The British Army 1939-45 (3): The Far East

Description

The lightning Japanese offensives in the Far East in 1941/42 inflicted a series of costly defeats on the ill-prepared and badly supported British Commonwealth forces in Malaya and Burma. The 'forgotten' 14th Army on the India-Burma border slowly built up its strength and its tactical expertise; and Wingate's 'Chindits' proved that units supplied from the air could operate deep behind enemy lines. In 1944 General Slim's troops decisively smashed Japan's last offensive at Imphal and Kohima; and over the next year they drove the enemy relentlessly back through Burma, reducing them to starving fugitives by the final victory in August 1945. This concise summary of Britain's Far East campaigns is illustrated with many rare photographs, and eight detailed colour plates.

MARTIN J.BRAYLEY now works as a professional photographer and freelance author after many years' service with the Royal Navy. He is a long-time collector and researcher of militaria, and his published books - with co-author Richard Ingram - include World War II British Women's Uniforms (1995); The World War II Tommy - British Army Uniforms, European Theatre 1939-45 (1998); and Khaki Drill & Jungle Greeen - British Tropical Uniforms 1939-45 (2000). He has also contributed articles to specialist magazines in Britain and abroad; and this book is the latest in a series of titles for Osprey Military on the men's and women's services of World War II. Mike Chappell comes from an Aldershot family with British Army connections stretching back several generations. He enlisted as a teenage private in the Royal Hampshire Regiment in 1952 and retired in 1974, as RSM of the 1st Battalion The Wessex Regiment (Rifle Volunteers), after seeing service in Malaya, Cyprus, Swaziland, Libya, Germany, Ulster and home garrisons. He began painting military subjects in 1968 and since then has gained worldwide popularity as a military illustrator. Mike has also written and illustrated many books in the Osprey Military list.