Burma: The Forgotten War

by Jon Latimer

Through festering jungle and across burning plains to high mountains and lazy rivers, the Burma campaign of the Second World War involved the longest retreat in British history, and the longest advance; long-range penetration miles behind enemy lines, vicious hand-to-hand fighting, and the horrors of forced labour. Yet this strange war remains utterly fascinating with singular characters like Slim, Mountbatten, Stilwell and Wingate, while dominated by ordinary soldiers that it 'gathered to itself like a whirlpool, men from the ends of the earth': from Britain, America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, West, East and South Africa, but overwhelmingly, from India. Dogras, Sikhs, Punjabis, Kumaonis, Madrassis and Nepalese, representing every race and caste on the subcontinent, were all far from home, all fighting for survival against a ruthless enemy prepared to die for his emperor, while the Burmese fought for their independence. Jon Latimer draws these disparate strands together in a gripping narrative, to describe the operations and the politics that shaped them, while illustrating the experiences of thousands of ordinary people whose lives were caught up and transformed by this south-east Asian maelstrom, many of whom feel that like Fourteenth Army they were forgotten. This book ensures that none of them are.

Genres: World War II, History, War, Nonfiction, Asia, Military Fiction

610 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 2004

About the author

Educated at Christleton County High School in Chester, Jon Latimer studied for a geography degree at University College, Swansea but switched course to graduate in oceanography. He worked as an oceanographer until becoming a full-time writer in 1997.

Reviews

[Calzean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a big book with many, many references on the fighting in Burma during WWII. It covers the background, the initial defeats, the slow turning of the tide and the final victories. The focus is on the military campaigns especially those of the English and American forces.
I have read books on Mountbatten and Stiwell that provide more focus on the politics and the relationships with the cunning Chiang Kai-shek, as well as better covering the role of the Chinese forces. When you read about the dynamics and egos of the war time leaders you wonder how the Allies ever won.
Latimer's book is a detailed and meticulous researched record of the Burma campaign which should provide any student of WWII with plenty to mill over.

[Jayasree B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well researched book about a lesser-known war. I am sure readers who enjoy history would be glad to read this one. An insightful read!

For more book reviews, visit Frost At Midnite.

[George1st · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author of this book Jon Latimer sadly died in in 2009 at the early age of 44, however this remarkably detailed and comprehensive account of the Burma campaign of World War 2 will stand as a lasting legacy to him. In forensic detail the book first published in 2004 recounts and analyses the path to war, its conduct and legacy which is felt sadly to the present day. For various reasons this is a complex story owing to the differing objectives of the allies, (principally the British Empire, America and China) the ethnic and racial diversity of the British Empire forces (which peaked at around 1,000,000 and were primarily from British India but also included East and West African colonial troops and smaller numbers of land and air forces from several other Dominions and Colonies) and the existence on the Japanese side of the Indian National Army and The Burmese Independence Army. For many, perhaps the majority of the Burmese population this war was seen as a clash between two colonial powers and for them the overriding priority was the creation of an independent Burmese state.

Every battle and campaign is painstakingly documented with the aid of maps and the role of various key personalities is examined. This was a theatre of war that was beset by personality clashes, distrust and indeed open hostility between many of the commanders in charge of operations. Not only do we learn about the role of such figures as Slim, Wavell, Wingate and Stilwell but other less well known characters such as Ursula Graham Bower who was the only female guerrilla leader in the history of the British Army as part of "V force". The book takes a dispassionate and clinical look at the strategies and effectiveness of the various operations including the role of the Chindits for which military historians disagree on their military significance. This is certainly an anti war book for it portrays the sheer horror and brutality involved with more dying from disease, hunger and illness than from actual weaponry.

This is a long book and may take a few weeks to read but the time taken is well worth investing in for it gives you not only increased knowledge of a past period of history but an increased insight on current events. The Muslims of northern Arakan were armed by the British to fight and provide intelligence against the Japanese and also to counter balance the Buddhist Rakhine community of the area who supported them. Following the end of the war a brutal ethnic civil war raged between these two armed sides. Following independence in 1948 and the non appearance of what the loyal to the British Muslim minority believed would be the creation of a "Muslim National Area" in Burma the country has been riven by ethnic tension leading in the last few years to acts of persecution destruction and ethnic cleansing by its military. To understand the present you sometimes need to look at it from the perspective of history and this book certainly provides this portal.

[PETER MICHAEL · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was aware of the Burma campaign mainly from the British perspective. The author, quite rightly, gives details of the many other nationalities and armies that fought in that dreadful campaign. The roles of the Chinese, Indian, Gurkhas, East / West Africans, pro and anti-Japanese Burmese, USA and other global participants are very rarely discussed in the media.

The book is astonishingly well researched with many references to the various events taking place in Burma at that time. Jon Latimer is to be congratulated in his efforts in drawing together the many stories from every side of the conflict. There must be many thousands of unrecorded stories of those involved, soldiers and civilians, which are lost forever or are yet to be found.

The allies were led by a mixed bag of senior leaders, ranging from the weak & incompetent to the bravest & most talented to be found in any army. Most Staff Officers seemed to be out of their depth, never having fought a campaign in such arduous and impenetrable terrain. The infighting between the leaders of the various nationalities on the Allies side was quite shocking and led to needless loss of life.

Conditions for the troops, on all sides, were unimaginably bad with disease, malnutrition, lack of supplies, chaotic leadership, the dense jungle and of course constant threat of death and violence.

The Japanese were exceptionally ruthless and violent to their enemies, even when wounded or taken prisoner. Unnecessary torture and executions being commonplace. However, I was surprised to learn that a large number of Burmese could also be equally sadistic to other ethnic groups. Perhaps we shouldn't be too surprised at the attempted genocide of the Rohingya people.that is currently taking place.

Congratulations to the author on producing such a monumental work of Military History.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

GNAB Burma: The Forgotten War is an intriguing, intense look at the battles fought in Burma, in an attempt at maintaining an Allied toehold in the orient. Roosevelt and Churchill formed a China Theatre of War in January of 1942 in order to protect Australia, New Zealand and the balance of the Pacific as the battles for Europe ground on. Jon Latimer brings us a thorough and insightful entry into this little publicised segment of WWII.

Though I have read other histories of Burma, The Forgotten War is a marathon of information and insight into the why's and how's of the battles fought by the allies in the northern Pacific Theatre. This is a history I can recommend to history buffs, but also to families of those soldiers and sailors who battled in these little known but massive movements to cement our hold in the Pacific. Without their sacrifice, so much of the world we know would have been lost.

This was a book I had to take in smaller doses than usual. About 20 hours of reading time, but another 12 hours of notes, sources and references indicate the intense amount of research involved in bringing this history to life. A reviewer cannot do justice to this work with only five stars to work with. Originally published in 2004 by John Murray Publishers, I am grateful to Thistle Publishing for bringing this back around to the general public. I missed it the first time around.

I received a free electronic copy of this history from Netgalley, John Latimer, and Thistle Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
pub date Sept 6, 2018
Thistle Publishing

[Mac · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bust.

Okay, first of all, where were the maps?! I seem to have purchased an entirely legitimate copy of this but it was void of even a single map. It was extremely difficult to follow the tactical and operational movements - this is Burma after all. I tried my best to print out some map companions but they were inadequate.

Next, well I just don't think Latimer ever found the right balance of narrative, strategic, operational or tactical military history. For a while everything is just too operational, then later on this switches to a too tactical focus (particularly in the last year of the war when the Allies take back the country.

Some strategic and political depth is missing. Why are we here? Why do we care? This is only lightly explored.

Losing Burma takes up 400 pages and is deeply explained, taking it back takes about 75 pages and feels rushed, almost like the author was just sort of tired.

Not every history book has to be a narrative one, and this certainly isn't, but it could have benefited a bit more from drawing us closer to a couple protagonists. There is no Slim hero-worship here and that's fine, but I could have used someone to root for.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Thistle Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Burma’ in exchange for my honest review.

I love reading history books and when this book become available to read, it gave me a great opportunity to read about a subject I know nothing about and I was not disappointed the book is well researched and well written. and gives a very detailed look at the Burma campaign of WW2 . Highly recommended for those interested in the history World War II but also recommended because it's a history that needs to be told.

[Emi Yoshida · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally read novels, and don't have an interest in combat or warfare; but made a mistake in selecting this book to read in my eagerness to learn more about this region, not realizing this is a military history. In the beginning I found this to be dry and academic, as if reading a compilation of footnotes, but the more I read the more interested I became; so I'm sure every reader reading this genre on purpose gives it 5-stars.

A sprawling yet balanced account of the travails undergone by armies from Japan, Britain, China, and America; including personal accounts of Africans, Dutch, Australians, Indians, et al of warring against the Burmese (Karen, Chins, Kachins, Shans, Mons, Nagas...) with their 126 different languages. It is incredible to me how much these people on all sides endured, and what all they were up against. Latimer's attention to the "pervasive European racial arrogance, which relegated all Asians to a lower tier," along with acknowledging admiration so many of these military men hold for their enemies is commendable. The scope of involvement in this world war is stupefying. I learned so much about empires and alliances, collaboration and deceit, suffering and sacrifice, death and disease, nature and weather, bombing and destruction, cruelty and heroism, rations and famine, stench and pestilence, suicides and desertion. My favorite bits were about elephants proving more reliable than tanks and the discovery of a strange lizard that says "Fuck You".

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unless you count cities that were bombed in the war, Mandalay Hill was my first WWII battlefield. I was in Burma, now Myanmar, as part of a stop on the most excellent Semester At Sea educational program. Relations at that time between the US and Burma were strained and Americans were often under watch in the country. None of that stopped it from being one of the best travel experiences I have ever had in my life.

Though Pagan was probably the trips highlight, Mandalay Hill was a close second. It is forested, overlooks the city with which it shares a name, and is coated in Buddhist religious buildings which are both old but also still used today. Near the top is a memorial plaque to the Gurkha unit that took the hill by storm with grenades, bayonets, and the kukhri in the battle in 1945. Gurkha units, by the way, have pretty much always been my favorite modern day infantry units.

Despite this experience, and despite my own generally very strong knowledge of both military history and Second World War history, the Burma campaign, both the Japanese conquest and the British and Allied reconquest, is probably my weakest link in theater understanding of the war. Most of my knowledge about it related to its role in being intertwined with Chiang Kai-shek and the China front. This omission has been rectified with the excellent book Latimer has produced here.

We are given the motivations and thoughts of many actors, from lowly combat soldiers to Burmese politicians and of course generals on both sides and from many nations. A portrait is painted of an accidental theater (the Japanese had few plans regarding Burma until they realized British weakness, the British started out and often had a very B-team collection in the early days as well), an almost ethnic civil war unleashed by the toppling of British rule, and a fascinating combination of Allied disgruntlement with each other.

But this was the theater that saw the maturation of what would become the Indian and Pakistani Armies, the quite strong performance of African colonial units on the front line, and the end of British power in the region. It featured Britain's best WWII general-Slim, and America's worst-Stillwell. It was the one foreign country where Chinese troops regularly operated in the war, as well as the home base for the Indian National Army which worked with the Japanese. Prominent people in Asia's post colonial near future were made on both sides of the war.

The maps of the book, however, leave much to be desired and have the misfortune of being badly formatted on the kindle version. This is a real shame particularly in following Slim's methodical advance into central Burma in 1945.

[John Purvis · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Burma: The Forgotten War" eBook was published in 2018 (original paper edition published in 2004) and was written by Jon Latimer. Mr. Latimer published several non-fiction books. 

I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of violence. The book covers the years of World War II detailing actions taken in what was then Burman (now known a Myanmar). 

Most of what I have read regarding World War II has been either centered on the European Theater or the Pacific Theater and focused on the forces of the US. Most of the Burma campaigns were centered around British or Commonwealth ground forces, though the US played a major role in the air engagements. 

I thought that the 16.5+ hours I spent reading this 961-page history were interesting. The page count seems high, but the last third of the book was citations of reference. Certainly, there was a lot of information presented that I had not known about before. Some history books are presented in a very readable fashion. I have reviewed a few of those in the past. This was not one of those books.

This was very dry. It is filled with names, dates, and locations. The fact that the locations are for places I had never heard of did not help. Also, I found that the numerical military unit references used for both British and Japanese units was very confusing. I also felt that the book was very choppy, jumping back and forth in time.

If you are researching military efforts in Burma during WWII, you will find this a very useful book. It does a good job of conveying the misery that troops of both sides had to endure for most of the Burma war efforts.  The perspective presented on the war and especially the Commonwealth troops engaged in it very British. The chosen cover art is OK. I give this novel a 3 out of 5 based on general readability.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/. 

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Burma :The Forgotten War

Author: Jon Latimer

Genre: Nonfiction: History

Pages: 661

Rating: 4

Through festering jungle and across burning plains to high mountains and lazy rivers, the Burma campaign of the Second World War involved the longest retreat in British history, and the longest advance; long-range penetration miles behind enemy lines, vicious hand-to-hand fighting, and the horrors of forced labour

The Figureheads of the campaign were singular characters like Slim, Mountbatten, Stilwell and Wingate; while its ranks were dominated by ordinary soldiers gathered ‘like a whirlpool from the ends of the earth’ - from Britain, America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, West, East and South Africa, but overwhelmingly from India.

Jon Latimer draws these disparate strands together in a gripping narrative that encompasses everything from the widest political developments to detailed tactical operations. His focus is the experiences of thousands of ordinary people whose lives were transformed by this south-east Asian maelstrom, many of whom feel that they were forgotten. Burma ensures that none of them are


My thoughts

Would I recommend it? yes

Would I read more by this author? maybe

interesting and thoroughly researched book that has many references on the fighting in Burma during WWII. It covers the background, the initial defeats, the slow turning of the tide and the final victories as well as the focus that's on the military campaigns especially those of the English and American forces.It brings to live the characters it talks about, and makes you feel the things they went though ,with that said I want to say thank you to NetGalley for letting me read and review it .

[Steve Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good in the sense that it is incredibly detailed, covering the movements and actions of both the Allied and the Japanese armies. However, that was also one of its failings - too detailed in my opinion. It was also sometimes difficult to determine, without clear knowledge of the units being discussed, if the author was speaking about Allied or Japanese army activities. However, it fitted my purposes - I had read somewhere that the battles of Imphal and Kohima were critical turning points for the Allies in the war in the east, and I wanted to investigate further.
This history really exposed the terror and savagery of war. I feel great pity for all of those - Allies, Japanese, and civilians - who suffered so greatly in this long and cruel war fought over such a beautiful part of the planet. And to what purpose? For the people of Burma, especially the minorities, the war and its attendant brutality has really never ended.

We should, all of humanity, be ashamed that we have done this, and that we continue to do it.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burma by Jon Latimer, Thank You Net Gallery and Thistle Publishing for this copy.

In the title it mentions The Forgotten War, to me this is correct because I never heard of it until this book.

We follow brave men as they fight to the front lines to end the war. I found some parts laugh out loud even though in the face of death, like the guy who kept getting shot in the butt. There is a lot of blood and gore what you would expect due to the title. This book shows about 600 pages but it's really about 360 give or take. In the end of the book there are footnotes, the numbers constantly in the book is a little annoying, but easy to get through, All in all it's an important book and perfect for war buffs.

Thank you for the book for my review, I hope it helps.

Cherie'

[Kate Schaefer · Rating 3 out of 5]

World War II seems to be taught in two segments- Europe until VE Day, and Asia until the Japanese surrender following the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We forget the war was being waged in many places simultaneously- and that many crucial efforts are lost in the shuffle. John Latimer’s Burma: The Forgotten War focuses on the world war in Burma where the Allies (Great Britain and the Republic of China for the most part) fought back against the Japanese conquest of Burma. Latimer’s work is dense and detailed, and an excellent addition to existing historical scholarship on the Pacific theatre and the lesser-known battles waged there.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is very seldom that i read non fiction. Many years ago, and as a child, i knew someone who spoke about Burma and the Second World War. I was very young at the time to understand what went on in Burma, so when i spotted Jon Latimer's book 'Burma', my interest was aroused.

A very well written book which was very informative and interesting, but due to topic and amount of pages, it was by no means a quick read. i would recommend if you wish to know more about Burma during the Second World War.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not finish this book. I couldn't. It was extremely well researched and it was way to dry for me. There was no break and it was just too much for me. I think that if you are a history buff or are very interested in war this book would be for you, but not for me. The description was easy to read, the book not so much. Received this book as an ARC and I gave my review voluntarily.

[Neil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
There is no doubt that the author really enjoyed researching this subject.
Unfortunately too much detail made the story line confusing and tedious in my opinion.
If you need a reference book though this would be ideal.

[John Bedford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview Military account. Slightly strange writing with eyewitness accounts that sometimes don't really make sense and VC awards given without saying what for. But a good solid Military account

[Andrew Brewster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great detail, great research, littered with great stories too. Was slightly too in depth for my personal preference but I’m sure that will also appeal to others

[Brian Lobodzinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 'Forgotten Army' seems to be growing in historical interest in the last decade. About time too since the hardship of this campaign and how near UK came to losing the 1944 'U Go' campaign if the Japanese had captured the supply base at Dimapur rather than starving to death is ignored by many. This book gives the reader a good insight into the challenges of jungle fighting and the heroism of the soldiers involved.

[Simon Clayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book covering the fighting in Burma and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author’s style brought the subject matter, which has been extensively researched, alive and produced a highly detailed narrative.
The descriptions of the near impenetrable terrain, making the passage of troops and matériels a huge challenge, brought me a real sense of the hardship being endured. Couple this with a lack of provisions causing malnutrition and disease and the picture becomes even clearer.
Atmospheric and authentic this was a great introduction to this theatre of conflict

[Inknscroll]

This book, also, was recommended in the "Bookmarks" magazine's issues of either: (Nov/ Dec 2007) or (Jan/ Feb 2008).

[Craig Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burma gives a synopsis of a little known part of the conflict in Southeast Asia during World War II. It attempts to integrate Burma within the full context of Japanese and surrounding countries during that time. While the information is sound and interesting the format is a little bewildering. I found myself not following the story because the author seemingly has taken paragraphs and jumbled them before putting the on paper. Good but could be much better with stronger editing.

[CenReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would to thank both NetGalley and Thistle Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Burma’ in exchange for my honest unbiased review.
As a person who loves history all I can say is WOW! This book is well researched and well written.
I had heard a little about Burma but not a great deal. However it is certainly has a very important place with history.

I feel it needs to be discussed and learnt about within educational level also.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burma is a southeast Asia country bordering India, Bangladesh, Laos, China and Thailand. During WW11, it was a prize that was fought over and they almost destroyed this country and it's people. Japan wanted Burma to secure what it had won in Malaya and Singapore and to, also to cut off the supply line of the Chinese. Britain wanted it under British rule. It was a hard fought war sending the British 900 miles in defeat. This book is a comprehensive guide to this part of the war that some have forgotten about. For all WW11 history buffs and those who love history in gemeral. It's a great book that I highly recommend, The author has written a book that you won't want to put down. I received this book from Net Galley and Thistle Publishing for a honest review and no compensation otherwise.

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Thistle Publishing for the eARC.
Not knowing anything about Burma or the war there, this was an eye opener for me. So many soldiers from different countries endured labour camps, hand to hand combat and utterly impossible conditions. Those poor men! The English and Japan wanted to conquer Burma, the Burmese fought for their independence ...all in all the country was virtually destroyed in the process.
The author obviously did meticulous research, making for an easy to follow read that's ideal for anyone interested in WWII and, I think, would be a great addition to any library, whether general or school. It's as horrifying as it is fascinating and once again solidified my hatred of war, knowing full well we will never learn from experience.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Burma: the Forgotten War seems to be an attempt to capture all the nuances of a WWII campaign that is so multifaceted as to almost defy coverage. Latimer has obviously done copious research as there are extensive footnotes accompanying the chapters. In some cases these are actually off-putting as they interrupt the reading. The work seemed to have the style more of an academic treatise and it was actually dull at points. For a scholar highly interested in the Burma theater it would be a great resource. They would enjoy learning more about the various battles from Kohima to Imphal and how commanders on both sides reacted. There were a number of maps showing the war’s progress and battle lines from 1941/42 to 1944/45. How Indian troops as part of the British Empire were involved gives an insight into current Assam province issues. The book is quite long but in the PDF version I was reviewing, I’m not sure of the exact page count –but it seems about three times the length of a typical 300 page novel. The book was not an enjoyable or easy read but it did provide enlightenment on this aspect of World War II. The audience who would enjoy it most would be specialized in battle history of the place or scholar seeking to understand the nuances.

[Nigel Masterton · Rating 4 out of 5]

No-one could fault Latimer on the forensic research that lies behind his writing this weighty tome on the Burma campaign. His reportage of what really was experienced by the individuals involved is both vivid and gripping. Heroism, stamina and bravery jump of the page and certainly merit telling. I found it a little difficult to follow the geography of this campaign as the combatants covered thousands of miles through jungle and over jagged passes - perhaps a campaign wall-map could be enclosed. Nonetheless, Latimer is to be congratulated on doing a great service to the millions who fought in "The forgotten war" by giving this campaign the respect and analysis it clearly deserves. His book is a worthy addition to the Burma War literature.

[Lisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a book. It is chock full of information on their fight during world war II. I recommend this book. It's a great read.

[Sue Blanchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Thistle Publishing and the author, Jon Latimer, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Burma in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I thought this book was extremely well researched and written. It offered a more in depth analysis of the war in Burma.
Definitely well worth a read for fans of history.