Supported by the Chindit Society, Kohima Museum will hold a summer exhibition about the Chindits, beginning on Sunday June 28 & closing on Saturday August 29 2026. Between June 28 & August 29, the exhibition will be open to the public every Thursday from 10.00 until 13.15. Groups can visit outside these times by prior arrangement through kohimamuseum@yahoo.co.uk
Most exhibits will be on loan from private collections belonging to the families of Chindits. This is a unique opportunity to see artefacts never previously displayed in public.
Kohima Museum is located inside Imphal Barracks in York. Photo ID is required to gain entry. At busy times, visitors may need to queue to enter the Barracks.
Exhibition Opening Event
The Exhibition will open from 14.00 to 18.00 on Sunday June 28. The Chindit Society Historian & Archivist Steve Fogden will be available to answer questions about The Chindits. There will be a lecture by Lt Col (Retd) Paul Corden, former Executive Officer, Headquarters 77th Brigade, Chindit Society Committee Member & Burma Star Memorial Fund Trustee. He will give an illustrated talk about the Chindits, their origins, operations & significance. Paul has lectured on this subject at the National Army Museum.
In addition, Jo Cowley will speak at the Opening about her father Lt Col ‘Scotty’ Scott, who commanded Chindit columns in Operations Longcloth & Thursday.
Exhibition Closing Event
To mark the end of the Chindit Exhibition, Kohima Museum will be open from 14.00 to 18.00 on Saturday August 29. This will include an illustrated lecture by Daniel Berke about his Chindit father Frank Berkovitch, who was Orde Wingate’s batman. Captured during Operation Longcloth, Frank Berkovitch endured over two years of brutality, starvation, disease & slavery as a prisoner of war.
Daniel has written a moving book about his father’s experiences & lectured at the National Army Museum. The Chindit Society Historian & Archivist Steve Fogden will again be available at this event to answer questions about The Chindits.
