Bill Slim

Command #17

by Robert Lyman, Peter Dennis (Illustrator)

'Bill' Slim was one of the greatest British generals of World War II. In a career that stretched from 1914 until 1958 Bill Slim's greatest triumphs came in India and Burma in the long war against the Japanese between 1944 and 1945. This new Command title will cover both expeditions extensively. It also explores the legacy of a general that time often forgets. His success in rebuilding the morale and self-confidence of a defeated army remains at the heart of the way the British Army continues to train its soldiers today. He was no theoretical soldier, but in his demonstration of the principles of what is today called 'manoeuvre warfare' he is regarded as one of the finest commanders of the modern age and this book will help illustrate why.

Genres: World War II, Nonfiction, History

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

By birth a New Zealander, I was educated in Australia and at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. After a 20-year career in the British Army I turned my hand to writing, my PhD being published in 2004 as 'Slim, Master of War, a military biography of arguably Britain's greatest field commander of WW2.

I am a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

I am a trustee of the Kohima Educational Trust, which seeks to provide educational opportunities for young learners in Nagaland.

Reviews

[Sean Chick · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those in the know, Slim is one of the best army level commanders of World War II, and certainly Britain's best. This is a good enough introduction to his life and campaigns. I did find it a bit hard to follow the 1945 battles in Burma and generally the book seems to skip around too much.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read, good maps, and supported statements about Bill Slim and his leadership. Everything I expect from a Command series entry.

[H D Cusick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary Revelations

as a ww2 v e t, I have been startled by the revelations of not only the man (Sims) but of the significance of the Japanese incursions into India. An often overlooked theater of WW2, I was surprised at the multinational nature of t
He effort and the early and effective use of air-land-sea resources that allowed the Allies to take advantage of Sims' extraordinary vision.