What do you think?
Rate this book
Uncle Bill: The Authorised Biography of Field Marshal Viscount Slim
In 2011 the National Army Museum conducted a poll to decide who merited the title of 'Britain's Greatest General'. In the end two men shared the honour. One, predictably, was the Duke of Wellington. The other was Bill Slim. Had he been alive, Slim would have been surprised, for he was the most modest of men - a rare quality among generals. Of all the plaudits heaped on him during his life, the one he valued most was the epithet by which he was affectionately known to the troops: 'Uncle Bill'.
Born in Bristol in 1891, the son of a small-time businessman, he was commissioned as a temporary Second Lieutenant on the outbreak of the First World War. Seriously wounded twice, in Gallipoli and Mesopotamia, he was awarded the Military Cross in 1918. Between the wars he served in the Indian Army with the Gurkhas and began writing short stories to supplement his income.
Promotion came rapidly with the Second World War, and in March 1942 he was sent to Burma to take command of the First Burma Corps, then in full flight from the advancing Japanese. Through the force of his leadership, Slim turned disorderly panic into a controlled military withdrawal across the border into India. Two years later, having raised and trained the largest army ever assembled by Britain, Slim returned to drive the enemy out of Burma and shatter the myth of Japanese invincibility which had hamstrung Allied operations in the East for so long. Probably the most respected and loved military leader since the Duke of Marlborough, he later became a popular and successful Governor-General of Australia in 1953, was raised to the peerage, and died in London in 1970.
This masterly biography has been written with the full co-operation of the Slim family.
Born in Bristol in 1891, the son of a small-time businessman, he was commissioned as a temporary Second Lieutenant on the outbreak of the First World War. Seriously wounded twice, in Gallipoli and Mesopotamia, he was awarded the Military Cross in 1918. Between the wars he served in the Indian Army with the Gurkhas and began writing short stories to supplement his income.
Promotion came rapidly with the Second World War, and in March 1942 he was sent to Burma to take command of the First Burma Corps, then in full flight from the advancing Japanese. Through the force of his leadership, Slim turned disorderly panic into a controlled military withdrawal across the border into India. Two years later, having raised and trained the largest army ever assembled by Britain, Slim returned to drive the enemy out of Burma and shatter the myth of Japanese invincibility which had hamstrung Allied operations in the East for so long. Probably the most respected and loved military leader since the Duke of Marlborough, he later became a popular and successful Governor-General of Australia in 1953, was raised to the peerage, and died in London in 1970.
This masterly biography has been written with the full co-operation of the Slim family.
481 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2013
10 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Russell Miller
55 books37 followersRussell Miller (born c. 1938) is a British journalist and author of fifteen books, including biographies of Hugh Hefner, J. Paul Getty and L. Ron Hubbard. While under contract to The Sunday Times Magazine he won four press awards and was voted Writer of the Year by the Society of British Magazine Editors.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 11, 2023
I really enjoyed this book immensely. Read it on trains, buses, and flights after finding it at the Oxfam Bookstore in Dublin (A can't miss)! I was held in rapt attention by the story of one of Britain's best generals-ever. Slim was the leader of the Liberation of Burma, after defending India from the Japanese in Assam. His offensives, slicing and dicing Nipponese formations with speed and efficiency, using primarily South Asian and African soldiery, and American equipment, as still taught as paragons of modern warfare, especially as he did it through some of the most difficult terrain ever fought over, the Jungles and cities of Eastern India/Pakistan and Burma. But as always in war, it was his man-management skills that shone throughout even over his Tactical and Grand Tactical brilliance, continuing to be taught in military and business schools alike. Not his fault that this front was the least well publicized campaign in the war and thus too few people know about it now. This book aims to give him his due- and does, in spades.
Born in Bristol (I stayed a few doors down from his birthplace and made a pilgrimage to view the plaque on its wall), and raised as a regular middle class Briton, Slim is one of the few British military legends to come from the ranks of the officer training program before WWI. He fought at Gallipoli and in Mesopotamia, so he was keenly aware of the perils of warfare at the end of long supply lines. Interwar service directed him to the Indian Army, where he joined the Gurkhas as an officer. When WWII broke out, he first fought in the middle east, in Eritrea, the Sudan, Iran and Syria, all vital but peripheral campaigns where his brilliance handling of disparate troops and air forces began to take shape. Brought back to India to try to blunt the Japanese onslaught in Burma in 1942, he made the best of his "Burcorps"(Burma Corps) forced retreat - learning valuable new lessons about the jungle and supply management. All of these came together as he battled Supply difficulties, Indian Political currents, terrain, and his own fellow officers (two commanders tried to sack him, to the detriment of their own careers) to develop, train, and then conquer with his creation, the 14th Army that would carry out his simple but brilliant plans. All the way, he retained a common touch that was appreciated by officers and men alike. It's a wonderful story , well told.
For the junior reader, this book should be a delightful chance to get real insight into exotic climes, and how war needs to be fought in them, Filled with anecdotes and the stirring talks Slim had with his officers and men, the book is a challenge, but not an overwhelming one. For the Military Enthusiast/Gamer/Modeller there are great passages that will be sure to improve Scenarios, Dioramas, and the real understanding of at least four of the least discussed fronts in WWII, so the reader will probably enjoy this at least as much as I did, if not more. Even a business student can learn from the man-management skills Slim displays again and again as he swims against the tide at first, and then persuades the tide to swim with him. The mere fact that this gentleman was able to finesse dealings with Orde Wingate and Joseph Stillwell as part of his Burma brilliance, should tell the reader that this was no slouch in a slouch hat. A cracking read, and one even the least military oriented reader will still enjoy for its discussion of humanity in wartime settings.
Born in Bristol (I stayed a few doors down from his birthplace and made a pilgrimage to view the plaque on its wall), and raised as a regular middle class Briton, Slim is one of the few British military legends to come from the ranks of the officer training program before WWI. He fought at Gallipoli and in Mesopotamia, so he was keenly aware of the perils of warfare at the end of long supply lines. Interwar service directed him to the Indian Army, where he joined the Gurkhas as an officer. When WWII broke out, he first fought in the middle east, in Eritrea, the Sudan, Iran and Syria, all vital but peripheral campaigns where his brilliance handling of disparate troops and air forces began to take shape. Brought back to India to try to blunt the Japanese onslaught in Burma in 1942, he made the best of his "Burcorps"(Burma Corps) forced retreat - learning valuable new lessons about the jungle and supply management. All of these came together as he battled Supply difficulties, Indian Political currents, terrain, and his own fellow officers (two commanders tried to sack him, to the detriment of their own careers) to develop, train, and then conquer with his creation, the 14th Army that would carry out his simple but brilliant plans. All the way, he retained a common touch that was appreciated by officers and men alike. It's a wonderful story , well told.
For the junior reader, this book should be a delightful chance to get real insight into exotic climes, and how war needs to be fought in them, Filled with anecdotes and the stirring talks Slim had with his officers and men, the book is a challenge, but not an overwhelming one. For the Military Enthusiast/Gamer/Modeller there are great passages that will be sure to improve Scenarios, Dioramas, and the real understanding of at least four of the least discussed fronts in WWII, so the reader will probably enjoy this at least as much as I did, if not more. Even a business student can learn from the man-management skills Slim displays again and again as he swims against the tide at first, and then persuades the tide to swim with him. The mere fact that this gentleman was able to finesse dealings with Orde Wingate and Joseph Stillwell as part of his Burma brilliance, should tell the reader that this was no slouch in a slouch hat. A cracking read, and one even the least military oriented reader will still enjoy for its discussion of humanity in wartime settings.
December 22, 2017
'Uncle Bill' tells the story of Bill Slim, mastermind of the allied victory in Burma during World War 2. I read this book, primarily, as part of my research for some writing, but, from a starting position of agnosticism, I grew to massively respect this non-establishment figure who became one of our greatest ever generals.
Now this is an authorised biography, so it does venerate its subject to a significant degree (it quickly glosses over the scandals that beset his time as Governor General of Australia for instance). If you take that out of the equation, you also have to overlook an acceptance of the officer-other ranks divide - even within the context of British Empire history as it was at the time, it bugs me how the officer classes seemed to treat the ordinary soldier as another (decidedly inferior) species - and it seems to me that Miller pretty much goes along with that in an unquestioning way. The expendability of the British Soldier and the privations they suffered in Burma are shocking.
Despite these minor quibbles, Miller presents a riveting and affectionate portrait of the man from the other side of the tracks who became loved and respected, on the whole, by both those who served under him and the masters he served. The story of how Slim turned near defeat into victory is a remarkable tale of stubborn persistence and genius. For an overview of Slim's life and, particularly the Burma campaign, despite its faults, there can be few better accounts of this rollicking tale.
Now this is an authorised biography, so it does venerate its subject to a significant degree (it quickly glosses over the scandals that beset his time as Governor General of Australia for instance). If you take that out of the equation, you also have to overlook an acceptance of the officer-other ranks divide - even within the context of British Empire history as it was at the time, it bugs me how the officer classes seemed to treat the ordinary soldier as another (decidedly inferior) species - and it seems to me that Miller pretty much goes along with that in an unquestioning way. The expendability of the British Soldier and the privations they suffered in Burma are shocking.
Despite these minor quibbles, Miller presents a riveting and affectionate portrait of the man from the other side of the tracks who became loved and respected, on the whole, by both those who served under him and the masters he served. The story of how Slim turned near defeat into victory is a remarkable tale of stubborn persistence and genius. For an overview of Slim's life and, particularly the Burma campaign, despite its faults, there can be few better accounts of this rollicking tale.
March 9, 2019
The book describes the life of William 'Bill' Slim, commander of the 14th Army that faced the Japanese in Burma. Fighting in Burma, what many still consider one of the lesser theaters of WWII, Bill Slim was beaten back by the Japanese but returned the favor commanding the largest army ever assembled by Britain.
This army consisted of many nationalities, ethnic and religious groups, and used special forces like the Chindits for cutting the Japanese lines of communication and supply. He succeeded in making the army a powerful force that drove back the Japanese and inflicted heavy losses upon the enemy while doing so. Its soldiers became proud members of the 14th Army, and while the outside world hardly recognized their feats, their commander was full of praise of 'his' men. And it was also the other way around, the soldiers were proud of 'their' commander. 'Uncle Bill', as they used to call him, would be followed by them anywhere.
Slim fought at Gallipoli and on the Mesopotamian front during WWI, was seriously wounded but survived. Throughout the book his life as a soldier is described in a pleasant and easy to read manner. What gets clear quite soon is that, despite his rank, he felt most at home between his men, the ordinary soldier. He went a long way to ensure that his men were taken care of, for him this was the most important task an officer had. In Burma it could happen that he made his driver stop his staff car and hail over a number of soldiers to give them a lift to their camp. If he returned late after a round of inspections, visiting the frontline troops, he took care of getting his driver bedded down and supplied with food. After that was settled, he would start looking after himself.
The book covers the campaign in Burma in great and interesting detail. In my opinion anybody that is interested in this part of the war should read this book. In fact maybe any army officer should read this. It is a lesson in humility and leadership.
After the war he became the CIGS and also Governor-General of Australia.
If you will ask people to name a great British commander of WWII, Montgomery will probably be the first that will be named. Ask about any great British commander ever, and Wellington will pop up too. A poll conducted by the National Army Museum in 2011 however showed 'Uncle Bill' being rated very high, a surprise to many. He ended up sharing the first place with the Duke of Wellington...
Great book about a great leader and a great man.
This army consisted of many nationalities, ethnic and religious groups, and used special forces like the Chindits for cutting the Japanese lines of communication and supply. He succeeded in making the army a powerful force that drove back the Japanese and inflicted heavy losses upon the enemy while doing so. Its soldiers became proud members of the 14th Army, and while the outside world hardly recognized their feats, their commander was full of praise of 'his' men. And it was also the other way around, the soldiers were proud of 'their' commander. 'Uncle Bill', as they used to call him, would be followed by them anywhere.
Slim fought at Gallipoli and on the Mesopotamian front during WWI, was seriously wounded but survived. Throughout the book his life as a soldier is described in a pleasant and easy to read manner. What gets clear quite soon is that, despite his rank, he felt most at home between his men, the ordinary soldier. He went a long way to ensure that his men were taken care of, for him this was the most important task an officer had. In Burma it could happen that he made his driver stop his staff car and hail over a number of soldiers to give them a lift to their camp. If he returned late after a round of inspections, visiting the frontline troops, he took care of getting his driver bedded down and supplied with food. After that was settled, he would start looking after himself.
The book covers the campaign in Burma in great and interesting detail. In my opinion anybody that is interested in this part of the war should read this book. In fact maybe any army officer should read this. It is a lesson in humility and leadership.
After the war he became the CIGS and also Governor-General of Australia.
If you will ask people to name a great British commander of WWII, Montgomery will probably be the first that will be named. Ask about any great British commander ever, and Wellington will pop up too. A poll conducted by the National Army Museum in 2011 however showed 'Uncle Bill' being rated very high, a surprise to many. He ended up sharing the first place with the Duke of Wellington...
Great book about a great leader and a great man.
July 13, 2023
A scholarly and very readable biography of one of Britain's greatest generals, up there with Wellington and Marlborough, a pity he is not better known by the post war generations.
A good book, well written and well worth reading.
A good book, well written and well worth reading.
November 6, 2018
A fascinating Read
Any one who has an interest in military history must surely have heard of Field Marshal Slim a fascinating insight into the man and the times he lived in
Any one who has an interest in military history must surely have heard of Field Marshal Slim a fascinating insight into the man and the times he lived in
November 17, 2021
A great book for a great leader during a terribly difficult time.
Has such good principles and colourful stories.
Has such good principles and colourful stories.
January 2, 2015
Russell Miller has written a superb Biography of Field Marshall Viscount Slim. "Uncle Bill" is a fascinating study of the man I consider was the finest General on the Allied side during the Second World War. What makes this Biography stand out is the manner in which the author gives his reader insights into Bill Slim's thinking and decision processes.Slim was an outstanding "Leader." In this well written Biography, we are able to look into Slim's leadership "DNA," grasping the essence of why he was so successful leading the 14th Army in Burma, the most difficult and hardest fought campaign of World War II. I strongly urge anyone interested in developing his or her Leadership skills to read this fine study by Russell Miller.
February 6, 2017
Well written, researched and really interesting. A little one-sided and occasionally hard to follow all of the detail around some of the military engagements but very interesting.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews