Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second World War Burma operations M.M. group of five awarded to Corporal H. A. Kilpatrick, 149th Regiment (R.A.C.), who was decorated for his gallantry at the relief of Kohima in early May 1944 and, more particularly, for taking out Japanese bunkers in the position known as ‘the D.C’s Bungalow’

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (4697547 Cpl. H. A. Kilpatrick, R.A.C.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, extremely fine (5) £1600-1800

M.M. London Gazette 31 August 1944. The original recommendation states:

‘During the operations on 4 May 1944 in the Kohima area, and in particular with reference to the position known as the D.C’s Bungalow, Corporal Kilpatrick with his tank showed considerable initiative and extreme tenacity of purpose and bravery under heavy fire, sticking to his job of destroying bunkers which were holding up the infantry. He was in action for a considerable time and only withdrew when the flames of the burning building threatened to envelope his tank. I consider his action was an outstanding example of courage and devotion to duty and that by his efforts many casualties to the infantry were saved.’

Harold Anthony Kilpatrick was serving in 149th Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, a component of 50th (Indian) Tank Brigade, at the time of the above cited deeds. The Regiment was formed from the 7th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, in November 1941, and originally went into action on the Manipur Road in April 1944.

The Deputy Commissioner’s bungalow, its tennis court and grounds, which featured heavily in the desperate defence of Kohima ridge in April 1944, yet again witnessed the demise of numerous British, Indian and Japanese troops in May, not least on the 4th, when Kilpatrick’s tank had the dubious distinction of being the first one to reach the feature. Burma Victory, by David Rooney, takes up the story:

‘As usual, the Japanese had sited their bunkers cleverly and had dug them deeply enough to withstand any amount of artillery or mortar fire. Inside the bunkers, every man expected to fight to the death. Brave and vigorous attacks by infantry following closely behind a heavy bombardment were invariably met by withering automatic fire and showers of grenades - as every unit in this grim, prolonged and bloody battle found to their cost. The arrival in Kohima of the first tanks, up the road from Dimapur, was the one factor which slowly swung the battle against the Japanese. While 5 and 6 Brigades were fighting their battles, the Dorsets, deployed around the D.C's bungalow, now had the help of a tank on 4 May [Kilpatrick’s tank]. It soon became clear that only a tank firing directly into a bunker could dislodge the Japanese. The slope up to the bungalow was so steep that the tank had the greatest difficulty in climbing the hill, but, inching forward, it succeeded, and was able to blast the Japanese out of a main bunker; the supporting Dorsets, however, were driven back by fire from supporting bunkers. Both they and the tank had to withdraw, but they felt they had made progress and that the next attack would succeed.’