What are you reading at the moment?

Yes, I noted inside the cover he wrote several other books on Burma.
It also states, he has a thorough understanding of the Japanese language and culture, he also translated 'Prisoner of the British' a Japanese soldier's experiences in Burma, by Yuji Aida. That would be an interesting find.

cheers......Graham.

 

Lots of gunboat-y goodness.

 

A great read. One of the very first books I read on WW2.

 

This is my current book... although I tend to binge read 2 or 3 books at the same time.

 

I am reading The Path to Whensoever by Jim Craig, it is a biography of an airman who joins the RAF Mountain Rescue Service, the book covers the begining of the rescue service and then his own journey through to becomming a full fledged member of the rescue service.
A very good read so far.

 

Recently finished that one and will be getting Volume 2 in the new year. I am also currently reading his Burma '44 and have also read his Together We Stand (about the Tunisian Campaign) and Italy's Sorrow 1944-45 books. Very prolific author and often seen on history programmes but very readable books.

 

Indeed Ive spoken to James a few times... he is a very nice bloke.

 

It's gone back above Caputo as my No.1 book on the War. Just brilliant.

 

Picked up some journals of the 2nd Gurkha Rifles the other day on eBay. Even though they are fairly new date wise, they are proving to be a great source of info on some of my Chindit 1 soldiers:

 

Do they have anything on 1/2 GR at Cassino (or elsewhere 42-44)?

 

They consist mostly of news events and details about current Regimental doings, but I'll keep an eye out for you.

 

Just been given this one by my new-favourite brother in law...

 

Nothing for you in those editions CF, but I will continue to keep you in mind going forward.

 

Thank you for looking.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Brauns-Battlin-Bastards-Bushmasters-Batallion/dp/1886916101

Braun's Battlin' Bastards: The Bushmasters of Company B 1st Batallion, 158th R.C.T.

The late Capt. Braun was a highly decorated WWII veteran and commanded Company B, 1st Batallion, 158th Regimental Combat Team in the South Pacific. This is the amazing story of Braun's service with America's most ethnically diverse fighting unit in that war, The 158th Regimental Combat Team, The Bushmasters. The Bushmasters went into battle in the steaming jungles of New Guinea as green troops but soon proved their mettle against the formidable Japanese 36th "Tiger" Division. This book shows the battles, and the lighter sides of G.I. life, through the eyes of a C.O. who really cared about his men.

 

I don't look at this thread in order to read Amazon ad copy.

 

Roughing It, by Mark Twain. I've been reading it slowly for a long time, it's so dense and interesting. Now up to about page 350 of 500+.
Nothing to do with WW2, but gives an insight into current American mentality. Their/your history is so different from ours.

 

Eastern front books are going through a bit of renaissance right now as more works by Eastern historians are being published in English (Helion is doing a great job here) and more English speaking historians are accessing former Soviet records. It's a nice corrective to the German centric histories of the past. This book is fortification centred but does a nice job of looking at the Soviet forces as well.

 

"The Black Beret, A real life novel of the Royal Armoured Corps" by Charles Graves.



Tells the story of four recruits to the RAC in '42/3 as they go through training to become officers.

Not bad, quite informative but don't expect to be gripped by a thrilling adventure! The censor seems to have been at it in parts (it was written in 1943), and the regimental and camp names changed. For instance there's a "Coventry Fusiliers" and Bovington becomes Whitehall - although bizarrely one of the characters is called George Bovington!

Not really able to say how accurate it is but would be interested to know what others think

 

I'm re-reading a Factional book myself at the moment. To Blazes With Glory, by Joe Milner. This is an account of the King's Regiment during the second Chindit expedition in 1944. I always enjoy these books which have a strong basis in truth and can sometimes offer up little intrigues or pieces of information, that more historical/formal accounts do not. The key of course, is recognising these gems when they come up.