Hi all, I am looking for a source describing the reason for the withdrawal of 2nd Infantry Division from operations in 1945. I have been reading Browned Off and Bloody-Minded (by Allport) and he says the following: "In the closing months of the war in the East, the last two exclusively British infantry divisions in the theatre (the 2nd and 36th) had to be withdrawn from operations because of lack of replacements. If the conflict against the Japanese had not ended in August 1945, it is not clear whather Mountbatten's army could have kept fighting at all without a massive - and politically controversial - resupply of troops from Europe.[79]" (p216) Note 79 refers to The Commonwealth Armies: manpower and organization in two world wars by F W Perry (p69-74). I am not sure whether Perry states the reason for the withdrawal of the divisions? (If so I should cite Perry rather than Allport... a more exact page # would be great.) Can anyone help? Thanks, Chris
Jitter Party, Great read thanks. What happened to pgs.76-79? Intriguing to read about the "odds & sods" who would have garrisoned places like Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Persia. Not always quiet backwaters; having read last week about the disagreement with the French in Syria and a military confrontation.
They are still in the book! Pages 69-74 were requested, to which I added the endnotes for those pages, just in case they were needed. I hope that meets with the approval of all.
As requested More pages to be found here; The Commonwealth Armies by Perry - AbeBooks It really is a very good book.