We came to fight, now we come for Peace and Love

[Guest guest]

War to peace: WW II veterans revisit battleground

"We came here six decades ago to fight the Japanese forces. Today,

we are here again on a different mission - to spread the message of

love, peace and universal brotherhood," Robertson said in a voice

choked with emotion.

 

Syed Zarir Hussain (IANS)

Imphal, April 12, 2005

>From a ferocious fighter to a messenger of peace and love, life for

World War II veteran John Robertson has turned full circle.

 

Robertson, 83, was a young British soldier deployed in India's

northeastern state of Manipur to ward off advancing Japanese forces

in 1944. He was lucky to have survived one of the fiercely fought

battles - although many of his colleagues perished in the war and

were laid to rest in the hills and valleys of Manipur and adjoining

Nagaland state.

 

Now, 61 years after the bitter battle, Robertson and 30 other British

war heroes are on a trip down memory lane to this action filled

region to pay homage to their lost comrades.

 

"We came here six decades ago to fight the Japanese forces. Today, we

are here again on a different mission - to spread the message of

love, peace and universal brotherhood," Robertson said in a voice

choked with emotion.

 

The visiting British team held a special memorial service at the War

Cemetery in Manipur's capital Imphal on Sunday. It was a tearful

ceremony for the veterans, including three nurses, who were part of

the British army fighting the Japanese from foxholes in Manipur.

 

"War is not a solution. All conflicts need to be resolved through

mutual understanding and dialogue," said another war hero.

 

Over the weekend, the team also visited the War Memorial in

Nagaland's capital Kohima, where many British soldiers were laid to

rest during the battle.

 

"I must say the local people of Manipur and Nagaland were a great

source of support and inspiration for us. They had helped us a lot in

the war," Robertson said.

 

Despite the Allied forces suffering heavy casualties, they managed to

beat back the Japanese soldiers.

 

The British and the Indian Army Cemeteries commemorating those who

died in the World War II in Nagaland and Manipur are well maintained

with little stone markers and bronze plaques recording their anguish

and sacrifice.

 

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains these graves.

 

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