The Kent Collectables Experience

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 At Kent Collectables, we are a family run business. 

We honour the legacy of Bill Tobin (paternal great-grandfather) who established a Collectables shop on New Kent Road, London, many decades ago. 

As well as my maternal grandfather, George, who fought in Burma and  survived WWII. He fought The Japanese in Burma and was in hand to hand combat at Kohima, and was one of the few West Kents to survive. The soldiers there, including the Ghurkhas, numbered around 1200 and fought a force of over 20000 Japanese with many thousands more on their way. They had to hold Kohima otherwise the Japanese had a straight run into India. With no re-supply of men, food or equipment they repelled attack after attack. Gradually their numbers getting smaller and eventually being pushed back onto the  local 'governors' tennis court. Just in time air drops brought fresh supplies and reinforcements finally made it through the Jungle. The battle of Kohima was described by a government minister when talking about the 'Forgotten army' as being one of the most important battles of the war, if the British troops hadn't held at Kohima, India would have been lost. The Royal West Kents were said to look like living skeletons by an officer with the relieving troops. 

Their battle was harsh, as were all of those who fought. They were all true brave Heroes. 

Kohima – Burma

To be a good soldier I was told to walk tall and be bold. They kitted me out with army gear and Shouted at me as if I could not hear. They issued me with rifle and rounds and kept me within the army bounds.

The training days soon went by; I then wondered why they gave me jungle greens to try. The troopship Moultan stood at bay, to take us all too far Bombay.

One month later we arrived in the heat of the equator. At Bombay, India we did not dally, we went on a train to camp Doulali.

We met a hero named General Wingate known as mad Harry. He told us that he could not wait to engage the Japs before it was too late.

Our training in the heat of day made very strong men swear and sway.

Eventually we left the camp one day and heard the company officer say ‘We are off to the front called Arrakan’.

Looking back that’s where it all began.

We surrounded the Japs in the ‘Admin box’ While Johnny Ghurkha cut off their locks. Soon we had them on the run and chased them from the ‘Arrakan’.

Then another crisis arose again In Northern Burma the Japs had made large gains. The journey to this part of Burma was in an old ‘Dakota’ Where we eventually arrived in the hills of ‘Kohima’ That soon become a bloody arena.

Of all the soldiers that survived, the Royal West Kent’s were down to only a company still alive.

We held at bay three divisions of Japs, with loss of ground and widening gaps.

The weather getting more wild and windier but still we barred their way to India.

The Japs began to realise that they could not take this valuable prize with a British division on its way. They then decided to call it a day.

Now ‘Kohima’ is a war graves commission on the site where we had held such a dangerous position. The outcome of all this tragedy is just a very small place in history.

Sixty years have passed since the end of World War II, but was it worth what we all went through. You see all the fanfare and talk of peace, but just look back it does not cease. As war Lords with their power increase, the countries that have faced defeat and shame have become so powerful and great again.

We gave so much we did not crack, But you wonder ‘was it worth it’ Not a Lot came back!

George R Gagg