Imphal, October 19: They have seen some of the bloodiest fights during World War II at Imphal against the Japanese soldiers, but today as they turned up at the Imphal War Cemetery to pay homage to their colleagues who passed away in the battle of Imphal there were no traces of any bitterness on their faces.

On the contrary it was with a deep sense of serenity as they stooped down to read the epitaphs of their colleagues engraved on the bronze plates at the War Cemetery.

Amid an emotional scene, 17 war veterans of the Royal British Legion paid floral tributes to the martyrs at the cemetery which is maintained by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission.

The years do not seem to have its taken toll on the veterans as they recollected the pitched battles fought against the Japanese soldiers at Kanglatongbi, Maram, Sugnu, Sinam, Imphal and Pallel.

Oldest member of the team, 94 year old Lt Col Richard McCaig still looks like a pucca military officer as he recounted his experiences in a baritone.

"We kept on fighting against the Japanese troops right from Kohima all the way to Manipur and then to Rangoon in Myanmar, then Burma".

During the war he was a Brigade Major, he recalled and added that he served in India for 10 years and fought many a battle against the Japanese army who had made inroads into Manipur.

Except for a few military installations and some residential areas, Imphal was quiet and the population was scanty then, he said and added that Imphal has today become a beautiful town.

Herbert Brice (85) who was with the then Royal Indian Army Services Corps recounted his fighting days at Sungnu, Kanglatongbi, Lokchao in Manipur and Tamu in Myanmar.

The face to face encounter at Kanglatongbi was one of the bloodiest encounters, he added.

On a wheel chair, 91 years old Mrs Hilda Martin Smith then Military Nursing Officer of Military Hospital recalled that 70 percent of the war heroes died in her presence while she was attending to them.

Mrs Smith is accompanied by her daughter Mrs Melissa Cherry.

Another veteran Roy Rutherford said he participated actively in battles at Tengnoupal, Kasom, Sugnu and at Moreh in Manipur.

Mr Paul Harris, who donned the grand flag is the standard Bearer for the visiting delegation.

Commander of 9 Sector Assam Rifles Brig VK Pillai also paid floral tributes along with the British war veterans at the cemetery.

Troops of 22 Maratha Light Infantry also presented a guard of honour at the occasion.

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