In 1943, when Orde Wingate made his first stealthy penetration behind Japanese lines in northern Burma, it was an operation evaluated both for its success and its failure. It may have fallen short of military success, but it taught Britihs High Command many useful lessons. It proved the value of air supply, giving distant forces a mobility and freedom of action unknown to those tactically tied to ground communicaitons, and in the hearts of hard-trained men, it paved the way for the final offensive and overthorw of the enemy ...
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In 1943, when Orde Wingate made his first stealthy penetration behind Japanese lines in northern Burma, it was an operation evaluated both for its success and its failure. It may have fallen short of military success, but it taught Britihs High Command many useful lessons. It proved the value of air supply, giving distant forces a mobility and freedom of action unknown to those tactically tied to ground communicaitons, and in the hearts of hard-trained men, it paved the way for the final offensive and overthorw of the enemy. Michael Calvert's narrative tells of the training, planning and physical conditions endured by the men who lived and fought vastly superior Japanese forces in the impenetrable, steaming jungles of Bruma. It is a story of courage, willpower, strength of purpose and sheer guts, where officers led from the front - as witnessed by their casualty numbers - encouraging their men to act as team players working toards a common end, and when the occasion arose, acting on their own initiative.
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In good all round condition. No dust jacket. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 550grams, ISBN:
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Seller's Description:
Used-Good. Good hardback (no dust jacket) 1st edition, 1952, with B&W illustrations and fold-out maps; tightly bound in red cloth with silver lettering to spine; panels mottled and discoloured at edges. Owner's inscription on front free endpaper; otherwise, a good, tidy copy.
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Seller's Description:
Good in Good jacket. Copy in dust jacket; big chip missing from jacket; a little rubbing on spine of book; memoir of "Mad Mike" Calvert who served with Wingate in Burma.
This is Brigadier Michael Calvert's account of the second (1944) Chindit expedition into Burma. Calvert commanded 77th Indian Brigade during this offensive. The Special Force - seven Chindit Brigades - was essentially the first airmobile division, with a large portion of the Force being delivered behind Japanese lines by glider and transport aircraft. The fighting was savage and brutal, and the conditions under which the men lived and fought were appalling. Calvert's narrative is exceptionally clear and incisive. I was fortunate to obtain a copy of the 1973 edition, which includes a foreword by Major General Derek Tulloch, who had been Chief of Staff for the Special Force, and an appendix which gives evaluations on the effectiveness of Special Force operations by their Japanese opponents. Excellent history.
