VETERANS of a key Second World War battle gathered in York, to remember their fallen comrades 62 years on.

Survivors of the Battle of Kohima, which took place in 1944, held their annual memorial service at York Minster yesterday, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony in the Minster Gardens.

Veterans and their families also attended a reception at Imphal Barracks in Fulford, where they had the chance to visit the Kohima Museum, which houses photos, letters and other pieces of memorabilia.

The Kohima reunion takes place each year in York to commemorate the battle in north east India which was the turning point in the Burma campaign, when the Allied Forces halted the advance of the Japanese army in Asia.

Earl Mountbatten, who was Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in south-east Asia, described the conflict as "probably one of the greatest battles in history".

Yesterday's Minster service was conducted by the Rev Derek Bailey, Chaplain to York Garrison, while the blessing was given by the Canon Precentor, Jeremy Fletcher.

Kohima veteran, Captain DH Woodcock, formerly of the 16th Field Regiment Royal Artillery, read Pericles's funeral oration and other readings were given by Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Botterill and the Regimental Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer (1) Martin Townley.

Those who fell in the battle were remembered by a minute's silence, and a bugler from the King's Division Waterloo Band sounded the Last Post and Reveille.

After the service, wreaths were laid at the Kohima Memorial by the Army's senior military officer for the North of England and Scotland, Major General Euan Loudon, and by Kohima veteran William Crabb, formerly a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Manchester Regiment.

Mr Crabb said: "A lot of thoughts and memories go through your mind on this day and you have such mixed emotions.

"I was so proud to be laying the wreath today - it is not so much the wreath itself but what it means. It means we remember them. You can't bring them back, but you can love them just as much."

The Battle of Kohima lasted from April to June 1944, and saw the Allied forces overcome treacherous terrain and monsoon rain to defeat the Japanese in hand-to-hand combat.

Around 4,000 Allied soldiers, and 7,000 Japanese died in the battle.

Updated: 09:15 Thursday, April 27, 2006