In a remarkable tribute to the heroes of World War II, Charlotte Carty from Milborne Port, United Kingdom, completed a 39-hour endurance trek from Jessami to Kohima, retracing the wartime route taken by soldiers during the 1944 Battle of Kohima. The journey was undertaken to honour her grandfather, Lt. Col. William Felix “Bruno” Brown, and the countless others who fought in one of the most decisive battles of the war.
Carty and her team reached the Kohima War Cemetery on April 3, marking the 81st anniversary of the historic battle. At a commemorative event held at the site, Zabu Rutsa, President of the Kohima Village Youth Organization, lauded the effort. “Kohima was reduced to ashes, countless lives were lost, and history was forever changed,” he said, while acknowledging the critical role played by the Naga people during the conflict.
As a trustee of the Kohima Educational Trust, Carty emphasized the symbolic significance of the trek. “This journey is not just a tribute to the soldiers, but also to the local Naga people who played a crucial role in the campaign,” she said, drawing attention to the Assam Regiment’s strategic withdrawal to Jessami, which helped delay the Japanese advance.
