# **The Second Division Kohima Museum and Memorial Trust** 

## **Trustees Annual Report for 2024** 

As 2024 was the 80[th] anniversary of the Battle of Kohima, most of the Museum’s activities during the year were focussed on that.  One of the highlights was a public presentation on the battle given by the deputy curator, which was very well received and assisted significantly in ‘shoehorning’ him into his new role. 

Visitors number have increased over the year 2024 due to a number of factors. 

- Footfall has increased to just over 500 in the year but the significant increase has been the number of electronic visitors to the Social Media platforms and the new, improved website 

- The feature on the website that attracts most attention is the ‘Object of the Month’, whereby an object within the Collection is highlighted and explained on the website. 

## Museum work 

- This is a continual process of improvement and refinement which is enhanced by the new insights and direction gained by the introduction a new Curator giving the displays a sharper focus. 

- With public attention now focusing on the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Kohima in 2024 and the 80[th] Anniversary of VJ next year, the requests to give presentations outside the museum has also increased. 

- Towards the end of the year, work began on the Museum’s plans for the commemoration of the 80[th] Anniversary of VJ Day, with tentative aspirations for a temporary exhibition of some kind to mark the event. 

## Memorial Fund news 

- The Memorials to the regiments and formations involved in the Battle of Kohima in particular and the Burma in general are in a reasonable state of repair and special attention is paid to them by members of the Curatorial who lead Tours comprising descendants of the veterans who fought there out to Kohima 



The overall effect and direction of the Kohima Museum Collection is very positive and progressive as the volunteer staff running the day to day operation of the museum get encouraged by the increased interest in the museum, not only by families of the veterans but by members of the public who become interested and inquisitive due to the slow process of ‘Word of Mouth’ and a more public airing of the detail behind the headline news.