
Undeterred by Wounds: Naik Gian Singh
Born into a simple village life, Naik Gian Singh VC’s courage would propel him to the heights of military heroism.

Born into a simple village life, Naik Gian Singh VC’s courage would propel him to the heights of military heroism.

In the brutal winter and into the spring of 1944, amongst the windswept peaks of central Italy, a battle unfolded that etched itself into the memory of the Second World War. The Battle of Monte Cassino, also known as the Battle for Rome, raged for four long months, becoming a crucible where the resolve of Allied forces was tested to its very limit. The Allied troops at Monte Cassino comprised soldiers from America, Britain, Canada, France, (pre-partition) India, New Zealand, Poland, Morocco, Algeria and South Africa.

In the colossal tapestry of the Second World War, some battles are remembered more than others. Yet, taking place in the hills and jungles of Northeast India are two often overlooked conflicts that deserve to be better remembered: the Battles of Kohima and Imphal.