We Gave Our Today
Burma 1941-1945
Published on 26. February 2009
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-0-297-85337-4 (ISBN)
Description
Nearly a million strong by 1944, the British 14th Army fought and ultimately defeated the Japanese forces that invaded Burma and strove to breakthrough into India. It was a near run thing, as the title of its commander's famous memoir, DEFEAT INTO VICTORY suggests. The Japanese routed the British forces in Malaya and Burma in 1941-2. The surrender of Singapore is the greatest defeat ever suffered by the British Army. The fight back was long and difficult, not the least because our forces in Burma and India were last in the queue for men and equipment as priority went to defeating Germany. The soldiers joked about being 'The Forgotten Army', although General Bill Slim famously told them. 'what do you mean, forgotten? No-one's f---ing heard of you.' Slim, who rose from private soldier to field marshal, proved to be one of the greatest soldiers of the war. This is the story of his remarkable army, the largest army fielded by Britain and the Commonwealth during World War II. From the brink of total defeat in 1942, the British rallied and ultimately liberated Burma and Malaya in summer 1945.
Their monument at Kohima reads: When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today
Their monument at Kohima reads: When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today
Reviews / Votes
"fascinating, a fitting tribute to the men who fought and died in this most unforgiving of theatres. If at the time they were considered the 'Forgotten Army' it is books like We Gave Our Today that ensure they will always be remembered." Max Arthur "An admirably clear account interwoven throughout with vivid eyewitness testimonies. There are few more shapely campaigns than Burma which saw a British Indian Army transformed from exhausted, beaten refugees into a war-winning machine by one of the most attractive generals in British history." Martin Windrow, author of The Last Valley 'concise, readable blend of expert historical overview and riveting eyewitness testimony... What a tale!' -- MAIL ON SUNDAY - 19.04.09 JAMES DELINGPOLE 'an excellent job of describing the background, tactics and operations of jungle warfare... An interesting, well-researched read for those who have little or no knowledge of his hard-fought campaign.' SOLDIER MAGAZINE:04.09 "carefully researched... what happened in Burma - and other theatres of conflict - should wake those dormant consciences." TRIBUNE - 20.3.09 "I warmly applaud any attempt to bring the Forgotten Army in Burma and India during the Second World War to the attention of the modern reading public... Fowler places effective focus on the stories and experiences of individual soldiers in an attempt to give life to the story... If you are entirely new to the Burma Campaign, this book wil help you understand its long miseries." WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? 1.04.09More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Orion Publishing Co
Dimensions
Height: 241 mm
Width: 160 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
550 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-297-85337-4 (9780297853374)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
02/2009
1st Edition
Weidenfeld and Nicholson
€3.99
Available for download
Person
Educated at Clifton College and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, William Fowler was land forces editor of DEFENCE magazine and a contributing editor to JANE'S INFORMATION GROUP. A long term territorial soldier, he served with British forces in the Gulf War and graduated from the French Army Reserve Staff Officers course at the Ecole Militaire in Paris. He conducts regular battlefield tours and broadcasts on radio and television. He is married and lives in Hampshire.