An exciting new book has been written by Christopher Jary, describing the crucial contribution of the 2nd Dorsets in the Battle of Kohima.
The book is full of images & illustrations not published previously & describes many of the individuals in the 2nd Dorsets.
Described by historian Rob Lyman as “A marvellous achievement, moving & beautifully written. It’s an important addition to the literature of the campaign.”
Christopher Jary has generously gifted fifty copies to the Kohima Museum for sale. We are very grateful for his support. Buy one next time you visit the Kohima Museum.
Kohima Museum will hold a summer exhibition about the Chindit Special Forces who fought behind enemy lines in Burma.
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.
Supported by the Chindit Society, the exhibition will take place at the Kohima Museum, inside Imphal Barracks in York. It will begin on Sunday June 28 & close on Saturday August 29 2026. From June 28 to 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
Exhibition Opening Event
An Opening Event will begin at 14.00 on Sunday June 28 with a lecture by Lt Col (Retd) Paul Corden, Chindit Society Committee Member & Burma Star Memorial Fund Trustee. He will give an illustrated talk about the Chindits, their origins, operations & significance. He has lectured on this subject at the National Army Museum.
In addition, Jo Cowley will speak about her father Lt Col ‘Scotty’ Scott, who commanded Chindit columns in Operations Longcloth & Thursday.
After these talks, the exhibition will be open until 18.00.
The Chindit Society Historian & Archivist Steve Fogden will be available to answer questions about The Chindits.
Exhibition Closing Event
At 14.00 on Saturday August 29, there will be 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.
After the lecture, the exhibition will be open until 18.00.
The Chindit Society Historian & Archivist Steve Fogden will again be available at this event to answer questions about The Chindits.
Chindits wait to be flown to White City in Operation Thursday
Jerry Bird, a Trustee of the Kohima Museum, will give a free webinar at 8pm on Tuesday April 21st about his Uncle Cyril Bird, who was killed in action at The Battle of Kohima, fighting with the 2nd Dorsets at the key location of the Deputy Commissioner’s bungalow.
Register here to watch the webinar live or retrospectively.
Following Kohima Museum’s exhibition last summer “Victoria Crosses of the Burma Campaign”, Mark Green has published a new book describing the heroic deeds during the Burma Campaign that earned Victoria Crosses. There were 29 awarded in total, 9 to members of the British Army & 20 to members of the Indian Army, including 9 Gurkhas.
2025 was a wonderful year for the Kohima Museum. Visitor numbers doubled. The Museum’s website & social media sites flourished, raising awareness of the Burma Campaign far beyond our shores. The team of volunteers who run the Museum has grown & we have two new trustees. We won our first competitive grant & held our first exhibition. Read all about it here.
