Defeat into victory

Defeat into victory

By Field Marshal Viscount Slim

The British forces in Burma in 1942 are dealt a severe blow by the Japanese army. Reeling from defeat after defeat, one man is called in to stem the tide…

Field Marshall Viscount Slim, or Uncle Bill as he was known to his soldiers, was one of the lesser known generals of World War II. Being from a working class background, he was not as socially connected or as flamboyant as some of the other generals involved in the war. His posting in a relatively obscure corner of the conflict meant that he remained out of the limelight, unlike generals like Patton or Montgomery. However, he was so popular among the men who served under him that his unceremonious removal at the cusp of victory led to mutinies in the army, and he had to be brought back to keep the peace!

The book is written in a clear and lucid style. It is arranged chronologically, starting in 1942 with General Slim being posted to the Burma theatre from his current posting in the Middle East and moving forwards through the British retreat, the battle of Imphal/Kohima and counterstrike into Burma. The author’s recall of the detail of unit names, placements, strength and other military items is exhaustive. Though a treasure trove for military historians, for the lay reader this is may sometimes lead to the feeling that the book is overlong and tedious. General Slim writes freely, without too much embellishments, and his thoughts come out clearly in the text. His description of terrain and eye for detail is impressive, contributing to the feeling that he must have been a very effective commander.

After being defeated in 1942, the British Army steadily pulled back into India, fighting a rearguard action all the way. The onset of the monsoon gave them a respite and breathing space to reorganize. A vivid description of the retreat is given and how it was prevented from being turned into a rout. The British Army in Burma was extremely under supplied and under equipped in comparison to forces in other theatres of the war. Once General Slim took over, he instituted a complete overhaul of the system, from supply of rations to anti-malarial prophylaxis to restructuring of army units. There is an emphasis on delegation of authority, establishment of supply chains, use of local materials and sheer derring do. Indeed, the book sometimes feels like a manual of corporate governance rather than a military memoir!

The Japanese made the fatal mistake of advancing too fast without enough back up and supply. Taking notice of this the British Army lured them into the Imphal/ Kohima region where conditions were favorable to the defenders and defeated them after months long siege. The Japanese routed back to central Burma where they were finally defeated by the advancing British Army at the battle of the Irrawaddy river. In mid 1945, the British Army was back in Rangoon, which it had vacated 3 years earlier.

Highlights:

1.     The passage on how locally made jute parachutes were hurriedly fabricated and use to airdrop supplies to units in the field, in the absence of proper ones.

2.     Glimpses of the General’s management style, relevant for all mangers today as well.

3.     Mention of the INA army in alliance with the Japanese its contemptuous dismissal by the author . Surprising for me!

Ranking:

            Overall 7/10

            Military history 9/10