The Forgotten 14th - still forgotten 70 years on
Posted: 01 May 2014, 22:43
It's not often that the British Legion annoy me but just yesterday I got an envelope looking for donations and offering to drop off a memorial card on the beach at the anniversary of D-Day.
While the anniversary of D-Day is still a month away, and an Uncle went ashore with some of the first tanks, we are two months into the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal, and although it went on until July '44 I would bet that it will go unmentioned throughout the period.
Back then the European Front was more immediate in affecting Britain, but in our modern connected world it should not be beyond the wit of the Legion to recognize the sacrifices of Bill Slim's 14th Army.
I don't suppose my father and his companions in 23 Ind Div would have been surprised.
I did find one reference online to a memorial event in Imphal; the only foreign attendee was.................the Japanese Ambassador.
While the anniversary of D-Day is still a month away, and an Uncle went ashore with some of the first tanks, we are two months into the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal, and although it went on until July '44 I would bet that it will go unmentioned throughout the period.
Back then the European Front was more immediate in affecting Britain, but in our modern connected world it should not be beyond the wit of the Legion to recognize the sacrifices of Bill Slim's 14th Army.
I don't suppose my father and his companions in 23 Ind Div would have been surprised.
I did find one reference online to a memorial event in Imphal; the only foreign attendee was.................the Japanese Ambassador.