ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Tell it as we saw it, was a request I frequently heard during my research for this book. I have endeavoured to honour that plea.
This book, therefore, is not a detailed history but simply an attempt to recount what many soldiers, civilians and officials involved in the defeat of Burma felt at the time.
I have, of course, consulted the relevant official histories and numerous biographies and autobiographies in order to provide the necessary backcloth to their experiences. Understandably they often do not see eye to eye with the professional historians. Where possible I have tried to explain why.
I am particularly indebted to my friend Leland Stowe, that prince of reporters, who readily placed at my disposal his meticulously kept diaries of the campaign, and never failed to reply to my innumerable requests. I encountered the same generosity from his Burma stable mate, the late O. D. Gallagher, who let me quote from his despatches and writings, and Jim Nicoll, formerly Foreign Editor of the Daily Express, who made available the necessary newspaper cuttings.
I owe a special debt of gratitude to Major Bruce Kinloch, M.C., for the infinite trouble he took in recounting his experiences and placing at my disposal so many contemporary accounts.
I am indebted to so many people that it is impossible to detail just how much I owe them. The brevity of my acknowledgement is no indication of their great contribution.
My sincere thanks to:
Mrs Gwenllyan Moon (Coward), Mrs Finetta Bagot, Mrs Joan Morton, Mrs Anne Purton, Mrs Norma Morrison, Miss Violet Kelly, R.R.C., Mrs Nora Healy, The Reverend Wilfred Crittle and S. Farrant Russell, F.R.C.S., for their accounts of the trek through the Hukawng Valley, and the latter for loaning me Private Warners diary, and the account of his wife Muriels escape.
Many soldiers from generals to privates readily gave up their time. The late Major-General David Tennant Cowan, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., and Bar, M.C., Major Bashir Ahmad Khan, Major Roy Hudson, Major-General D. C. J. Swann, C.B., C.B.E., the late Brigadier Sir John Smyth, V.C., M.C., for allowing me to quote from his memoirs. Lieutenant-Colonel Humphrey Purton for giving up much of his time and for introducing me to so many members of the Burma Forces Luncheon Club. Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Radice, M.B.E., for permitting access to so much invaluable material at the Regimental Headquarters and Museum of the Gloucestershire Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Terrence Dillon, Mr George Biggs, M.M., Mr N. Coppard, Brigadier John Randle, O.B.E., M.C., Mr Charles Coubrough, formerly 7/10th Baluch, Brigadier Tony Firth, O.B.E., M.C., (Duke of Wellingtons Regiment), and Lieutenant-Colonel Tony Mains.
Captain Charles Fox (K.O.Y.L.I.), Mr Ken Chadwick, Lientenant-Colonel George Forty (Tank Museum, Wareham), Captain Mike Patterson, M.C., Col. the Rev. Neville Metcalfe, D.S.O., Major J. S. Knight, Headquarters the Queens Own Hussars, Major D. S. Day, Hon. Sec. 4th P.W.O. Gurkha Rifles Officers Association, Colonel F. W. Cook, M.B.E., M.C., Light Infantry Officer (Yorkshire), Major John Finnerty, B.E.M., Mr Ian Scott, Mr Alfred Dunn, M.B.E., the brothers John and George Robertson, and Mr Nigel Hogg.
A considerable time was spent in libraries and museums where I always encountered unstinting help and courtesy. Miss Patricia Methven, Archivist at the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, University of London Kings College, went to endless trouble helping me, especially with the collection of Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Hutton, K.C.I.E., C.B., M.C., Mr Phillip Dymond and the staff at the India Office Library and records, Mr Tom Westmancoat at the British Newspaper Library, Mr R. R. Mellor, Public Records Office, Kew, Mr D. K. Smurthwaite, National Army Museum, and the Imperial War Museum.
Finally I would like to thank everyone for their generous hospitality which, alas, I have no hope of reciprocating, and to Barbara who lived through the campaign with me.
CHAPTER 1
Where was I when the war was on?
I can hear a faint voice murmur.
Where was I when the war was on?
In the safest place in Burma.
Soldiers Song.
The war was a little more than two years and three months old and Britain stood alone, fighting for survival and waiting for Hitler to launch Operation Sealion the invasion from across the Channel. Few onlookers, even among her staunchest supporters, believed she could repulse the might of Hitlers armies.
After the abrupt end of the soporific interlude known as the phoney war, Norway had fallen and as the tide of war engulfed Europe the Low Countries had capitulated and a demoralized France had thrown in the towel. The B.E.F., trapped on the beaches, had only escaped by the skin of its teeth in what was called the miracle of Dunkirk, and the remnants of its near weaponless army, assisted by the Home Guard, now mounted watch with antiquated equipment. More disasters had followed: the ill-timed campaign in Greece had resulted in a scurried withdrawal, culminating in the dbcle of Crete and another ignominious evacuation. The Middle East had also been the scene of reversals, which led the troops doing the fighting to dub it The Muddle East.
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor the event was greeted with mixed feelings of shock and jubilation. It was a cowardly and dastardly act, but it had at last brought America into the war and that was a sure guarantee of victory. It was not an unusual reaction. Even Churchill had been elated when he heard the news, and when he retired to bed that night had slept the sleep of the saved and thankful.
But in faraway Burma life continued as if nothing had happened. For the Europeans the club continued to be the hub of social life; cards were dropped with a meticulous regard to protocol; there was dancing, swimming, tennis, golf, bridge, polo, and one would never dream of not dressing for dinner. Race meetings continued to be attended by the Governor, Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith, at which the women wore beautiful dresses and wide-brimmed hats, yet still felt the need to carry a frilly parasol. Most of the men dressed as if it was Ascot Week.
