Ukhrul: As many as 17 British nationals are visiting the historic border village Jessami in Ukhrul district on a two-day tour starting from February 10-11. The visit is part of the ongoing initiative of Jessami Village Council (JVC) to promote battlefield tourism in the village where the Battle of Jessami is recorded from 28th March to 1st April 1944.
On 28 March 1944, the first battle with the Japanese on Indian soil was fought in Jessami. On 28 March 1944, the first battalion of the Assam Regiment fought a fierce battle with the Japanese 31 Division. The battle led to the strengthening of defence at Kohima, which played a role in turning the tide of World War II in favour of the Allied Forces.
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A border village in Ukhrul district, Manipur, Jessami is located approximately 116 km north of Ukhrul district headquarters and 121 km east of Kohima in Nagaland along Indo-Myanmar border.
As informed by Dr Weyepe N Mekrisuh, a native of Jessami said the visit is part of the upcoming ‘39 Hours Walk’ slated from April 1-4, 2024 where over 20 British nationalities will recreate the walk that ensued 80 years ago.
Sharing an insight of the mission, Charlotte Carty, a trustee of Kohima Educational Trust (KET) said “I became particularly interested in the withdrawal back to Kohima of the Assam Regiment from the village of Jessami, where fierce preliminary contact had been made with the invading Japanese. This withdrawal, on foot, was over a distance of some 29 miles as the crow flies, and some 60 miles along the paths and tracks, across sub-Himalayan terrain, in frequent contact with the Japanese. The Regiment achieved this in 39 hours, with some 260 men making it through to bolster the thin defences at Kohima. They started at midnight on 1st April and arrived at Kohima 39 hours later at 3 pm on 3rd April 1944.”
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Charlotte Carty is the granddaughter of Lt Col William Felix (‘Bruno’) Brown, who was the Commanding Officer of the First Assam Regiment at the time of the Battle of Kohima in 1944.
“As part of the 80th anniversary of the battle in 2024, I am seeking to recreate this walk to highlight the achievements of all of the forces who fought at Kohima, and to remember the local Naga people who were so vital in the campaign and in particular the fighting withdrawal of the Assam Regiment back to Jessami,” Charlotte further stated at KET website.
According to Dr Mekrisuh, during a two-day stay, the foreign tourists will tour the village and visit the Jessami War Memorial, Jessami Battle site and also witness remnants of the dug-out trench, foxholes and old British road.
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The visiting tourists will also learn a local narrative of the battlefield to unlock new perspectives. War artefacts will also be showcased to the visiting international tourists, he informed.
The itinerary of the tour is planned by Jessami Kaleidoscopic Tourism & Wildlife Conservation Board in collaboration with proprietor, Battle of Imphal Tour and Sampan Travel.
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