Battle of Imphal landmark discovered
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 21 2013: The 2nd World War- Imphal Campaign Foundation on Saturday discovered Runaway Hill, an important feature of the Battle of Imphal of World War II.

It was an unnamed feature prior to April 6, 1944 .

It was a landmark achievement of the team as the hill was discovered for the first time with the aid of detailed war diary of 3rd Battalion, 9 Jat Regiment and war map, claimed a press statement issued by the 2nd World War- Imphal Campaign Foundation.

This important peak stands at an altitude of 3124 ft above sea level.

It stands on the northern side of the road leading to Sagolmang from Yumnam Khunou.

From the battle field site of Nungshigum, it is located at 335 degree at an aerial distance of 3.5 km.

On April 6, 1944, the company commander, Major W.D Ritchie, MC ordered Jemadar Abdul Hafiz of 3rd Battalion, 9 Jat Regiment to attack the enemy with two sections of his platoon at 9.30 am.

After softening the Japanese position by the artillery, Abdul Hafiz led the attack on the steep crest.

He so inspired his men from the start and the attack proceeded with great dash.

newly discovered battle site

Few yards from the crest, the Japanese opened fire with machine gun and grenades.

In spite of being wounded, he immediately ordered an assault personally leading with the mohamadan battle cry.

On reaching the crest, he was wounded on the leg but seeing a machine gun firing from the flank he immediately went towards it and seizing the barrel pulled it upwards while another man killed the gunner.

He then took a bren gun from a wounded man and advanced firing and killing several Japanese soldiers.

So fierce was the attack that the enemy who were still in considerable numbers on the position ran down the opposite slope of the hill.

Regardless of the machine gun fire from another feature a few hundred yards away he pursued the enemy.

He was badly wounded in the chest again from the machine gun fire and collapsed holding the bren gun still ordering his soldiers to reorganise while he gave covering fire.

He died shortly after.

For this act of raw courage he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the most coveted award of the British Army.

He was the first Indian Muslim to get a Victoria Cross and he is also the first to get it in Indian soil.

During this exploration, the team with the help of metal detector came across many battle relics which include rare spent catridges of 6.5X50 mm Arisaka rounds, brass belt buckles, watch strap buckles of Japanese origin, 6 rounds of .45 thompson submachine gun and various bomb splinters.

Earlier, the team has explored many battlefields such as Sangshak, which witnessed the first ever action fought on Indian soil between combined force of 15th Jap Imperial army and Indian National Army with the Allied force, Nungshigum fondly remembered for the daring courage of the tank commaders of 3rd Carribiniers, hard fought battle at peak Isaac during the action for Kanglatongbi depot, notorious Pt 5846 at Laimaton Hill which witnessed see-saw action at Old Silchar track, Torbung ever remembered for the timely pincer action from 43rd Infantry brigade in opening Japanese road block at Milestone 34 during Tiddim retreat and other battlefield sites.

The 2nd world war- Imphal Campaign Foundation is ready to open a museum "Imphal War Museum" in which the relics they collected from different battlefields and different parts of Manipur would be displayed.

Notably the twin Second World War clashes of Imphal and Kohima have been named as the greatest ever battle involving British forces by the National Army Museum, London.

The 2nd World War- Imphal Campaign Foundation is planning to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Imphal form March-July, 2014, it added.