The Battle of Kohima, fought in 1944, was a crucial turning point in the Burma campaign of World War II. Japanese forces attempted to capture Kohima, a strategic hill station, to cut off supply lines to British and Indian troops fighting further south. The battle was fierce and protracted, with heavy casualties on both sides. The British and Indian forces ultimately prevailed, halting the Japanese advance and pushing them back. The Kohima War Cemetery was established on the battlefield itself, on the slopes of Garrison Hill, where some of the most intense fighting took place. The graves are primarily those of soldiers from the 2nd British Division, as well as Indian and Gurkha regiments. The cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.