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First Overland: London - Singapore by Land Rover
Why not? After all, no-one had ever done it before. It would be one of the longest of all overland journeys - half-way round the world, from the English Channel to Singapore. They knew that several expeditions had already tried it.Some had got as far as the deserts of Persia; a few had even reached the plains of India. But no-one had managed to go on from there: over the jungle-clad mountains of Assam and across northern Burma to Thailand and Malaya. Over the last 3,000 miles it seemed like there were 'just too many rivers and too few roads'. But no-one really knew...
275 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 19, 2019
Cambridge and Oxford Universities have a history of their name being used by students over a summer break, or in a gap year making an expedition, subsidised by sponsorship, but largely funded from their own pockets, and by selling the rights to a book describing their expedition.
I must have read 10 such Cambridge Expedition to [<>] books, most published by the Travel Book Club, and all are infectious with their youthful enthusiasm. This book is no exception. Written by Tim Slessor, but with contributions from his fellow expeditioners - five from Cambridge, and one from Oxford - which catalogue their 1956 Cambridge and Oxford Far Eastern Expedition , better described as the First Overland Expedition from London to Singapore by Land Rover, and back - a journey never previously completed in one direction, let alone in return. Add in some research projects relevant to their studies, and they have a plan that they can approach others with.
Lent two new Land Rovers by the manufacturer, gifted a huge amount of kit on the basis of testing, trialing and publicity, and provided with a grant from the Royal Geographical Society, the boys add in their disposable cash and go with in. As they travel they were writing articles and shooting cine film to generate income to keep going - having sold the rights to a book and a BBC film before leaving. Some quick research and preparation, and then they are off.
One thing to note is that this book describes their outbound journey, but not the return journey, on the basis the book would be too long, and there was a fair amount of repetition. There is however, an Epilogue chapter which summarises the return voyage. Overall they took a year.
The first few chapters are introductions to the six men, some light weight travelling through Europe, and some descriptions of their routines and organisation of the roles and responsibilities. It is a good general grounding, which for me struck the right balance of explanation without becoming mundane. The Route was loosely England, France, Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia (Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia) Greece & Turkey.
From there, things get more detailed, and the travel more testing. The Middle Eastern section was Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Iran, then the Indian Subcontinent section of Pakistan, India & recently opened Nepal, before heading into Burma, where there were no roads, only left-over elephant tracks and abandoned military roads. From Burma (Myanmar) they entered Thailand, then Malaysia and finally Singapore. The route back varied only a little with time spent in Afghanistan, Italy and Monaco.
Along the way we share all the details of visas, border crossings, mechanical breakdowns and repairs, the relationships of the team living in each others pockets for a year. The author mixes in explanations of people they meet, places they stay, the food they share and a multitude of other details. There are also brief histories, cultural and political interludes - short enough not to be troublesome, but adding to the story. All obviously occurring before communications became easy and reliable, and they were therefore dependent on the mail system, and a support team back in Cambridge.
Interestingly, at least two of the team carried on to more travel and wrote books, two of the three I know of, I own, but have not yet read.
So overall, a great piece of nostalgic writing, especially for Land Rover enthusiasts. Yes it is dated, and very British, but that is part of the appeal of these types of books (for me anyway). As usual, with these types of books, it is somewhat saddening to know that so many of these countries are no longer accessible or safe to travel through, in our current times of turmoil.
5 stars.
I must have read 10 such Cambridge Expedition to [<>] books, most published by the Travel Book Club, and all are infectious with their youthful enthusiasm. This book is no exception. Written by Tim Slessor, but with contributions from his fellow expeditioners - five from Cambridge, and one from Oxford - which catalogue their 1956 Cambridge and Oxford Far Eastern Expedition , better described as the First Overland Expedition from London to Singapore by Land Rover, and back - a journey never previously completed in one direction, let alone in return. Add in some research projects relevant to their studies, and they have a plan that they can approach others with.
Lent two new Land Rovers by the manufacturer, gifted a huge amount of kit on the basis of testing, trialing and publicity, and provided with a grant from the Royal Geographical Society, the boys add in their disposable cash and go with in. As they travel they were writing articles and shooting cine film to generate income to keep going - having sold the rights to a book and a BBC film before leaving. Some quick research and preparation, and then they are off.
One thing to note is that this book describes their outbound journey, but not the return journey, on the basis the book would be too long, and there was a fair amount of repetition. There is however, an Epilogue chapter which summarises the return voyage. Overall they took a year.
The first few chapters are introductions to the six men, some light weight travelling through Europe, and some descriptions of their routines and organisation of the roles and responsibilities. It is a good general grounding, which for me struck the right balance of explanation without becoming mundane. The Route was loosely England, France, Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia (Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia) Greece & Turkey.
From there, things get more detailed, and the travel more testing. The Middle Eastern section was Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Iran, then the Indian Subcontinent section of Pakistan, India & recently opened Nepal, before heading into Burma, where there were no roads, only left-over elephant tracks and abandoned military roads. From Burma (Myanmar) they entered Thailand, then Malaysia and finally Singapore. The route back varied only a little with time spent in Afghanistan, Italy and Monaco.
Along the way we share all the details of visas, border crossings, mechanical breakdowns and repairs, the relationships of the team living in each others pockets for a year. The author mixes in explanations of people they meet, places they stay, the food they share and a multitude of other details. There are also brief histories, cultural and political interludes - short enough not to be troublesome, but adding to the story. All obviously occurring before communications became easy and reliable, and they were therefore dependent on the mail system, and a support team back in Cambridge.
Interestingly, at least two of the team carried on to more travel and wrote books, two of the three I know of, I own, but have not yet read.
So overall, a great piece of nostalgic writing, especially for Land Rover enthusiasts. Yes it is dated, and very British, but that is part of the appeal of these types of books (for me anyway). As usual, with these types of books, it is somewhat saddening to know that so many of these countries are no longer accessible or safe to travel through, in our current times of turmoil.
5 stars.
July 2, 2025
6 undergrads from Cambridge+Oxford convince Land Rover and 80+ companies to sponsor them to make the journey from London to Singapore overland. The main difficulty being from Calcutta- Assam-Burma-Malaysia as this has never been done before (nor can be done even now).
I was coincidentally reading 2 books by British authors who were in their prime in the 1950s. Even though they are wildly different topics, I was loving both these books a lot (the other one is "making of memory" by Steven Rose). They have a characteristic of switching between a broad view and highly detailed specifics - in this case of how 6 undergrads had to squabble over how best to wash clothes while making the journey - Should they beat the clothes to death or just gently rinse them? They settled on putting the clothes into a pressure cooker and allowing the rocky roads to shake them while they are driving. Combine this mix of broad and detailed view with British humor, and you can't put the book down. I did not realize I was a fan of British humor
These 6 undergrads self organize in such a highly effective manner that is shocking to me. Some things make sense, like dividing the chores between themselves and not having a "leader" which was also democratically decided. Some other things are WILD for me. I wouldn't have imagined that me and 5 friends taking a trip should be taken seriously enough to consider showcasing the land rovers to the Persian army and hence landing contracts for land rover. I had to keep reminding myself that they must have been just 21. They approached BBC and said they would film the journey to get more sponsorship, as they had no money, and David Attenborough took a chance on them and gave them a piece of film that they had to send back. This book has a foreword by him.
They write in detail about the planning, the setup of the car, the organizational background, the challenges they faced enroute, the unique things they saw throughout the journey and finally a detailed appendix by each person in the crew on how to plan for their "department". One person was in charge of the navigation, another in charge of health and food (who had mandated no raw vegetable or lettuce after the Bosporus to avoid Diarrhea), another in charge of money, another in charge of photography/filmography and last but not the least the mechanic, in charge of keeping the cars running until Singapore.
Would highly recommend! Loved reading this exploration and time capsule of travel in the 50s. Glad that one of them had the crazy idea to do this and 5 others joined him, in their words (paraphrased as I gave the book away) - Is there any better word in English than Unexplored?
I was coincidentally reading 2 books by British authors who were in their prime in the 1950s. Even though they are wildly different topics, I was loving both these books a lot (the other one is "making of memory" by Steven Rose). They have a characteristic of switching between a broad view and highly detailed specifics - in this case of how 6 undergrads had to squabble over how best to wash clothes while making the journey - Should they beat the clothes to death or just gently rinse them? They settled on putting the clothes into a pressure cooker and allowing the rocky roads to shake them while they are driving. Combine this mix of broad and detailed view with British humor, and you can't put the book down. I did not realize I was a fan of British humor
These 6 undergrads self organize in such a highly effective manner that is shocking to me. Some things make sense, like dividing the chores between themselves and not having a "leader" which was also democratically decided. Some other things are WILD for me. I wouldn't have imagined that me and 5 friends taking a trip should be taken seriously enough to consider showcasing the land rovers to the Persian army and hence landing contracts for land rover. I had to keep reminding myself that they must have been just 21. They approached BBC and said they would film the journey to get more sponsorship, as they had no money, and David Attenborough took a chance on them and gave them a piece of film that they had to send back. This book has a foreword by him.
They write in detail about the planning, the setup of the car, the organizational background, the challenges they faced enroute, the unique things they saw throughout the journey and finally a detailed appendix by each person in the crew on how to plan for their "department". One person was in charge of the navigation, another in charge of health and food (who had mandated no raw vegetable or lettuce after the Bosporus to avoid Diarrhea), another in charge of money, another in charge of photography/filmography and last but not the least the mechanic, in charge of keeping the cars running until Singapore.
Would highly recommend! Loved reading this exploration and time capsule of travel in the 50s. Glad that one of them had the crazy idea to do this and 5 others joined him, in their words (paraphrased as I gave the book away) - Is there any better word in English than Unexplored?
November 20, 2015
This is a quintisentially English account of maybe the last great adventure from the Golden Age of expedition travel. It's a time that is hard to imagine now, long before ubiquitous air travel and global communications. To think that the entire Expedition was oranised by type-writer (1500 letters), telegrams and trips to the local phonebox - well in this era of Google Search and Maps it's almost impossible to imagine now. And when they arrive in Germany and describe the novel experience of driving on the first Autobahns you suddenly realise that this is from a time even before motorways.
The Expedition itself is very much in the spirit of the old fashioned English adventurer, where enthusiastic determination makes up for over-stretched resources. Tim Slessor, as designated Expedition diarist, writes well and with a gentle self-deprecation style which keeps the account just light-hearted enough. The understandably old-fashioned writing style, to me, is a treat, but I can understand it may not be to everyone's taste these days.
One thing that really appealed to me, as a young fellow in the late 90s with a '63 Land Rover, was that the trip comes across as one that, with sufficient bloody-mindedness, you could just about do yourself with a few committed comrades - without the need for the massive support and resources required by many grand expeditions. In this sense The Expedition somehow managed to be grand in ambition yet modest in execution - a motley bunch of six graduates with a crazy idea and not a lot else. Perhaps the ultimate accolade I can make is that it inspired my younger self to make my own trips, albeit on a far less ambitions scale, but very much in the spirit of First Overland.
On a sadder note, it's sobering to look at the route map and realise that in this day and age such a trip would be almost impossible now due to politics, war and conflict. How far have we come?
...
For the authentic experience, it's well worth finding the original 1957 edition in its blue fabric hardback and old-fashioned typesetting.
The Expedition itself is very much in the spirit of the old fashioned English adventurer, where enthusiastic determination makes up for over-stretched resources. Tim Slessor, as designated Expedition diarist, writes well and with a gentle self-deprecation style which keeps the account just light-hearted enough. The understandably old-fashioned writing style, to me, is a treat, but I can understand it may not be to everyone's taste these days.
One thing that really appealed to me, as a young fellow in the late 90s with a '63 Land Rover, was that the trip comes across as one that, with sufficient bloody-mindedness, you could just about do yourself with a few committed comrades - without the need for the massive support and resources required by many grand expeditions. In this sense The Expedition somehow managed to be grand in ambition yet modest in execution - a motley bunch of six graduates with a crazy idea and not a lot else. Perhaps the ultimate accolade I can make is that it inspired my younger self to make my own trips, albeit on a far less ambitions scale, but very much in the spirit of First Overland.
On a sadder note, it's sobering to look at the route map and realise that in this day and age such a trip would be almost impossible now due to politics, war and conflict. How far have we come?
...
For the authentic experience, it's well worth finding the original 1957 edition in its blue fabric hardback and old-fashioned typesetting.
November 22, 2013
This book was definitely a fun, engaging read. The writing style was so dated and British it was a joy to read. The narrator conveyed an idealised sense of adventure and kept me riveted the whole way through. Descriptions of people and places were evocative without slowing the pace of the story and the end result was an enthusiasm to do something similar.
September 3, 2024
Had no inkling of the amazing colour this book delivers in bringing the adventure from the 1950’s to light. It truly is a travel book and car (LR) book that delivers detail and stories and humour and much more. So good.
September 1, 2025
Exciting travel adventure, from a bygone age.
Some surprising antidotes that seem so strange with the benefit of recent history.
Would recommend for the old school adventure and land rover lovers.
Some surprising antidotes that seem so strange with the benefit of recent history.
Would recommend for the old school adventure and land rover lovers.
December 22, 2022
I did enjoy this. However at times it did drift off into “contemplation”. It’s not heavy on the practical aspects of the journey but does go over some of the difficulties encountered which made it interesting. The most interesting aspects though were the tales of the still powerful British empirical influences. Being able to pull strings, the deference from native people, the entirely different make up of the world at that time. Recommended for those who like travel, social history and that whole era.
March 26, 2018
One of the most captivating books I’ve read
A group of students decide to drive overland from London to Singapore. They manage to scourge up sponsors, two Land Rovers. A great adventure when the world was a safer place.
A group of students decide to drive overland from London to Singapore. They manage to scourge up sponsors, two Land Rovers. A great adventure when the world was a safer place.
May 24, 2025
I generally really enjoyed reading this book from Tim Slessor on his 1957 travel overland from London to Singapore, to the point that I want to own a Landrover now.
Its certainly very British in its outlook and its reading, but I don't mind that (Being British perhaps) its also of a certain vintage and I think that's the unique thing about it. The world was a very different place in the 1950s. But that didn't stop these six young men in trying the almost impossible.
As a travelogue I really enjoyed it and the route it took. At one point I was losing my way a little bit with it (through India) where the tour seemed to have to take a number of sponsorship detours and at one stage it was heading for three rather than a five star. But I'm pleased to say that it picked up again.
Essentially what was achieved in this journey was quite remarkable. We take for granted modern technology and the role that cars/vehicles and transport play in our daily lives getting us to A to B or in this case A to Z.
I was particularly interested with the Stilwell Road section through Burma and the history associated with it and I liked Tim along with Pat's approach to things with the Navigation. Strangely it ran a cord with me after I graduated from University and I felt like I'd either been let off the leash or that anything was achievable in life (Hopefully that doesn't come across as arrogance on my side). This may have been why I gave it the full five stars.
Again perhaps I'm looking for hidden meanings but I think there is a little more in this for planning your own challenge in life, not necessarily using cars nor travelling across the world. There is a practical side of things here, a very 'have a go' British style which has perhaps faded in the time of the book.
I'd be pleased to read more of Tim Slessor's works and also the follow up 'Last Overland' in the future.
I'm glad there are still books like this around.
On a personal note, started reading in Devon and finished in the earlier hours in Gothenburg Airport (Perhaps on my own 'Journey')
Its certainly very British in its outlook and its reading, but I don't mind that (Being British perhaps) its also of a certain vintage and I think that's the unique thing about it. The world was a very different place in the 1950s. But that didn't stop these six young men in trying the almost impossible.
As a travelogue I really enjoyed it and the route it took. At one point I was losing my way a little bit with it (through India) where the tour seemed to have to take a number of sponsorship detours and at one stage it was heading for three rather than a five star. But I'm pleased to say that it picked up again.
Essentially what was achieved in this journey was quite remarkable. We take for granted modern technology and the role that cars/vehicles and transport play in our daily lives getting us to A to B or in this case A to Z.
I was particularly interested with the Stilwell Road section through Burma and the history associated with it and I liked Tim along with Pat's approach to things with the Navigation. Strangely it ran a cord with me after I graduated from University and I felt like I'd either been let off the leash or that anything was achievable in life (Hopefully that doesn't come across as arrogance on my side). This may have been why I gave it the full five stars.
Again perhaps I'm looking for hidden meanings but I think there is a little more in this for planning your own challenge in life, not necessarily using cars nor travelling across the world. There is a practical side of things here, a very 'have a go' British style which has perhaps faded in the time of the book.
I'd be pleased to read more of Tim Slessor's works and also the follow up 'Last Overland' in the future.
I'm glad there are still books like this around.
On a personal note, started reading in Devon and finished in the earlier hours in Gothenburg Airport (Perhaps on my own 'Journey')
August 31, 2024
The wittiest adventure book I have read yet. Tim Slessor, the main author, does a fantastic job of describing the expedition, its members, their unique role and personality together with rich descriptions of the people met along the way. All with humor and charm, which makes First Overland a enjoyable read.
As the Expedition embarked in 1956, the world they find themselves in is vastly different than our modern one. One can only be left fascinated, and partly sad and jealous, of their unlikely trips through Afghanistan and Iran, both of which are vastly different countries to drive through today.
I find that many adventure books are written by emotionally stunted individuals. This one is not, and I suspect it may be the reason for its excellent quality. Anyway, the book had me looking at old Land Rovers to purchase, so I suppose I can only give it 5 stars
As the Expedition embarked in 1956, the world they find themselves in is vastly different than our modern one. One can only be left fascinated, and partly sad and jealous, of their unlikely trips through Afghanistan and Iran, both of which are vastly different countries to drive through today.
I find that many adventure books are written by emotionally stunted individuals. This one is not, and I suspect it may be the reason for its excellent quality. Anyway, the book had me looking at old Land Rovers to purchase, so I suppose I can only give it 5 stars
May 27, 2024
Cuatro jóvenes británicos, dos pertenecientes a la Universidad de Cambridge y los otros dos a la Universidad de Oxford, ayudados desde casa por un equipo de apoyo, realizaron entre 1955 y 1956 un viaje en Land Rover desde el Londres Singapur. Una travesía intercontinental en toda regla, no exenta de aventuras y anécdotas, acordes a la monumentalidad del viaje. Desde unos días poéticos en el desierto iraní hasta una travesía incierta, muy complicada técnicamente hablando y no menos peligrosa de la selva camboyana, el relato atrapa al lector en todo momento. Muy recomendable para los amantes de la literatura clásica de viajes, e imprescindible para los amantes de Land Rover. Edición en inglés.
February 13, 2019
I enjoyed this account of six young students in the 1950`s who drove overland from UK to Singapore in
two landrovers. As I travelled to Africa at an early age in that period and afterwards to Singapore and Thailand I enjoy accounts of travels by others especially as the trip required a lot of planning with the vehicles and contacts in every country in which they travelled.
two landrovers. As I travelled to Africa at an early age in that period and afterwards to Singapore and Thailand I enjoy accounts of travels by others especially as the trip required a lot of planning with the vehicles and contacts in every country in which they travelled.
February 21, 2020
Loved this book, the best kind of travel story and a window into a totally changed world. So much if the journey would now be impossible, making the chapters on Syria and Iran so evocative. Well written and illustrated, definitely a keeper.
Followed The Last Overland last year and look forward to reading that account of the journey from Singapore to London with the original Oxford Land Rover.
Followed The Last Overland last year and look forward to reading that account of the journey from Singapore to London with the original Oxford Land Rover.
April 28, 2020
Doesn’t matter if you’re reading this as a result of being a Land Rover nut (as I am) or whether you like reading a travelogue - this is a lovely read, made more so by the fact it’s written in that lovely Britishness of the 50’s.
A tale of travel, sometimes against the odds, in a time when being British still carried a certain aura in the world 😊
A tale of travel, sometimes against the odds, in a time when being British still carried a certain aura in the world 😊
March 8, 2025
Picked up an old battered 1957 copy for 20p. What a bargain. Loved the book and the can do youthful spirit of adventure. The Burma section was riveting especially went you follow them on the Stilwell Road on google maps. I would have loved more of their return through Afghanistan which we only got a few paragraphs
January 16, 2019
As it warns you in the introduction, reading this will make you want to buy a Landy. A fast paced account for what was a long trip. It’s the right level of travel, human interest, expedition planning, adventure. It doesn’t get too lost into the details.
June 24, 2020
A blast of the past.
A book revisited after 50 years. An epic journey by 6 ordinary guys. A stunning reminder of how much the world and travel has changed. Some for the better, others not so. Well worth the time.
A book revisited after 50 years. An epic journey by 6 ordinary guys. A stunning reminder of how much the world and travel has changed. Some for the better, others not so. Well worth the time.
April 11, 2021
What a great book. Very reminiscent of Ted Simon's "Jupiter's Travels". It's always great to read about adventures like this and how nice people in this world can be to strangers passing through. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.
April 7, 2024
Tremendous achievement by a couple fresh graduate just out of university! And in 1950s?! I couldn’t really grasp the magnitude of strength, resilience and determination they all had. I really wish I could be that type of person.
April 20, 2025
Frightfully British, frightfully "boys own adventure" and very much of its time - 1950s. How much the world has changed. Who travels these days with thermos flasks of tea at the ready. Worth reading just for that.
August 6, 2017
Loved it.
July 27, 2020
Dangerous book. Gives you all kind of funny ideas.
January 25, 2022
A great story and well worth reading. Inspired me to do something similar.
January 18, 2023
Absolutely great read! Takes you back in time when certain parts of the world were different and you could travel through. Highly recommend if you enjoy travel and adventure writing.
February 2, 2023
Amazing adventure back in the 50's (I think) accross Europe and Asia. Provides interesting glimpses into the cities and countries at the time.
August 10, 2025
Fascinating account of an incredible journey - or at least, one that was pretty incredible at the time and almost 70 years later, seems even more so! Highly recommended.
August 18, 2025
A book for anyone who has ever travelled, wanted to travel, or is interested in life.
In an incredible tale of innocence triumphing over world weary logic, the writer takes us through the team's self belief in achieving their objective - travelling through a world now relegated to history but with pertinent links to life today.
I first read this about ten years ago and it is still adventure in its truest form - a great read.
In an incredible tale of innocence triumphing over world weary logic, the writer takes us through the team's self belief in achieving their objective - travelling through a world now relegated to history but with pertinent links to life today.
I first read this about ten years ago and it is still adventure in its truest form - a great read.
October 3, 2015
Si vous aimez les Land Rovers (de préférence les vieilles Séries...), les voyages, le sens de l'understatement à l'anglaise et les belles histoires de premières plus ou moins aventureuses alors ce livre est un "must" incontournable et du coup, je me prends à rêver de L.R Série 1...
Rhah lovely...
Bien évidemment, c'est en Anglais et il y a assez (trop) peu de photos, mais ce livre est un vrai plaisir !
Rhah lovely...
Bien évidemment, c'est en Anglais et il y a assez (trop) peu de photos, mais ce livre est un vrai plaisir !
May 23, 2012
The written account of the London to Singapore overland expedition of six university students in two Land Rover Series I. Certainly one of the top Overland stories out there. It's a phenomenal adventure that has inspired many since it's publication in 1957.
July 7, 2013
Read this book if you think you might some time want to travel overland from London to Singapore. Or if you would never want to do it. Or if history is your thing. Fascinating. Well written. Then search online for the BBC documentary with the actual footage shot during the expedition.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews