ABDA-CBI-SEAC. Book thread.

Warlord, I have finished reading this earlier today and would agree in part with what you say but I enjoyed it! Nunnely, really goes into detail historically early in the book while explaining background to Africas past and in a way this could spoil the book but he does it in such a way that that is not the case, he covers very well the nature of the African soldier who served in the KAR, and in particular his Servant Tomasi.The coverage of Burma, is only just over 80 pages and again it is covered with some intresting stories which the link below touches on, is this a ideal book on Burma..........no, is it a revealing picture of a British officers wartime experience with the KAR yes hope this link helps. Nunneley Edit.Dont know if this covers more of what you may be after. Tales from the Burma Campaign 1942 - 1945: Nunneley, John (ed) - AbeBooks - 9780953213818: Compass Books Nunneley, also pops up in one of Steves posts see post 58.

Thanks, mate, but was looking for some battle, rather than social, tales.

Back to Google again.

 

The March on Delhi, by AJ. Barker.

I bought this book from Ebay for a couple of quid last year. A very good buy!

Barker gets the situation across really well and uses the reports and memoirs of some of the Japanese commanders involved at Imphal and Kohima too.

A great book to help understand the position of both Armies at the time of the advance on Assam by the Japanese. Also there is a very healthy and useful bibliography and personnel digest at the rear.

 

Thought it was time we had some books relating to 'Uncle Bill', The first of these books is a signed copy that is one of my most prized books the second I have yet to read.......... the third is a classic piece of writing not just by the most sucessful army commander of the war but by a Soldiers General at that, yes I know he was promoted FM but the term fits the ballentine book is a little insight, but for me the book by Slim and Lewin are the two to have plus he was born in Bristol les than 5 mins drive from where I live!

 

Thought it was time we had some books relating to 'Uncle Bill'


Quite right Jason, Defeat into Victory, should be one of the first books anyone reads concerning the Burma Campaign. A while ago I had the edition you show in my hand at a book fair, going for £4. Bargain. My sister who was with me, came over and told me she had bought me the book for my birthday and to put that one down!!

Mistake!! She had bought one of the readers club editions, same book, not as many illustrations or maps etc. Also the writing print is much smaller and for borderline myopics like me, this is crucial.

Still, bless her!

 

Quite right Jason, Defeat into Victory, should be one of the first books anyone reads concerning the Burma Campaign. A while ago I had the edition you show in my hand at a book fair, going for £4. Bargain. My sister who was with me, came over and told me she had bought me the book for my birthday and to put that one down!!

Mistake!! She had bought one of the readers club editions, same book, not as many illustrations or maps etc. Also the writing print is much smaller and for borderline myopics like me, this is crucial.

Still, bless her!
You mean my 1956 first edition you touched on this before I think Steve, these older books have great maps and this one is no exception its packed with them!

 

I got this book after my parents gave me the biography written by the same author, that was some nearly...... 20 years ago and its still a great ref tool and combines nicely with two areas of the thread title.

 

Found this link that mentions a few books of intrest to Warlord...... ref ABDA. Axis History Forum • View topic - ABDA Naval Battles

 

Found this link that mentions a few books of intrest to Warlord...... ref ABDA. Axis History Forum • View topic - ABDA Naval Battles

What can I say but thanks, mate?

As usual, right on the spot!

By the way, there is a job which refers to the whole campaign, from the USN's point of view:

USN Combat Narrative: The Java Sea Campaign

 

What can I say but thanks, mate?

As usual, right on the spot!

By the way, there is a job which refers to the whole campaign, from the USN's point of view:

USN Combat Narrative: The Java Sea Campaign
Not a problem I will look out for some more, post up what you have then we can all look out for what you have not got

 

Well, this one's a sure winner:

Tank Tracks to Rangoon, by Bryan Perrett.

IMO, it's a must if you're a CBI fan, even though I landed it on a rebound; in first instance, it wasn't the job I was googling for! :p

 

Being that the African soldiers involved in the Burma Campaign are in vogue at the moment:

'March Out', by James Shaw. A very good book for understanding the relationship between white NCO's and Officers and their West African Other Ranks.

Shaw gets his story across well, the superstitions of the soldiers, the language barrier, the subconscious racism, all are highlighted with great skill. The book also describes perfectly the seeming limitless marching, the heat and the sense of moving around in circles. When you remember that Shaw himself was over 40 when he went in, it is also a tale of self preservation.

'Burma Boy' by Biyi Bandele. This book is sadly too short, only 212 pages! It is a heart warming and brilliantly devised story of an underaged Nigerian boy soldier. Seen through his young eyes is the West African involvement in the second Chindit operation of 1944.

Although it is fiction, it is researched perfectly to make it a true depiction of what life was like for the naive and wonderstruck soldiers of the WAFF, who found themselves in the Burmese jungles in WW2.
I wish the book was much longer!!

 

This is one of the few books I have come across about uniforms relating to Burma, India and SE Asia.

 

This book also isn't bad, it has nice color plates.

 

"Battle of the Box" by Patrick Turnbull. It cover operations in Arakan between 1942-45. Some nice photos of the Admin Box.

 

I keep meaning to get this book but never quite get around to it

 

I keep meaning to get this book but never quite get around to it

Well you are not the only one. This book is also on my wish list but somehow always some others get priority.

 

I keep meaning to get this book but never quite get around to it

Well you are not the only one. This book is also on my wish list but somehow always some others get priority.

Deja vú for me, lads! :p

 

"Battle of the Box" by Patrick Turnbull. It cover operations in Arakan between 1942-45. Some nice photos of the Admin Box.

A bl**dy good suggestion, even though rather short (144p), but 13 quid (plus S&H) on Amazon

 

This book also isn't bad, it has nice color plates.

I didn't know Ospreys were allowed...

This is a good one:

Spitfire Aces of Burma and the Pacific.

 

I didn't know Ospreys were allowed...


Why not, this is a thread for all books about ABDA-CBI-SEAC.

A bl**dy good suggestion, even though rather short (144p), but 13 quid (plus S&H) on Amazon

Yes, it's short, considering the area which it cover, it give some dissent amount of info about operations but not to much. It has lot o photos which is plus but then it heavy failed with maps, except good map of the Admin Box all others are not very useful. I mean when you talking about some important hill or some small village then please show us where they are. For example on several pages Turnbull writing about heavy fighting in the tunnel area but there isn't a single map for that area. So you have to search in the other books, which usually also lacked good maps, or try to guess where some important feature could be.