The withdrawl continued from Ye-u to Kaduma, to Pyingaing and onto Thetkegyin, which was reached on May 9th. Finally the 28th reached Imphal and then moved onto Kohima, arriving on June 1st. Due to the lack of supplies an order was given to the Burma Army that the men could grow beards. When General Alexander inspected the 28th he commented that he had excused the men from shaving yet the battalion was properly shaved. But not so the rearguard, who marched past in their proper companies, their ranks perfectly dressed, the men clean and fully equipped.
Tradition is indeed a potent thing.
The 1st Battalion was re-equipped and posted to the 17th Indian Division. April to November 1945 they were in a jungle camp at Ranchi. However one platoon was attached to the 2nd Dorsets and fought through the final Burma campaign.