAM RAJA SOLOMON. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
32	SOLOMON	HANAH JESSIE RATHNABAI	15	OF LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. DAUGHTER OF KIRUBAKADATCHAM RAJA SOLOMON. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
33	SOLOMON	HILDA DOROTHY RAGINABAI	8	OF LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. DAUGHTER OF KIRUBAKADATCHAM RAJA SOLOMON. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
34	SOLOMON	JANE CHRISTOBEL SUSILABAI	4	OF LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. DAUGHTER OF KIRUBAKADATCHAM RAJA SOLOMON. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
35	SOLOMON	ROSALIND SUNDARI KAMALABI	6	OF LEWIS STREET, RANGOON. DAUGHTER OF KIRUBAKADATCHAM RAJA SOLOMON. DIED AT IMPHAL EUROPEAN EVACUATION CAMP.
36	SUKRAM JUNNAS			OF KUTUNIA, GANGPUR. SON OF MANGRA LUCAS. DIED AT MANIPUR ROAD.

Within a few hours (of the attack) almost every house in the centre of Imphal had been abandoned: the Manipuris fled for safety to outlying villages, and almost the only local civilians to be seen were a few unwelcome looters…. Far more serious was the cutting of the supplies of water and electricity, particularly the former. Not that the stirrup- pump band stayed to curb the fires: they too ran away, and the bazaar was gutted. For several days there was no one to bury the corpse of man and beast alike.Most of the policemen failed to report for duty and this led to their suspension(Geoffrey Evans)

Atlast the Japanese Radio claimed that they had bombed Imphal Airfield (none existed at the time). The Germans went one better in their Radio, “Their Japanese allies had bombed Imphal Railway Station”

Bibliography:-

1. Fergal Keane, Road of Bones ( Harper Press, 2010)

2. Frank Owen, Campaign In Burma (Himalayan Books, 1989)

3. Geoffrey Evans & Antony Brett- James, Imphal- A Flower on Lofty Heights ( Macmillan & Co Ltd, 1962)

4. Hiroshi Ichimura, Ki-43 Oscar Aces of World War 2 (Osprey publishing Limited, 2009)