Kohima Museum - York

Kohima Museum’s Summer Exhibition ‘Victoria Crosses of the Burma Campaign’ opened on June 26th. It tells the stories of twenty VCs won during the Burma Campaign. Each story is described by the original citation in the London Gazette & also in cartoon form, as depicted in the Victor, a weekly comic published from 1961 until 1992. The comics were chosen to present the stories in a way that is more accessible to children & people for whom English is not their native language.

The exhibition also displays the VC won at Kohima by Captain John Randle, on loan from Captain Randle’s son.

In addition, there are Captain Randle’s Royal Norfolk cap badge, crossed keys 2 Division insignia & a large flag that he captured from the anti-British Indian National Army. These artefacts have been donated to Kohima Museum by Captain Randle’s son, for which we are extremely grateful.

The flag required extensive renovation, which was funded by a grant to the museum from Arts Council England, awarded by Museum Development North.

The large number of visitors on June 26th included many relatives of Kohima veterans, as well as Mr Masaki Ikegami, Deputy Head of Mission at the Japanese Embassy.

The curatorial staff are delighted with the visitors’ numbers & enthusiasm.

We are delighted to announce that Museum Development North has awarded a £20,000 competitive grant to fund a joint application from the Kohima Museum in York & the Bankfield Museum in Halifax with the title “VJ Day: 80th Anniversary & Beyond”.

Bankfield Museum houses the Museum of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. The 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment were trained as Chindits & took part in long range penetration operations during the Battles of Imphal & Kohima.

The joint grant will fund a range of exciting activities in York & Halifax to mark VJ80. Highlights of these are:

1. Kohima Museum summer exhibition: “Victoria Crosses of the Burma Campaign”.  June 26-Sept 5.

2. Visit to Kohima Museum of group from Japan.  August 14.

3. Kohima Museum VJ80 stand at York Army Museum.  August 15.

4. 1940s Day Community Event at Bankfield Museum, with Kohima Museum VJ80 stand.

5. Reciprocal visits of community groups from York & Halifax to attend events at Bankfield & Kohima Museums.

6. Joint development of WW2 workshop & discussion group for schools, to be delivered in autumn 2025.

7. Planting at York St John University of a cherry tree provided by the Japanese Embassy, as a symbol of reconciliation & friendship between Britain & Japan. November 2025.

This VJ Day commemoration project is supported using public funding by UK Government through Arts Council England. 

A Thousand Places Left Behind: An American Soldier’s Experience in Burma 

Webinar: Thursday 15th May at 8pm

Find out more & register by clicking here

The Kohima Educational Trust is delighted to announce a webinar by Elizabeth Lockhart-Mure, author of ‘Front Line and Fortitude’ – the story of the Women’s Auxiliary Service (Burma), a small contingent of brave women who worked with the men of the 14th Army.

The Women’s Auxiliary Service (Burma), known as ‘The Wasbies’, were a small contingent of women who ran a canteen service for the men of the 14th Army during the Burma Campaign of WW2.

They were formed in January 1942 to undertake cipher duties for the Army in Burma, but upon the fall of Rangoon, they transferred to India, where they set up a canteen service, operating both static and mobile facilities for the men of the South East Asia Campaign.

Their canteens could be found at staging points, air strips, sea ports and railheads, as well as deep in remote mountainous jungle and on hot, dusty plains.

When operating with forward divisions, they were often within earshot of gunfire and could feel the pounding of the big guns. They toiled in steaming heat and dust, in monsoon rain and mud, living in mosquito-ridden camps amongst the men themselves, with little regard to their obvious discomfort.

Where the troops went, the Wasbies went too. They were a huge morale boost to the battle-weary men of 14th Army.

To join this online talk on Thursday 17th April at 8pm, please follow this link.

A webinar by Dr Nigel Warwick will take place at 8pm on Thursday March 20th describing the RAF Regiment in Burma. It can be watched free of charge live or in retrospect at the website of the Kohima Educational Trust through this link.

A new page has been added to this website describing the heroic stand of 5oth Indian Parachute Brigade at the Battle of Sangshak.

Over fifty beautiful water colours painted by Driver George Allen of the Royal Signals have been generously gifted to the Kohima Museum by his grandaughter Pam Walker. They illustrate some of the scenes he witnessed when stationed in Burma & India in 1944 & 1945. In addition, she donated his diaries & some pen & ink drawings, as well as a charming school project by her own grandaughter about Driver Allen’s wartime experiences. The Museum is delighted & grateful to receive these gifts, some of which will go on display.

A webinar by curator Bob White about the Kohima Museum collection can be watched by clicking here.