Although I have read Gordon Graham's account on Grover before, I di enjoy reading it again here. When one reads and studies the many individual actions on the different stages of the Battle for Kohima, there is a feeling that perhaps (from nearly 80 years on AND from my chair), that perhaps Grover could have moved quicker but was he perhaps more careful of the lives in his hands. The late Reverend Bill Davidson (a capt in 100th AA Regt RA at Kohima), Said that Grover generally called for a Padre to pray with him before he committed his men to battle..
Fabulous Bob. The issue of getting 2 Div from Dimapur to Kohima seems to me to be one of deciding whether to wait in Dimapur until the entire division was assembled, or sending them up to Kohima piecemeal. It was a conundrum for Grover, who didn't know the situation well, or the terrain, and thought he'd be fighting a divisional battle. In fact, he ended up fighting 3 separate brigade battles at Kohima. In this context, it would have made sense to move a brigade up to Kohima quickly. That said, the arrival of the division with all its ammunition and support was a mess: it was done remarkably quickly, but needed sorting out once in Dimapur. The logistics of the 2 Div move from Poona to Dimapur requires a study in its own right, as it will then illuminate Grover's decision.
Thank you I appreciate your insight. I found out that the officer in the tin hat,standing in front of Jemadar Karnial Singh's Stuart tank at 108 milestone is General John Grover 2nd Division!
It’s interesting that the bark, bite and chaffing of a senior Officer can become admired, no loved, by his subordinates. How is it achieved, after all, do we not all go through the same battle schools, training regimens, yet some have “it” and some do not. A mighty observation of a Senior Officer Dr Robert, if only he had left a memoir. Have you? Have I!
Although I have read Gordon Graham's account on Grover before, I di enjoy reading it again here. When one reads and studies the many individual actions on the different stages of the Battle for Kohima, there is a feeling that perhaps (from nearly 80 years on AND from my chair), that perhaps Grover could have moved quicker but was he perhaps more careful of the lives in his hands. The late Reverend Bill Davidson (a capt in 100th AA Regt RA at Kohima), Said that Grover generally called for a Padre to pray with him before he committed his men to battle..
Fabulous Bob. The issue of getting 2 Div from Dimapur to Kohima seems to me to be one of deciding whether to wait in Dimapur until the entire division was assembled, or sending them up to Kohima piecemeal. It was a conundrum for Grover, who didn't know the situation well, or the terrain, and thought he'd be fighting a divisional battle. In fact, he ended up fighting 3 separate brigade battles at Kohima. In this context, it would have made sense to move a brigade up to Kohima quickly. That said, the arrival of the division with all its ammunition and support was a mess: it was done remarkably quickly, but needed sorting out once in Dimapur. The logistics of the 2 Div move from Poona to Dimapur requires a study in its own right, as it will then illuminate Grover's decision.
Thank you I appreciate your insight. I found out that the officer in the tin hat,standing in front of Jemadar Karnial Singh's Stuart tank at 108 milestone is General John Grover 2nd Division!
Yes!
It’s interesting that the bark, bite and chaffing of a senior Officer can become admired, no loved, by his subordinates. How is it achieved, after all, do we not all go through the same battle schools, training regimens, yet some have “it” and some do not. A mighty observation of a Senior Officer Dr Robert, if only he had left a memoir. Have you? Have I!
An intriguing what if.