“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)

A Brief Story Of Battle Of Sangshak

** The INA flag which was unofficially hoisted by INA soldiers during march 1944 near point 7378

Many writer and war veterans like Harry Seaman and Lt General W J Slim are of the view that the battle of Sangshak was the reason for the victory of allied over the Japanese in the Imphal campaign and the battle of Kohima. The battle of Sangshak is considered by the allied veterans as the forgotten battle of the forgotten army.The importance of battle of Sangshak was only known to the soldiers of the CBI theater of war.

Few days after the attack on pearl harbor, the Japanese attacked burma during early 1942. They reached up the Burmese river valley and into the northern mountains

The Japanese General Mataguchi launched operation U-Go across the river Chindwin . The objective of U Go was to strike across the burma border with all possible speed and seize the Imphal plain. Mataguchi incorporated the Indian National Army into his plan.

Apart from usual sources of information, such as air reconnaissance and army patrols, there were two intelligence-gathering systems specific to this area; V-Force and Z-Force. Lieutenant colonel Dymoke Murray, an officer of the 4th Gurkhas was the in- charge of the V- force of Imphal operation with its headquater at Angoching , a borderline mountain between Manipur and Burma. These intelligence agencies were the one who provided priceless information about Japanese movements.



Sangshak , the name of a large naga village , 40 miles north east of Imphal and 60 miles south east of kohima. On a hill top at 6000 feet with cool, clean air and magnificient views in all directions with alpine flowers growing in profusion and orchid twining in the trees, it presented in mid March 1944, a delightful aspect.




19th March 1944, Battle at point 7378:-

Point 7378 stands on the eastern site of the khangkhui Village. The road leading to the village is not motorable and the locals have cut a road leading to the foot of point 7378 .
Lt Col Paul Hopkinson’s 152 (Indian) Para Battalion moved up to the Mahrattas’ HQ at the so-called ‘Kidney Camp few km eat of Sangshak. From ‘Kidney camp’ he sent two companies out to relieve Mahratta companies on their hilltop camps – Major Webb’s ‘B’ Company was dispatched to Point 7386 (‘Badger’) and Point 7000 (‘Gammon’),while Major Fuller’s ‘C’ Company was sent to the otherwise un-named Point 7378. The two companies discovered that the positions recently vacated by the Marathas were only half-prepared, so the Paras soon found themselves hard at work, improving their trenches, dugouts and firing positions.

On March 18, local Nagas reported the presence of Jap troops in Pushing At dawn next day Major Fuller sent a patrol to investigate. 3 miles from point 7378 they spotted a column of about 200 Japs approaching. They proved to be the leading elements of a complete battalion which advanced on C company's position, quickly surrounded it and from 9.30 made a series of ferocious attacks all day. Attempts were made to send reinforcements to the aid of C Company but these were blocked by the enemy. Just before dawn on the 20th Fuller put in a counter attack and called over the wireless for help. His men were exhausted. the fighting had gone on ceaselessly for a whole day and through the night. The enemy were vastly superior in numbers and could use fresh troops for each assault. By 6 o'clock Fuller and his second-in-command, Capt. Roseby had been wounded. An hour later they both died of their wounds. Lt. Easton was now in command. At 10 0'clock he reported that the company was being overwhelmed, with most of his men killed or wounded, .Only Easton himself and a small party of wounded escaped through the jungle.

The Japanese 3rd battalion of 58th infantry regiment under the command of major Shimano attacked the C company of 152 para initially with 300 soldiers.
According to Colonel Utata Fukunaga, commander of the imperial Japanese 58th Infantry Regiment, the 3rd battalion suffered 160 casualties in action with one company commander and two platoon commanders killed and another four officers wounded.

Sangshak was assigned to 15th Division of Japanese army, but Miyazaki, the commander of 31st division knew that the 15th division was lagging behind his force . he decided to clear the Indian Army from Sangshak to prevent them interfering with his advance.
22nd March 1944; wednesday:-
Miyazaki was prepared to wait for the regimental guns and some attached mountain guns to arrive to support the attack. He had engaged the 2nd battalion of the Japanese 58th regiment in encircling 50th Brigade on Sangshak. But a company commander captain Nagaya hastily attacked the force at Sangshak without artillery support on the night of 22nd march. The Japanese Suffered heavily from the British artillery and mortar fire. Within a short span of 10- 15 minutes the 2nd battalion of 58th regiment lost 90 men, including its commander Another 20 japanese were found dead around the football ground before the dawn. In the mean time a company of Japanese 15th division let by Major Honda also reached the eastern part of Sangshak. They too were soon beaten off, after a clash with the Marathas.’s mortar fire and machine gun fire concentrate on his troops.

23rd March 1944, Thursday :-
On 23rd march Brigadier Hope Thomson commanding 50th Parachute Brigade was able to concentrate his battalions and all important mountain guns and mortar and by early morning. The Signallers of 50 Brigade were able to send message to Divisional Head quarter at Imphal. In the message , the bearings of an area available for air drop were given. And groups of three persons were send out in all direction to locate the Japanese dispositions. The airdrop was schedule at 3 pm. The air drop that day was a disaster. All the supply fell outside the perimeter and Japanese got benefit from it. . Fortunately a battery of mountain gunners had been attached to 50 Brigade and they had a field day shelling the Japs. Their C.O. Major Lock said it was the best day's shoot of his life. It was to be almost his last as he was killed a few days later. His senior Indian officers were in tears as they told how their C.O. had died leading a bayonet charge to defend his guns . In the late afternoon, the three men patrol groups brought the news that the Japanese has infiltrate the southern perimeter and the Indian Army garrison at Sangshak was totally encircled by the invading Japanese force. And by that time the artillery of Japanese have arrived and the shelling started that evening. That night the Japanese used Suicide missions to raid the British. Six Japanese with one officer would rush at the perimeter, hurling grenades and firing machine guns but they were not able to penetrate the perimeter as the defending troops held their ground.. The suicide raids and the shelling made it impossible for the defenders to relax the whole night. A Japanese officer was killed that night inside the British perimeter and from him a map showing routes and objective of the 15th and the 31st Divisions was found the next morning. Copies of these plans were made and carried back to Imphal through the Japanese positions by two officers using different routes.

24th March 1944, Friday :-
The shortage of water was felt extremely on 24th as water collecting party were sniped at and ambushed whenever they ventured out to the three seepage springs. The condition of the garission was such that any shell bursting there could hardly fail to find a target. It definitely hit either mule or men. The western end was filled with the smell of the death. Mr Ranga Raj , the first Indian who make a parachute jump was also there at Sangshak as medical officer to 152 battalion.. From the Midday of 24th the attack of the Japanese became (more deleted) stronger with the joining of 3rd battalion of 58th infantry regiment supplemented by its mountain and field guns. The Japanese fired four field guns from Lungshang, about a mile north east of Sangshak. General Miyazaki was there with the field guns.

On the evening the Japanese make an attack with a company strength but the troops were withdraw after clashing with the defending forces. And during the night, the two commander of 2nd and 3rd battalion make a plan of attack the next morning and the attack would be led by Lieutenant Nakamura.

25th March 1944 , saturday:-
The planned assault on 25th start at 4 am, aimed at the church and the north west corner of the perimeter. The Japanese had a savage hand to hand fighting that morning with the allied force. Those who had entered the Sangshak perimeter were annihilated and the remainder withdrew with heavy loses including Lieutenant Nakamura killed. From the two battalion, six of the eight company commander were out of action, either death or wounded and at least 300 men were down in each battalion. On the Indian site, the 152nd para’s two company now comprised a handful of men; the rest were either death or wounded. Even with the support of the Kali Bahadurs, the defence along the north western perimeter was dangerously thin.

Late in the evening, the remaining men of the 152nd para were withdrawn to new positions behind the church., leaving a section of eight men inside the church .

26th March 1944, Sunday:-
The Japanese had seen the withdrawl of the 152nd para from the church. By 3 am the Japanese make an attack to occupy the church. By daylight, the Japanese were able to capture 152nd para’s former positions to right and left of the church. The Indian mountain and mortars were just few yards behind them.

Hopkinson, Commanding 152 battalion, was wounded that day in the morning taking shrapnel from an exploding grenade in his leg and foot, and most of the men with him were either killed or seriously injured. That day a composite body of 120 strong made up of men from 6 and 11 companies of the 2nd and 3rd battalion and led by Captain Nishida was taking a heavy toll of casualties. The Japanese overran No1 gun of mountain battery, a shell explode shortly at second gun pit .

It was time, the allied troops must drive the Japanese back beyond the church, otherwise they will lose the plateau and the battle. The task was given to Major Jimmy Roberts of the Gurkhas 153 para. Roberts moved two platoons to the right and left of the Japanese forward troops to provide a covering fire, while the third platoon advanced in the centre, crawling, each men with as many hand grenades as they could carry. The mortars maintained a steady fire to prevent the Japanese from resupplying and reinforcing. By mid afternoon the gurkhas were able to capture their lost area from the Japanese with heavy loses of life on both side.

By late afternoon, a radio message arrived from imphal, which read “fight your way out, go south and then west, air and transport on the look out for you, Good Luck, our thoughts are with you”