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Another Man's War: The Story of a Burma Boy in Britain's Forgotten African Army
In December 1941 the Japanese invaded Burma. For the British, the longest land campaign of the Second World War had begun. 100,000 African soldiers were taken from Britain’s colonies to fight the Japanese in the Burmese jungles. They performed heroically in one of the most brutal theatres of war, yet their contribution has been largely ignored.
Isaac Fadoyebo was one of those ‘Burma Boys’. At the age of sixteen he ran away from his Nigerian village to join the British Army. Sent to Burma, he was attacked and left for dead in the jungle by the Japanese. Sheltered by courageous local rice farmers, Isaac spent nine months in hiding before his eventual rescue. He returned to Nigeria a hero, but his story was soon forgotten. Barnaby Phillips travelled to Nigeria and Burma in search of Isaac, the family who saved his life, and the legacy of an Empire. Another Man’s War is Isaac’s story.
Isaac Fadoyebo was one of those ‘Burma Boys’. At the age of sixteen he ran away from his Nigerian village to join the British Army. Sent to Burma, he was attacked and left for dead in the jungle by the Japanese. Sheltered by courageous local rice farmers, Isaac spent nine months in hiding before his eventual rescue. He returned to Nigeria a hero, but his story was soon forgotten. Barnaby Phillips travelled to Nigeria and Burma in search of Isaac, the family who saved his life, and the legacy of an Empire. Another Man’s War is Isaac’s story.
336 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2014
About the author
Barnaby Phillips
5 books14 followersBarnaby Phillips is an author, journalist and lecturer. 'The African Kingdom of Gold - Britain and the Asante Treasure' (2026) is his third book, after 'Loot- Britain and the Benin Bronzes' (2021) and 'Another Man's War' (2014). Previously Barnaby was a journalist for 27 years with the BBC and Al Jazeera, based in Mozambique, Angola, Nigeria, South Africa and Greece. He lives in London, and also works for the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI) as an adviser on communications.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 1, 2020
It doesn't look like much from the description. It's the story of an old soldier from the Second World War. So many books have been written about the Second World War -- do we need another one, written so long afterwards? The protagonist of this story was not a famous general, or a fighter pilot ace, just an ordinary private from a West African Regiment. Yet I found it a profoundly moving and illuminating story.
Isaac Fadoyebo was born in a small town in Western Nigeria. He was recruited by the British Army, trained as a medical orderly and sent to Burma to be part of the Allied push to retake it from the Japanese. He was wounded in the only real action he saw, and much of the story is taken up with the account of his almost miraculous survival. He returned to Nigeria after the war at the age of 19, and became a civil servant.
Barnaby Phillips has done a superb job of researching Isaac Fadoyebo's life, and the lives of those who touched his and tells his story in such a way that one learns an enormous amount about the history of Nigeria and of Burma, and of the nature of war itself.
One of the things that struck me was that Isaac Fadeyebo joined the army at the age of 17, as my father-in-law did. We once persuaded my father-in-law to tell his war stories, but he was always reluctant to do so. He joined the army, was captured at Tobruk, was in a POW camp in Italy, from which he escaped and returned home. Another private, another continent, same war.
But where the story of Isaac Fadoyebo illuminated this for me was in the enormous amount of time and resources all this took. Fadoyebo was trained for a year, then despatched by ship to Bombay, travelled by train to Calcutta, and then by ship again across the Bay of Bengal to Burma. All this effort to assemble an army and get it to the right place before a shot had ever been fired.
Isaac Fedeyebo's unit was there to be just behind the front lines to provide first aid to wounded soldiers before they could be evacuated. Fadeyebo was wounded, and a lot of his colleagues killed, before they ever helped a single wounded combatant. From the point of view of army accountants the entire effort must count as a huge waste of time and money and resources.
But the story of people like Isaac needs to be told, and Barnaby Phillips tells it very well indeed.
Isaac Fadoyebo was born in a small town in Western Nigeria. He was recruited by the British Army, trained as a medical orderly and sent to Burma to be part of the Allied push to retake it from the Japanese. He was wounded in the only real action he saw, and much of the story is taken up with the account of his almost miraculous survival. He returned to Nigeria after the war at the age of 19, and became a civil servant.
Barnaby Phillips has done a superb job of researching Isaac Fadoyebo's life, and the lives of those who touched his and tells his story in such a way that one learns an enormous amount about the history of Nigeria and of Burma, and of the nature of war itself.
One of the things that struck me was that Isaac Fadeyebo joined the army at the age of 17, as my father-in-law did. We once persuaded my father-in-law to tell his war stories, but he was always reluctant to do so. He joined the army, was captured at Tobruk, was in a POW camp in Italy, from which he escaped and returned home. Another private, another continent, same war.
But where the story of Isaac Fadoyebo illuminated this for me was in the enormous amount of time and resources all this took. Fadoyebo was trained for a year, then despatched by ship to Bombay, travelled by train to Calcutta, and then by ship again across the Bay of Bengal to Burma. All this effort to assemble an army and get it to the right place before a shot had ever been fired.
Isaac Fedeyebo's unit was there to be just behind the front lines to provide first aid to wounded soldiers before they could be evacuated. Fadeyebo was wounded, and a lot of his colleagues killed, before they ever helped a single wounded combatant. From the point of view of army accountants the entire effort must count as a huge waste of time and money and resources.
But the story of people like Isaac needs to be told, and Barnaby Phillips tells it very well indeed.
May 12, 2015
This book is really three stories. The first covers one African's experience in Burma during World War II. It's a frightening tale of survival behind enemy lines and the kindness of complete strangers. The second story is the aftermath of World War II in both Burma and Nigeria. The third and final story is how the author became involved in the initial tale and his efforts to tie it all together. If you want a thorough examination of the African units of the British Empire, you won't get it; you will get an idea of what they did and how they were regarded both during and after the war. This book is more of a personal tale of survival, readjusting to civilian life and paying personal debts. The author is more of a journalist than an historian but he has looked at the sources and uses them well.
February 12, 2024
Really interesting account of African British troupes in WW2, particularly the two main characters, Isaac and David. Its always fascinating to me to read about how people live/lived in different countries and in different times. While the story was very interesting, it was hard for me to get into this book and to stick with it due to the style of writing. Contrary to my liking, there were too many quotes from people who weren't in the actual story of the two main subjects which bogged down the flow of their harrowing tail. That said, as dry as the book was at some points, I stuck with it to find out what happened to Isaac and David. In doing so I also came to learn about the British Empire around the time of the second world war and why so many countries gained their independence shortly thereafter. I also learned about the history of Burma/Myanmar up to the 21st century and the past decade.
One quote sticks with me. Near the end of the book, after having travelled to Burma to find the family who had helped Isaac & David, the author in telling of the fate of the Arakan Muslims or Rohingyas in the 1990's "Little wonder that in Asia they are known as the 'new Palestinians'.
How sad.
One quote sticks with me. Near the end of the book, after having travelled to Burma to find the family who had helped Isaac & David, the author in telling of the fate of the Arakan Muslims or Rohingyas in the 1990's "Little wonder that in Asia they are known as the 'new Palestinians'.
How sad.
May 24, 2023
This book is one of those non-fiction gems that is simultaneously an amazing story, as well as being an interesting overview of a forgotten chapter of history.
You could easily see it being a film with present-day discovery and flashback to the event scenes, similar to Birdsong.
The story skips along at a good pace, partly due to the drama of the survival yarn, and the "let me sit down and tell you a story" writing style that you find in modern non fiction books like these.
An aspect of this style that I love is that it feels like you're reading a story, but there's actually a decent level of analysis integrated too, in particular about Nigeria, Burma and the British Army's relationship with these two countries and it's people. As other reviewers have noted however, it doesn't go into great analytical detail (presumably in order to keep the pace of the story).
You could easily see it being a film with present-day discovery and flashback to the event scenes, similar to Birdsong.
The story skips along at a good pace, partly due to the drama of the survival yarn, and the "let me sit down and tell you a story" writing style that you find in modern non fiction books like these.
An aspect of this style that I love is that it feels like you're reading a story, but there's actually a decent level of analysis integrated too, in particular about Nigeria, Burma and the British Army's relationship with these two countries and it's people. As other reviewers have noted however, it doesn't go into great analytical detail (presumably in order to keep the pace of the story).
October 21, 2022
A typical conceit of non-fiction writers is to use one or a few typical narratives to illustrate a more global phenomenon, and that could be seen as the device Phillips uses here: the experiences of Isaac Fadoyebo, a Nigerian recruited by the British to fight the Japanese in Burma in WWII, to explore the issues and conflicts from that part of the War and what has occurred since then in those areas.
Indeed, colonialism, race relations and the history of Nigeria and Burma (Myanmar), are all discussed here but Issac's story and the story of the author attempting to find and reunite the players in this drama are transcendent. This is an incredible story--very inspiring--eye-opening--heart-warming. One of the best books I've read this year.
Indeed, colonialism, race relations and the history of Nigeria and Burma (Myanmar), are all discussed here but Issac's story and the story of the author attempting to find and reunite the players in this drama are transcendent. This is an incredible story--very inspiring--eye-opening--heart-warming. One of the best books I've read this year.
December 31, 2019
An uneven treatment of multiple subjects by a journalist who wants to milk a series of semi-related stories into a book. The background chapters on Nigeria and Burma are well-researched, but lacking in originality. The best parts of the book are the recounting of the introduction of the Nigerian soldiers to the South Asian war. Personal anecdotes are an important part, but the recounting drags a bit and becomes repetitive. The post-War story is also well written, but the ending chapters on the family story left me cold. I know for some that was their favorite part of the book, but I pretty much stopped reading ten pages in. If the book was cut in half, I would have given it three stars.
February 13, 2020
Well researched look into history that should be taught better. The sacrifices made by Colonial Troops are often overlooked in comparison to their rulers own Soldiers. Isaac Fadoyebo's story is as inspiring as it is heartbreaking. The post war history about Nigeria and Burma (Myanmar) was very interesting. Though not really a pure academic book, if you enjoy history it's definitely worth giving it a read.
November 7, 2021
A fascinating story of 2 West African soldiers during WW2. But it’s much more than that, it’s also the story of the part that these men and others played in the Burma campaign. It’s an inspiring account of the kindness of strangers despit risks to their own well being. Having lived both in Nigeria and Burma I found the book to be of particular interest.
November 20, 2024
Great book on (among many other thing) how the fault lines of the past run through events happening today, particularly in regards to the Rohingya in this case.
The journalistic approach keeps it relatively high-level in terms of the war itself, but the individual experiences are novel enough to justify it.
Yet again, perspectives matter!
The journalistic approach keeps it relatively high-level in terms of the war itself, but the individual experiences are novel enough to justify it.
Yet again, perspectives matter!
March 20, 2022
3.5 stars. Nicely written account of the too often forgotten role of African troops fighting for the British in Burma during WW II, focusing on the experiences of two soldiers who survived with the help of courageous Muslim villagers.
September 16, 2019
What a story !!! Pity the narrative is slightly prosaic.
March 18, 2026
Captivating story of personal survival, trauma and humanity set amidst the confluence of WW2, empire and colonialism.
Tearjerking scenes when the author passes on Isaac’s letter to Shuyiman’s family 60 years after the events captured in the book.
Tearjerking scenes when the author passes on Isaac’s letter to Shuyiman’s family 60 years after the events captured in the book.
June 6, 2015
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I entered this giveaway on behalf of my husband Michael, and I was lucky enough to win. The below review has come from Michael:
I, like so many people in Britain, know very little (if anything at all) about the situations of Burma/Myanmar and Nigeria in the second world war and post-war period. This book certainly goes some way to begin filling in those gaps in knowledge. Quite some time ago, I had gotten to a stage where watching historical films and documentaries, and even reading books about the second world war, had ceased to tell me anything that I didn't already know something about, but this book gave me much information that I had previously had no idea of at all. More than the story of one soldier, or even the West African divisions that fought for Britain in the Indian theatre of the war (something totally glossed over by many of the mainstream histories of the period), this book goes some way to describe the post-war realities of the places that it mentions.
Exceedingly well written and even in the slow parts, never dull, I would say that this book is a must-read for anybody interested in the British Empire, West Africa, Nigeria, India, Burma/Myanmar and the second world war. I had originally intended to give this book a 4 out of 5 stars rating, as it left so many more questions than it had answers for, but then I remembered that it's not one author's job to spoonfeed me information. This book is a 5 star book, and anything less would be an insult.
I entered this giveaway on behalf of my husband Michael, and I was lucky enough to win. The below review has come from Michael:
I, like so many people in Britain, know very little (if anything at all) about the situations of Burma/Myanmar and Nigeria in the second world war and post-war period. This book certainly goes some way to begin filling in those gaps in knowledge. Quite some time ago, I had gotten to a stage where watching historical films and documentaries, and even reading books about the second world war, had ceased to tell me anything that I didn't already know something about, but this book gave me much information that I had previously had no idea of at all. More than the story of one soldier, or even the West African divisions that fought for Britain in the Indian theatre of the war (something totally glossed over by many of the mainstream histories of the period), this book goes some way to describe the post-war realities of the places that it mentions.
Exceedingly well written and even in the slow parts, never dull, I would say that this book is a must-read for anybody interested in the British Empire, West Africa, Nigeria, India, Burma/Myanmar and the second world war. I had originally intended to give this book a 4 out of 5 stars rating, as it left so many more questions than it had answers for, but then I remembered that it's not one author's job to spoonfeed me information. This book is a 5 star book, and anything less would be an insult.
January 25, 2015
Barnaby Phillips’ meticulously researched and well-documented account of the largely forgotten African soldiers who were recruited by the British Army to fight the Japanese in Burma during the Second World War is successful on so many levels. At its heart is the true story of Isaac Fadoyebo who at 16 became a “Burma Boy” and only just survived to return to his native Nigeria and tell his story. Severely wounded he was taken in by a family deep in the jungle and cared for, at much risk to their own safety, until the British broke through to rescue him. Finding by chance Isaac’s memoir in the Imperial War Museum, Barnaby Phillips decided to follow up the story and the result is this compelling book. Little is known, and even less remembered, about the many Africans who fought for the British and this book goes some way to rectifying the situation. As such it is an important work of military history. But the author does much more than tell the story of just one man. He goes into the history of both Burma and Nigeria, he talks about colonialism, racism and nationalism, and posits that expecting the colonised to fight on behalf of the colonisers actually hastened the end of Britain’s colonial empire. Isaac’s was a remarkable adventure and this is a remarkable book, well worthy of all the plaudits it has already garnered. I recommend also visiting Phillips’ website where you can see the documentary from which the book evolved.
February 2, 2022
A story of British colonial Nigerian troops in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theatre during WWII. Its greatest flaw is the Phillips' effort to stretch a short read into a longer one. And while the story itself is both intriguing and informative, the story could have been covered in about half the pages.
The great lesson here, though, is the underlying racism of the British. As in many situations during the era with most colonial powers, His Majesty's military clearly had little regard for the martial prowess or intelligence of the colonial subjects. This likely led to the position the men of this book found themselves.
Conversely, the interaction between the troops and the Burmese was interesting and uplifting.
I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in WWII in the CBI, obscure military history, or British colonial or Nigerian history. But, as for a general audience, I can't do so.
The great lesson here, though, is the underlying racism of the British. As in many situations during the era with most colonial powers, His Majesty's military clearly had little regard for the martial prowess or intelligence of the colonial subjects. This likely led to the position the men of this book found themselves.
Conversely, the interaction between the troops and the Burmese was interesting and uplifting.
I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in WWII in the CBI, obscure military history, or British colonial or Nigerian history. But, as for a general audience, I can't do so.
Read
October 24, 2015The saga of the West African men who fought in WWII for the British army against the Japanese in Burma. They came from Gabon, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and other countries. Phillips' story focuses on Isaac Fadeyebo, a Nigerian who was part of the 81st who battled their way up the Kaladan River in early 1944. Fadeyebo's unit was attacked and he was shot twice and suffered a compound fracture of his tibia. Somehow with the help of a fellow soldier David Kagebo and Burmese villagers he survived in the jungle until the Japanese evacuated. The remainder of the book is about Phillips' friendship with Isaac and the author's trip in 2011 to Burma to try and find Suleyman the man most responsible for Isaac's survival. Remarkably relatives of the man's family are found and Phillips delivers a letter from Isaac to the family. World War II is still delivering accounts of rare power. Very touching.
July 5, 2015
Won from goodreads
It's about the west Africans who seem to be forgotten fighting in Burma in WWII and its based on one young man who joins and has his eyes opened to the world . The friendships and struggles he and others endure also the kindness of others that helped to keep him alive. Lastly about what happened to him after the war and how the author got involved.
Really good read if interested in history learnt a fair bit about the west Africans in the war and how hard it was for them .
It's about the west Africans who seem to be forgotten fighting in Burma in WWII and its based on one young man who joins and has his eyes opened to the world . The friendships and struggles he and others endure also the kindness of others that helped to keep him alive. Lastly about what happened to him after the war and how the author got involved.
Really good read if interested in history learnt a fair bit about the west Africans in the war and how hard it was for them .
March 27, 2015
Somehow, Mr. Phillips manages to turn a 20 page story into a full length novel.
The subtitle is very misleading. It should be something along the lines of: a brief, myopic overview of Britain's involvement in the Indus during the waning days of WWII.
The subtitle is very misleading. It should be something along the lines of: a brief, myopic overview of Britain's involvement in the Indus during the waning days of WWII.
July 15, 2015
A decent read, if only for the historical perspective and insights it provides on aspects of WW2 that don't typically receive attention in mainstream accounts of the conflict (West African soldiers under British command in Southeast Asia).
November 27, 2015
My copy of this book was received for Free from Goodreads and the author Barnaby Phillips.
The book was very well written and provided a lot of information that I never knew. Had a hard time putting it down.
The book was very well written and provided a lot of information that I never knew. Had a hard time putting it down.
Want to Read
September 30, 2015I have received this book from goodreads giveaways. I will finish this review when I finish the book! Thank you for the opportunity to read this!
February 20, 2019
Well written and Revealing.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews