ABDA-CBI-SEAC. Book thread.

Discussion in 'Books, Films, TV, Radio' started by wtid45, Nov 3, 2010.

  1. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    From the POW side of things:

    'Surviving the Sword', by Brian MacArthur. This is a very good general overview of the POW experience. It covers all aspects of being a prisoner in a Japanese internment camp, over all areas, from Burma all the way to Japan itself.

    'Knights of Bushido', Lord Russell of Liverpool. A book that holds no punches in its description of the War Criminal trials held after the war. Harrowing reading, but led me to investigate the psyche of the Japanese soldier, from which I learnt a lot.
     

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  2. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    I started my interest in Burma and the SE Asia theatre, as most of you will know, because my Grandfather Pte. Arthur Leslie Howney, lost his life in the campaign, serving as a guinea-pig Chindit in 1943.

    So it will come as no surprise to you all that my first book purchase was 'Beyond the Chindwin', the account of column 5's exploits that year and written by his C/O, Bernard Fergusson.

    When I first read this book in 2007 I did not know Grandad was part of this sub-unit in 1943. Recently I thought a mention of two men's fate in the book referred to my Grandad, a discovery just last month proved me incorrect.

    This book is a well written narrative of column 5 and shows Fergusson as a sensitive, but sometimes over complicated leader of men. It is hard not to warm to him in the end.

    I should say here that I always prefer to find old copies of most of the books I buy. Firstly, because they look, feel and smell better, but also because I have found that there are often unusual photographs and other pictures in these old books, that rarely appear again in subsequent editions.
    I recently read this and would agree with your comments on Fergusson, I will have to read my copy of this next. Also have to agree on the old books you cant beat that smell :lol: and it is amazing the pics you can find in the older editions.
     

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  3. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    My only contribution to this thread- Forgotten Voices of Burma.

    Forgotten Voices of Burma: A New History of the Second World War's Forgotten Conflict in the Words of Those Who Were There: Amazon.co.uk: Julian Thompson: Books

    I'd try and get the thread moved to the Asian section and pinned so its easy to find for reference.

    Cheers
    A
    Drew, I still dont have a copy of this! and I put the thread ib the books section because I want to get some intrest going in it that might not happen if I put it elsewhere;). If it works for Paul and Arnhem :D
     
  4. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Got this in the post yesterday although mine lacks a cover but is published by Askari Books...not Cassell, and is signed by the author John Nunneley.............. who was a officer in the KAR fighting in Burma. in particular against the 'White Tigers' in the Kabaw valley, it is signed to a Bill Weightman who it appears was a fellow officer in Burma.
     

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  5. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Anyone got any of these and do they rate them?
     

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  6. Warlord

    Warlord Veteran wannabe

    Got this in the post yesterday although mine lacks a cover but is published by Askari Books...not Cassell, and is signed by the author John Nunneley.............. who was a officer in the KAR fighting in Burma. in particular against the 'White Tigers' in the Kabaw valley, it is signed to a Bill Weightman who it appears was a fellow officer in Burma.

    I have had this one on ye olde wish-list for a while, but several reviews rate it as a bit too narrowly focused (personal), to be a worth-your-quid job on Burma warfare. Can you rate it?
     
  7. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    I have had this one on ye olde wish-list for a while, but several reviews rate it as a bit too narrowly focused (personal), to be a worth-your-quid job on Burma warfare. Can you rate it?
    Its only just over 200 pages so I will put my current read on the back burner and start this in the morning give me a couple of days and I will give you my verdict.
     
  8. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    An off shot from my research into the Chindits has been an interest in the medical side of the CBI theatre.

    'Burma Surgeon' by Gordon Seagrave needs no introduction here, or the subsequent sequels written by him or about him. Although these books are of great value when researching the medical side of the events in Burma, they are written in a repetitive style, which can become tiresome. Also it was the first book I found to throw so many place names at the reader, that it became confusing at times as to where we were exactly.

    I am being a bit unkind here really as Burmese/Chinese place names are a problem when reading in this research area, both in location and pronunciation.

    A brave and devoted doctor.
     

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  9. Warlord

    Warlord Veteran wannabe

    Its only just over 200 pages so I will put my current read on the back burner and start this in the morning give me a couple of days and I will give you my verdict.

    Sorry, mate , didn't quite read the "Got this in the post yesterday..." part...:blush:

    Take your time, don't worry.

    Besides, girlfriend has me under close surveillance (milk and diapers money, you know), so I think this month it'll be a book about Canucks in Korea only, if I'm lucky :(
     
  10. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    'Crisis Fleeting', by James Stone.

    This was an amazing find, while trying to help out someone on the Burma Star website in 2007. They were interested in the medicines and surgical methods in the Burma campaign.

    This book was compiled by the U.S. authorities, gathering the medical methods used in combating illness and disease in the theatre. It gives very useful statistics and numbers regarding the common ailments affecting the troops at the time.

    Written in a medical text book style it can be heavy going, but incredibly valuable for it's detail.

    Office of Medical History
     
  11. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

  12. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    "Signal Honour: With the Chindits and the XIVth army in Burma" by Robin Painter. Author was signal officer in Indian Army. He first went into Burma with No1 Column of Chindits during the Operation Longcloth. After returning to India via China he served with 80th Indian Brigade of 20th Indian Division during battle of Imphal and later with 19th Indian Division at Irrawaddy. It's interesting book and I really like it.
     

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  13. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    'Wingate's Raiders' by Charles Rolo.

    One of the most fair minded overviews of the first Chindit operation in 1943. It takes firsthand accounts from several of the participants and delivers their story in a sensitive and personal way.

    Once again, some very old, but nevertheless invaluable photographs.
     

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  14. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    'Wingate's Phantom Army', by WG Burchett.

    When I see a book by this author I try to buy it. He was an independent Journalist from Australia, who spent most of the 1940's in the CBI theatre.

    An expert on the ramifications and customs of the Chinese during the Japanese conflict, he managed to be present at the retreat from Burma and somehow (via Wavell I think) got himself on the first Chindit operation in 1943, covering the early stages of the march in, up to the crossing of the Chindwin.

    Written in an almost newspaper article style, this book was one of the best all round reads on Chindit 1, paying particular attention to some of the Other ranks stories. He was also able to call upon the brilliant photography of American, William Vandivert, known in WW2 for his front line images in the CBI theatre.

    Objective as only an Aussie could be whilst writing about the Wingate phenomenon and the British Indian Army of the day.

    Here is Burchett's biography.

    Burchett, Wilfred Graham (1911 - 1983) Biographical Entry - Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
     
  15. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    The Road Past Mandalay, (this book is a follow on to Bugles and a tiger which is the story of John Masters time with the Gurkhas pre ww2) tells the story of Masters in ww2 and includes his time as a brigade Major (111 Brigade) in the Chindits, it was a great read for me not only because I enjoyed his story, I could almost feel myself in the jungle given his descriptions, but also because of his mention of Mandalay Hill, where my Dad was in March 45 thats him fourth from left in my Avatar for the unknowing;).I came across this cover while looking for a pic to post I dont recall seeing this particular cover before:huh:
     

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  16. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Totally agree with Jason here. Masters is a brilliant descriptive writer. And what a situation he found himself in when Lentaigne left him in command of 111th Brigade after Wingate's death.

    He enjoyed the complete trust of the men from 111th Brigade and then found himself covering the backside of one of the most colourful Commanding officers from the Burma theatre, Peter Rees.

    Nice one Jason.:)

    Oh! this is the book cover I have by the way.
     

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  17. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    The Road Past Mandalay, (this book is a follow on to Bugles and a tiger which is the story of John Masters time with the Gurkhas pre ww2) tells the story of Masters in ww2 and includes his time as a brigade Major (111 Brigade) in the Chindits, it was a great read for me not only because I enjoyed his story, I could almost feel myself in the jungle given his descriptions, but also because of his mention of Mandalay Hill, where my Dad was in March 45 thats him fourth from left in my Avatar for the unknowing;).I came across this cover while looking for a pic to post I dont recall seeing this particular cover before:huh:

    One of those books you just can't put down. He was also a adjutant of 2/4th Gurkha Rifles in Iraq, Syria and Persia before he went into Burma with Chindits and GSO1 of 19th Indian Division after that.

    And my copy is published by Cassell
     

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  18. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    "Battle tales from Burma" by John Randle. This is collection of stories about 7/10th Baluch Regiment, not a coherent story about battalion or author services in Burma. Randle served with 7/10th Baluch continually through whole war in Burma, from the first days until the end.
     

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  19. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    "Battle tales from Burma" by John Randle. This is collection of stories about 7/10th Baluch Regiment, not a coherent story about battalion or author services in Burma. Randle served with 7/10th Baluch continually through whole war in Burma, from the first days until the end.

    I enjoyed this book, it really got across the complete confusion and lack of communication that existed within and between the British units in Burma before and during the retreat!

    Sol via Randle's book (I think) led me to a wonderful find, another lesser known account of Randle's friend Charles Coubrough's time in Rangoon Jail. But that is another story.

    Steve.
     
  20. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Totally agree with Jason here. Masters is a brilliant descriptive writer. And what a situation he found himself in when Lentaigne left him in command of 111th Brigade after Wingate's death.

    He enjoyed the complete trust of the men from 111th Brigade and then found himself covering the backside of one of the most colourful Commanding officers from the Burma theatre, Peter Rees.

    Nice one Jason.:)

    Oh! this is the book cover I have by the way.
    Steve, Enes I have the boring looking companion club edition minus DJ, you see loads of these book club editons about and rarely with a DJ although I was quirt excited to find a copy of Bugles and a tiger with DJ adorning it and for 20p:D.
     

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