Recommended Reading
Please contact us if you would like to participate with
the book reviews, you will be most welcome.
the book reviews, you will be most welcome.
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By Charles Haswell Campagnac.
Edited by Sandra Campagnac Carney. Available in paperback or file download (PDF) |
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by Desmond Kelly. Desmond writes about his father Lt.-Col. N.W. Kelly O.B.E. his life in the Chin Hills during the war his recruitment of and work with the Chin Levies. Available from Tiddim Press, P.O. Box, 28958, Mortlake, London SW14 8XE We have added an index in PDF form.
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by Troy J. Sacquerty. University Press of Kansas – 2013.
Subversive war operations in Burma during WWII by Detachment 101 of the United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Troy J. Sacquerty, writes a compelling history of Detachment 101 and provides extensive background research material that throws light on joint British/US clandestine operations in Kachin State, Arakan Division and Tavoy during the early days of the war when nothing went well with the Allied response to the Japanese invasion of Burma. Remarkably, the early clandestine operation by Detachment 101, (by air, sea and land infiltration) were led and manned by local recruits who had been born and raised in Burma. Not all operations were successful. Many good men gave up their lives and are now forgotten. Vivian Rodrigues has supplied us with a list of the names from this book and states "I have used this book by Troy Sacquerty to document the names of local recruits and what became of them. In my research, I was surprised that the men who gave up their lives in these subversive war operations by OSS Detachment 101, are not recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Rangoon Memorial or anywhere else." |
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Bullock Carts and Balichao
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Roslyn Sherman's memoirs and other stories of Burma.
Compiled, edited and published by Robyn and Roger Cooper. This family history book has woven the silken threads of memories into facts and photos for the generations to come. Extremely well researched and beautifully presented. I am bound at this point to say I know some of the families mentioned, nevertheless this book could act as a perfect template for anyone having difficulty knowing where or how to make a start documenting their own priceless stories. A few of the names mentioned are:- Daly, Cameron, Sherman, Steevens, Cooper, O'Leary, Hill, Gorton, Maymyo, St. Agnes' Convent Kalaw, Rangoon, Toungoo, Meiktila. Available from coopers@ferntreehideaway.co.nz Cost approx. 25$ (NZD) |
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U Thant of Burma
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by June Bingham
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What happened in Burma
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by M.Thein Pe
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by Ruth Fredman Cernea. Available at bookshops, Amazon & Google Books
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by Capt. Arthur Leonard Bell Thompson, 1st Batt. Burma Rifles, (a.k.a. Francis Clifford)
The story of his escape in 1942 through 900 miles of occupied territory. Available from bookshops and Amazon. |
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Irrawaddy Flotilla
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by Alister McCrae and Alan Prentice.
Describes the formation of the company through to the war time role of their ships, Captains and crews. Available from bookshops, Google Books and Amazon. Index available in the members area. |
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Scots in Burma
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by Alister McCrae - (We have transcribed a short extract on the Invasion) Golden Times in a Golden Land - From the early traders to the final years, an excellent book with some lovely sketches and photos.
Available from bookshops and Amazon. |
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by Felicity Goodall - Stories of the evacuation from individuals and families.
Available from bookshops and Amazon. |
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by The Rev'd. Dr. John E. Marks
Available as a PDF from The Digital Library. |
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Burma
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by F.S.C. Donnison. See members area for extract.
Available from bookshops, Google Books and Amazon. |
Recommended Reading from Joanne Watts -
"if anyone comes across these books they are out of print but may exist in a library or second hand bookstore somewhere:-
"The Forgotten Land" by Gordon Hunt - dedicated to his "colleagues in the Teak forests of Burma and to the indigenous people who shared their lives and hardships" - stories from his years in the forestry industry in Burma
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"One More River" also by Gordon Hunt - this book is an account of his trek out of Burma and escape into China during WW11. Whilst the names have been altered the characters in this book are real."
"if anyone comes across these books they are out of print but may exist in a library or second hand bookstore somewhere:-
"The Forgotten Land" by Gordon Hunt - dedicated to his "colleagues in the Teak forests of Burma and to the indigenous people who shared their lives and hardships" - stories from his years in the forestry industry in Burma
and
"One More River" also by Gordon Hunt - this book is an account of his trek out of Burma and escape into China during WW11. Whilst the names have been altered the characters in this book are real."
Recommended reading from Vivian Rodrigues - Surgeon- Major Arthur Newland was one of the intrepid that came to Burma in the 1890’s and made a mark by his publications and interest as a photographer/linguist in the Chin language/medical doctor/ administrator in the Chin Hills from the early1890 to the mid 1920. The first edition of Orwell /Blair’s “Burma Days” has a front cover picture of 3 languid men and 2 dogs – that’s a photograph by Surgeon- Major Arthur Newland.
On the Stanford University website you will find Surgeon-Major Arthur Newland's book about the Chin Hills in the late1900’s.
He married Sina the daughter of a Chin Chieftain, they are both are still remembered there. They had one son - Major Sam Newland D.S.O. Sam was unique: educated in Britain, worked as District Forest Officer and later Assistant Conservator of Forest in Burma from about the late1920 to 1947. During WW2 he was a rather aggressive commander of Chin Leevies and irregulars that had defended the borders from 1942 to 1944. Mentioned in books like “Kelly’s Burma Campaign,” “the Jonnies.” Best above all: - Sam kept a very detailed diary that survived all these years!! - recorded are social and military acts of those times. He migrated to Gosnells, Western Australia and lived a happy life.
Wim Vervest, author of The Lost Dictionary, follows on from those rather special people like Margret Standford “Burma Invaded 1942” – Major CM Enrigues, Sandra Campagnac Carney “The Autobiography of a Wanderer,” David Donnisson “The Last of the Guardians,” Desmond Kelly “Kelly’s Burma Campaign,” who have shared with us insights taken from their parent’s and grand-parent’s diaries and memorials that survived the times.
On the Stanford University website you will find Surgeon-Major Arthur Newland's book about the Chin Hills in the late1900’s.
He married Sina the daughter of a Chin Chieftain, they are both are still remembered there. They had one son - Major Sam Newland D.S.O. Sam was unique: educated in Britain, worked as District Forest Officer and later Assistant Conservator of Forest in Burma from about the late1920 to 1947. During WW2 he was a rather aggressive commander of Chin Leevies and irregulars that had defended the borders from 1942 to 1944. Mentioned in books like “Kelly’s Burma Campaign,” “the Jonnies.” Best above all: - Sam kept a very detailed diary that survived all these years!! - recorded are social and military acts of those times. He migrated to Gosnells, Western Australia and lived a happy life.
Wim Vervest, author of The Lost Dictionary, follows on from those rather special people like Margret Standford “Burma Invaded 1942” – Major CM Enrigues, Sandra Campagnac Carney “The Autobiography of a Wanderer,” David Donnisson “The Last of the Guardians,” Desmond Kelly “Kelly’s Burma Campaign,” who have shared with us insights taken from their parent’s and grand-parent’s diaries and memorials that survived the times.
Recommended reading from John Mealin -
“Burma Jack” by Jack Girsham with Lowell Thomas (ISBN 0-393-08647-X) (Synopsis by John Mealin)
Lowell Thomas (1892 – 1981) was a famous American writer, broadcaster and traveler, best known as the man who made Lawrence of Arabia famous. In 1976, President Gerald Ford awarded Lowell the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1989.
"Burma Jack" (Jack Girsham) was one of the great jungle men of his time --- a teakwood logger in Burma's "back of beyond", an intrepid hunter of the murderous man-eating tiger and the rogue elephant, and wartime guide with Merrill's Maurauders in their drive to the Burma Road. Jack was already a legend in his time when the war came. He was recuperating in St. Luke's Hospital in Chabua when Col. Carl Eifler (Commanding Officer of OSS Detachment 101) and Col. John Coughlin recruited him as the war time guide for Merrill's Marauders. Jack acted as scout, guide and interpreter with the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoons of Merrill's Marauders into Walabun and Myitkyina.
In his biography of Jack Girsham, Lowell Thomas indicated that “...This book is the story of a different breed of hunter. The teller of the these tales, Jack Girsham, belongs to the ranks of those from whom you have to pry the truth – namely, that he’s taken his chances with sudden death on enough occasions to satisfy a reckless daredevil, but without the daredevil mentality. Jack is a cool professional who never looked for danger until he’d planned how to handle it. That’s why I persuaded him to tell his story...”
In his Memorandum of 11 November 1944 to the Commanding General (Burma Army Hqrs, New Delhi, India) recommending Jack Girsham’s promotion to Major, Colonel Earnest F. Easterbrook (Infantry Commanding) included the following.
“...Major General Frank D. Merrill, Commanding General of the American Unit during this period, stated that the Maurauders Columns would not have attained their remarkable success if it were not for Capt. Girsham...”
Besides his biography by Lowell Thomas, Jack had numerous articles written on him, was featured in the CBS/Lowell Thomas “High Adventure” TV program aired on April 19, 1958 and the Dell Comic “High Adventure” series published in 1959.
“Burma Jack” by Jack Girsham with Lowell Thomas (ISBN 0-393-08647-X) (Synopsis by John Mealin)
Lowell Thomas (1892 – 1981) was a famous American writer, broadcaster and traveler, best known as the man who made Lawrence of Arabia famous. In 1976, President Gerald Ford awarded Lowell the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1989.
"Burma Jack" (Jack Girsham) was one of the great jungle men of his time --- a teakwood logger in Burma's "back of beyond", an intrepid hunter of the murderous man-eating tiger and the rogue elephant, and wartime guide with Merrill's Maurauders in their drive to the Burma Road. Jack was already a legend in his time when the war came. He was recuperating in St. Luke's Hospital in Chabua when Col. Carl Eifler (Commanding Officer of OSS Detachment 101) and Col. John Coughlin recruited him as the war time guide for Merrill's Marauders. Jack acted as scout, guide and interpreter with the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoons of Merrill's Marauders into Walabun and Myitkyina.
In his biography of Jack Girsham, Lowell Thomas indicated that “...This book is the story of a different breed of hunter. The teller of the these tales, Jack Girsham, belongs to the ranks of those from whom you have to pry the truth – namely, that he’s taken his chances with sudden death on enough occasions to satisfy a reckless daredevil, but without the daredevil mentality. Jack is a cool professional who never looked for danger until he’d planned how to handle it. That’s why I persuaded him to tell his story...”
In his Memorandum of 11 November 1944 to the Commanding General (Burma Army Hqrs, New Delhi, India) recommending Jack Girsham’s promotion to Major, Colonel Earnest F. Easterbrook (Infantry Commanding) included the following.
“...Major General Frank D. Merrill, Commanding General of the American Unit during this period, stated that the Maurauders Columns would not have attained their remarkable success if it were not for Capt. Girsham...”
Besides his biography by Lowell Thomas, Jack had numerous articles written on him, was featured in the CBS/Lowell Thomas “High Adventure” TV program aired on April 19, 1958 and the Dell Comic “High Adventure” series published in 1959.
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by Robert Mole. The last years of British rule.
Available from bookshops, Google Books and Amazon. |
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by Amitav Ghosh.
An historical novel. Available from www.freebookspot, Google Books, and Amazon. |
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by Sir Herbert Thirkell White.
Story of official life covering more than thirty years. Free download. Index |
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Maymyo - More Far: A Walk Out of Burma 1942
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by Joan Robertson.
The author is advised to leave Maymyo, she describes Mandalay in flames, confusion, lack of food and water, the sick and the dying and the courage of those who walked out of Burma. Available from Amazon and Google Books. |
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by V.C. Scott O´Connor.
History, with some beautiful illustrations. Available from the Digital Library. |
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by Colesworthy Grant.
Travel Log with lovely descriptions and sketches, Rangoon - Moulmein. Available in PDF form from University of California Library. |
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Through the Jungle of Death
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by Stephen Brookes.
The Brookes family become refugees, the author, a young boy in 1942, tells of the mud, leeches, mosquitoes, hunger, sickness and death. Available from Google Books and Amazon. |
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by Helen Rodriguez.
A true story of courage, endurance and devotion to duty. This review was written by Sandra Carney. Available from empirebooks@bigpond.com Web: www.empirebooks.com.au Thorpe Publishing Ltd. Anstey, Leicestershire, U.K. |
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The Retreat from Burma
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by Tony Mains
The ABL has provided a short extract regarding his time on evacuation duty with Burma Railways. |
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by Beth Ellis. Free download.
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Burma Painted and Described
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by R. Talbot Kelly.
A travel log from the early days. Index. Free download. |
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A Journey in Burma
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(1861-1862) by Adolf Bastian.
Well written, informative travel log and a difficult book to get hold so we have compiled an index and a few extracts. Available from White Lotus Press, G.P.O. Box 1141, Bangkok 10511 - email ande@loxinfo.co.th |
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Old Moulmein
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1875-1880 by R.R. Langham-Carter Published in 1947.
Another difficult book to get hold of. An Interesting little book recounting some of the personalities of the period, we have provided a few extracts. |
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The River of Lost Footsteps
Distinctly I Remember
Beyond the Chindwin
The Burma Campaign
Defeat into Victory
In The Land of Pagodas
..and some fell by the wayside
Folk Tales of Burma
The Long Trek
I Lived In Burma
A History of Rangoon
Wanderings in Burma |
by Thant Myint U
by Harold Braund
by Bernard Fergusson
by Frank McLynn.
by Field Marshall Viscount Slim.
by Robert B. Thurber.
by Alastair Ramsey Tainsh. Brief extracts are available.
by Maung Htin Aung.
by John Friend.
by E.C.V. Foucar
by B.R. Pearn, published 1937 - extracts are now available.
by George W. Bird, published 1897 - the first a travel log? extracts are now available. |