War  |  Memory  |  Gratitude

The Treasures of the Kohima Museum

The Treasures of the Kohima Museum

 

The Kohima Educational Trust is delighted to welcome guest speaker Dr Bob White, soon to be Curator of the Kohima Museum in York. Bob has a lifelong interest in military history and is delighted to be the curator-in-waiting of the Kohima Museum. Bob’s father was in the 25th Dragoons and was wounded at the Battle of the Admin Box, described by Slim as “the turning point in the Burma Campaign”.   

The Kohima Museum, located at Imphal Barracks in York, commemorates the Burma Campaign, with particular focus on the Battle of Kohima. Initially, the museum concentrated on the British 2nd Infantry Division and its part in the battle of Kohima, but more recently the scope of the museum was broadened to try to encompass all of the Burma Campaign during the Second World War.
 
Contained within its walls is the most fascinating collection of artefacts, maps, paintings, weapons, badges, diaries and photographs. Most of the exhibits were donated by Kohima veterans and their families, including trophies from the Japanese forces who took part in the fighting.  The collection tells a tale of endurance and heroism in the most challenging of environments.
 
In this webinar, Bob presents some of the Museum's most interesting exhibits. Please join us to learn about some treasured items from the Museum's collection. 
 
The recording is now available to view below:

 

Speakers: 

 

Dr Bob White - soon to be Curator of the Kohima Museum Bob White was educated at the University of Oxford. For 40 years he worked in biotechnology & cancer research, culminating as Chair of Biochemistry at the University of York. He has enjoyed both teaching and research.

Outside his professional career, Bob has a lifelong interest in military history and is delighted to become curator of the Kohima Museum in York. Bob’s father was in the 25th Dragoons & was wounded at the Battle of Admin Box, described by Slim as “the turning point in the Burma Campaign”.   

 

Sylvia May - CEO of The Kohima Educational Trust Sylvia May was born in New Jersey, USA in 1957. Her parents moved to England in 1963. Educated at High Wycombe School for Girls, she decided to pursue a career in the world of books. Sylvia worked for HarperCollins for 37 years, the last eleven of which she headed up their UK-based International Sales team. Sylvia May is the daughter of the late Gordon Graham, Founder and President of the Kohima Educational Trust. She is proud that her father has inspired many people to share his vision to commemorate those who fought and died in Kohima, and the wonderful Naga people who have done so much for the British in the past. She first visited India in 1994 with her husband Robert, and has returned on numerous occasions, staying in Kohima several times. In 2000, they followed the WWII route of the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, her father’s regiment. The regiment’s first main engagement in this theatre of war was at Zubza shortly before the Battle of Kohima.

Read more

Kohima Service York 2025
This year's event will be on Thursday 26th June 2025
The Kohima Museum
Located at Imphal Barracks, York
The Kohima Museum Regimental Collection Digital Archive

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