Defending Kohima: the sacrifice of Captain John Young, Kharasom 1944

Defending Kohima - the sacrifice of Captain John Young at Kharasom 1944

Following on from our recent talk "Valour at Kohima" this event is another story of the utmost bravery, though it is less well-known than the history of the VCs.   

Our trustee, historian Dr Robert Lyman in conversation with Roy McCallum.  They discuss the bravery of Captain John M Young of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders attached The Assam Regiment who, age 24, in World War II at Kharasom near Kohima, gave his life in a heroic stand to protect India from invasion having first saved the lives of the brave men he led.

Our guest speaker Roy is a businessman based in Glasgow, Scotland. Originally from Ayrshire, he came across the story of Captain John "Jock" Young when researching his own father's military service in Burma during World War II.  Jock Young's heroic action was, until recently, one of the forgotten stories of the Battle of Kohima. 

Roy brought this unrecognised story of bravery to the attention of the local council and was instrumental in ensuring that Captain Young was suitably remembered and honoured by the city of Glasgow. In 2011 a granite plaque was unveiled outside Captain Young's former home in Glasgow's West End. 

For those who would like to see the unveiling of the plaque which took place in 2012 - here it is on YouTube. With many thanks to John Young's family for reminding us of this recording: