For all you history buffs: Imphal Kohima: Help needed

[nagarifle]

pradeep Barua-gentlemen of the raj: the india army officer

benegal ramesh s. burma to japan with azad hind

bose sugata. a hunderd horizons

[essdee1972]

I think I have seen a book by Lt. Gen. Scoones (2IC to Lt. Gen. Slim), who commanded Indian IV Corps. Also might be something in Mountbatten's memoirs (since you have already seen Slim's book; Louis called the Battle a British-Indian Thermopylae - note British before Indian ). I have read an account of the battle of the tennis court, where two sides of the tennis court of a bungalow (probably the Distt Magistrate, or Commissioner, or some other panjandrum) were occupied by Gurkhas and Japs.... as far as I remember, in NGC, eons back. written by the Brit guy commanding the Gurkhas. Must note, while on the topic, that Slim's 14th Army was continuously relegated to the back burner in terms of supplies, while the western and even the North African campaigns received the more supplies.

Although you did not ask for websites, try burmastar.org. They have a list of books on the far-eastern campaigns, and also include some on the Kokoda Trail battle, in Papua New Guinea (anybody in Australia can help with this one).

IN case you have any material on contribution of Indian Army units in the North African campaign, please let me know. (Rommel's biographer, Desmond Young, was an Indian Army officer.)

[Sujay]

Anand,

Although you have specifically asked for book covering the Indian Contribution only in the battles in the areas around Kohima, the book I am recommending covers the WWII in Asia ( excluding the American involvement).

Forgotten Armies: Britain's Asian Empire & War with Japan By Christopher Bailey and Tim Harper.

I have this book and I liked it because it gave some interesting aspect into the actual conduct of war and subsequent credits taken for the victories, the detailed accounts of initial British withdrawals ( most interesting part )and its consequences, the sabotages carried by Indians in India against British War efforts and the details of Burmese Jungles and each and every battle in Burma.

To point again, this book is not India specific but covers the incidents ( military and political) of Indonesia, Malasiya, Singapore and Ceylon also. This is the link to the book:--

[hamiclar01]

Thanks Esdee and Sujay.

It is a co incidence Sujay, that I finished reading "Forgotten armies" myself a few weeks ago. I agree it is a gripping book and did change the way I perceived history. Highly recommended.

I am just finishing Fergel Keane's "Road of Bones". He limits himself to Kohima and provides a very lucid account of the battle, drawing from both British and Japanese sources. But, he does not seem to have made any effort to cover the Indian perspective. Disappointing, since he claims he travelled to Japan and India to research for the book. He tracked down old Japanese veterans of the war, how hard would it have been to speak to Indians when he was touring India?

Esdee, I will keep an eye on for North Africa. I came across the whole of Anthony Breet James' 1951 history of the 5th Indian Divison (Ball of fire) online:
http://ourstory.info/library/4-ww2/Ball/fireTC.html#TC

chapters 13-17 seem to cover the desert war.

[nagarifle]

i agree that keane should have made an effort to track down Indian soldiers as well it does not give a complete picture.

i just came across a dvd called distanced ramblings, locally made documentary very good. get one.

[cottage cheese]

i agree that keane should have made an effort to track down Indian soldiers as well it does not give a complete picture.

i just came across a dvd called distanced ramblings, locally made documentary very good. get one.

Distant Rumblings

[nagarifle]

school tacher eh CC