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

by Martin Brayley, Mike Chappell (Illustrator)

Overview

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 of World War II is illustrated with many rare photographs, and eight detailed colour plates.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781841762388
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	09/18/2002
Series:	Men-at-Arms , #375
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	7.25(w) x 9.75(h) x 0.15(d)

About the Author

Martin J Brayley now works as a professional photographer and freelance author after many years' service with the Royal Navy. A long-time collector and researcher of militaria, previous publications include 'World War II British Women's Uniforms' and 'The World War II Tommy – British Army Uniforms.' An expert marksman, Martin Brayley has represented Great Britain at international level and currently lives in Hampshire with his wife and son.

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 has gained worldwide popularity as a military illustrator. Mike has written and illustrated many books for Osprey.

Table of Contents

Organisation of the British Army in the Far East, 1941

Summary of the Malayan and Burmese campaigns, 1942

Development of British forces in India

The Chindits

14th Army in the reconquest of Burma, 1944-45

Pre-war tropical uniforms

Modification of Khaki Drill, 1942-44

Jungle Green uniforms

Development of personal equipment

The Lethbridge mission, and 1944 pattern clothing and web