Imphal Campaign Foundation WW2 has paid tributes to the war heroes of Second World War who had sacrificed their lives in the Battle of Kanglatongbi today at Kanglatongbi and Imphal War Memorial Cemetery.
Imphal Campaign Foundation WW2 paid the tribute on behalf of Christopher D Johnson and his family, a war historian and also a son of an allied force soldier who fought during World War II at Imphal.
Members of Imphal Campain Foundation WW2 paid floral tributes and placed poppy cross at the memorial statue at Kanglatongbi War Memorial and Imphal War Cemetery.
Battle of Kanglatongbi also known as Battle of Lion Box was fought between the Axis (Japanese) Force and Allied Force.
During the Second World War (1942-1945), when the desperate marauding Japanese forces were trying to open their line of communication to Imphal, a small detachment of the 221 Advance Ordnance Depot put up a stiff resistance stalling the desperate bayonet charges and the advance of Japanese forces till reinforcement arrived and turn the tide against the Japanese at the midnight of April 6, 1944.
The night of 6/7 April 1944 was a curse, the Japanese after occupying the old site, mounted a heavy attack on the Depot. Apart from keeping heavy pressure that night, the enemy made a downhill attack from the hill side where a deep drainage was used as a covered approach to the depot. A very well camouflaged bunker had been sited by the depot on this approach. The Bren Gun Section positioned in this bunker having spotted a section of the enemy within range opened fire. This shook the enemy and forced them to withdraw leaving many dead.
The modest war memorial was constructed in memory of the exemplary courage, bravery and supreme sacrifice made by the ordnance personnel during the battle of Kanglatongbi or Battle of Lion Box.
