My interpretation of OP CHARACTER - a very complex Op - is here: http://www.kaiserscross.com/304501/586001.html It probably needs a book writing about it to include all the personalities and actions. Harry
Dr. Robert Lyman, military historian, in his latest free commentary (link below) covers 'The war-winning efforts of SOE in Burma, 1945' and Operation Character. A couple of passages; at the start: Link: The war-winning efforts of SOE in Burma, 1945 I am trying to re-establish contact with Harry Fecitt who opened this thread. There is a separate thread on the local fighters (minus any reference to Operation Character): Chin and Karen Warriors of WW2 in Myanmar
Missed adding the link to a charity that supports the Chin, Karen and others: H4FA - Help 4 Forgotten Allies There is a long 2018 thread on the charity: Help 4 Forgotten Allies - Burma Hill Tribes Contact made with Harry.
Another article by Dr. Robert Lyman on this aspect of the war: Serving the Empire: The Karen of Burma On a quick read it may duplicate his previous article(s). A separate post will be added on a suitable thread on the Karen and a new resource he commends.
Been given a very short snippet about one of the British or Rhodesian officers involved: He appears in the website linked to the book 'SOE in Burma" as Major William Eustace Poles, (Service Number 318623), as part of 'P' or Peacock Force. See: A Force 136 Special Group: Ferret There is nothing else there, except his DoB 19/6/1902. Scattered around was: he died 1990. Known as 'Pixie' and born in Yorkshire. He was in Southern Rhodesia when WW2 began. A relative posted this: BBC - WW2 People's War - The Jungle Journey He emigrated to Northern Rhodesia post-war, becoming a Game Ranger / Warden and appears briefly in: https://escholarship.org/content/qt...afef1f19c62a268efae79a4dd5e9d054.pdf?t=odydh7 In October 2012 an appeal for help appeared in a Rhodesian publication: From: https://www.rhodesianservices.org/user/image/publication10-2012.pdf I've emailed the author! He did write a book with others: WE WERE FALCONERS. By Paul K. Beecroft & Peter Barry Devers. by Beecroft (Paul K.) & Devers (Peter Barry).: new | Coch-y-Bonddu Books Ltd
Did you know that there is a book in progress which deals with SOE in Operation Character but also in the battle for Imphal? Many of the officers and men chosen for Character came from 'P' Force under Lt Col Peacock.
No, is the simple answer. Just seen your previous thread, which I had commented on awhile ago. See: Book Wanted You stated in the past you owned the copyright to the book published long ago; so, is there another author "in progress". I can think of two, if not three likely suspects and one I'm in irregular contact with.
Thank you David I have submitted Life of a Jungle Wallah to The Folio Society to see if they might be interested in republishing but so far no response. On the other matter, the biography of Edgar Peacock is already written and is undergoing editing and seeking an agent etc. That process could take some time. but it has been written by an expert in the field and has unearthed some, previously, unknown details of 'P' Force (and therefore SOE) being involved at Palel in the battle of Imphal. Hitherto, they had been erased from 4th Army records in this respect. I will be sure to keep this forum updated as to when a book might be available. With best wishes Duncan
