ABDA-CBI-SEAC. Book thread.

Can be downloaded for free on the internet archive

 

Still? A very big lot of the previously available-for-download files have been restricted. It has been like this for quite a while now.

 

Thankfully, yes, this one is still available - I downloaded it yesterday!

 

Of to the Archive then!

 

While the book's structure is sometimes a little frustrating, I thought it an excellent book (I finished reading it today!). I appreciate that its some time ago now since you read it but is The Flame of Freedom worth tracking down? Does it contain Pagani's own testimony or just elaborate the story in the Appendix of Grandfather Longlegs.
Many Thanks,
Col

 

Hi Col,

Yes, it was a good few years ago now when I read Flame of Freedom. Pagani had Rangoon Jail (where my grandfather had perished in 1943) connections and had attended the reunions held for American and British service personnel incarcerated at the jail during the war, so his story was always on my radar for those reasons. I enjoyed the book which was told in narrative form rather than a first-hand testimony, but the author (Robert Hamond) did visit Pagani on a couple of occasions to interview him if I remember correctly. Hope this helps?

Steve

 

Hi Steve,

That's very useful, thank you!! Without wishing to sound ghoulish, that's one more to add to "the list"!

Best wishes,

Col

 

No worries. It's probably already too late to warn you, but after beginning my research journey into my grandfather's participation on Chindt 1, I have a library of well over 300 Burma-related books......so it can become an addiction.

 

Ha! ;-)

In all seriousness, the fruits of your addiction are remarkable - your website is a fascinating read. Really well written and researched! It has also caused me to write down many things to look into more closely. Keep up the good work!

 

Thanks for those kind words.

 

Agreed! Hayter's book was not what I was expecting! Certainly not the "typical" military memoir of the period but nonetheless a very good, reflective read!

 

Japanese Official History of Imphal, trans-la-ted. Cracking!

Sorry I couldn't copy the link alone, but a good X account to follow, nevertheless:

https://x.com/robert_lyman/status/1900478704209285368?t=uBefkYOmMw1mrvVqUVIYCA&s=19

 

Thank you mate

 

Yes me. I read it (a relative's copy) and am hunting a copy of my own.

 

'The Lone Chindit' did not seem fictional when I read it, or when I met Doug DH Donaldson and his family. He also served in Korea with the Australians I think.

 

I'm sure you might well be correct. I saw the book listed under the heading of fiction in the SOAS memorial library bibliography many years ago and went with that.

 

Thanks.

 

Steve,

Do you know whether Jeffrey wrote anything else or what became of him after the war? I thought his book a real, self-effacing, gem and would like to hope that he did meet Walker (his Batman) once again!

Regards,

Col

 

I don't really know to be honest. I loved the book. When I read it, I was still learning about Longcloth and trying to work out where my grandfather fitted in column wise.....so Sunbeams was a nice wrap-around read for me, with no investigative pressures. Then, in 2010 the WO361 series were released at Kew and everything opened up for me......can't believe that was 15 years ago.

 

Thanks for this Steve. I shall have a further hunt around and see what I can find. Ha, yes, time really does fly!!