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Dr Robert Lyman wins Britain's Greatest Battle Debate

23rd April 2013

Earlier this year, the National Army Museum, Chelsea announced a contest to name 'Britain's Greatest Battle', with an exhibition exploring 400 years of British Army history.

A public poll produced a shortlist of 5 battles from a list of 20: Waterloo, Aliwal, D-Day/Normandy, Rorke's Drift and Imphal/Kohima.

The day of debate was held on Saturday, 20 April during which 5 historians each gave a 40-minute presentation making a case for one of the contenders. The contest aimed to gauge the battles in terms of their historical impact and the tactics employed.

Imphal and Kohima were named as the greatest ever battles involving British forces, their case was presented by Dr Robert Lyman, author of Japan's Last Bid to Victory and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

To read more about the Battle of Kohima we recommend two books: Fighting Through to Kohima and Not Ordinary Men.

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