Deep in the mist-shrouded mountains of northeast India, where jungle trails weave through remote tribal lands, the 23rd British Infantry Brigade fought one of World War Two’s least-known campaigns. Part of Wingate’s legendary Chindit Force, these men waged a shadow war in the Naga Hills in 1944 earning the name “The Forgotten Chindits.”

Diverted from Operation Thursday to defend the flank of Kohima during Japan’s great offensive, the brigade adapted brilliantly to the mountains’ brutal terrain. Cut off by weather and jungle, they fought with endurance and ingenuity, supplied only by air. Working with the fierce and resourceful Naga tribes whose knowledge of the hills proved decisive—they disrupted Japanese supply lines and communications, striking swiftly before vanishing into the mist.

From April to August 1944, their operations helped blunt Japan’s advance on Kohima and Imphal, shaping the outcome of the Burma campaign. Yet their courage and adaptability remain overshadowed by better-known battles—earning them the title “The Forgotten Brigade of the Forgotten Army.”

In November 2026, SOE Expeditions will retrace the 23rd Brigade’s extraordinary route through the Naga Hills. Led by historian Dr Robert Lyman MBE FRHistS, participants will follow authentic wartime trails, visit key operational sites, and engage with the descendants of the Naga allies who once guided the Chindits through these mountains.

This is more than an expedition it’s a journey into history, courage, and endurance. Walk where heroes once trod, and discover the spirit of the Forgotten Chindits.