March Or Die: The Story of Wingate's Chindits

by Philip D. Chinnery

This is the story of a deadly struggle between fanatical Japanese Imperial troops and the British Army. It was fought in the dense tropical jungle of Burma in 1943 and 1944 and was one of the toughest battles of World War II. In this conflict, Major-General Orde Wingate employed fighting tactics that were not the product of an army staff college, but gleaned from his previous experiences of guerrilla warfare learned in Palestine and Abyssinia. He played them at their own game, taking his troops deep behind enemy lines and using hit-and-run tactics to break communications, disrupt supply lines, and shatter the morale of the Japanese emperor's disciples. The men of this force became known as Chindits.

Genres: Military History

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1997, this book recounts the formation, by Major-General Orde Wingate, of the first British Long Range Penetration groups (LRPs) used against the Japanese army in Burma during WWII. It also describes the deployment of LRP columns in Operation Longcloth (February - June 1943) and Operation Thursday (March - August 1944). Wingate’s troops (known as the “Chindits”) were deployed behind enemy lines and tasked with the disruption of Japanese communications, supply lines and troop movements through the use of hit and run attacks, ambushes and the demolition of bridges and railway tracks. The author describes in some detail General Wingate’s unorthodox training methods, the innovative tactics he applied, the ups and downs of the British war effort in Burma and the many, ever-present hardships experienced by the troops. There is a significant focus on the opinions, experiences and memories of individual soldiers. In fact, almost half of the text involves the comments, anecdotes and reflections of the ninety or so veteran “Chindits” whom the author interviewed while researching this book. Their comments add a personal element to the book and include many grim details of their war experiences and heartfelt personal viewpoints that are not always complimentary of those in command. Overall, though I didn’t find the book particularly well written, it was, for me, an eye-opening experience and a very interesting read. 4 stars