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Slim: Unofficial History
A career soldier, veteran of both World Wars, and British war hero remembers the campaigns he fought—and his worthy foes.
Like most members of the professional military freemasonry, Field Marshal Sir William Slim came to admire “all the soldiers of different races who have fought with me and most of those who have fought against me.” Among the most likable of his enemies were the Wazirs of India’s Northwest Frontier. In 1920, Slim took part in a retaliatory raid on an obscure village. It was an unusually easy victory over the canny Wazirs, whom the British took by surprise and escaped from with scant loss. Afterwards, in the casual frontier way, the British sent a message to the Wazirs, expressing surprise at the enemy’s unusually poor shooting. The Wazirs replied in courtly fashion that their rifles were Short Magazine Lee-Enfields captured in previous fights with the British, and that they had failed to sight the guns to accord with a new stock of ammunition. Now, having calculated the adjustment, they would be delighted to demonstrate their bull’s-eye accuracy any time the British wanted. “One cannot help feeling,” Slim says, “that the fellows who wrote that ought to be on our side.” Slim genuinely enjoyed his virtually blood-free skirmishes with such foes as the Turks, the Wazirs and the Italians in 1940 Ethiopia.
“An attempt to depict the lives of ordinary men in and out of combat. The accounts are written with style, wit and exceptional humanity.”—Tom Hall
Like most members of the professional military freemasonry, Field Marshal Sir William Slim came to admire “all the soldiers of different races who have fought with me and most of those who have fought against me.” Among the most likable of his enemies were the Wazirs of India’s Northwest Frontier. In 1920, Slim took part in a retaliatory raid on an obscure village. It was an unusually easy victory over the canny Wazirs, whom the British took by surprise and escaped from with scant loss. Afterwards, in the casual frontier way, the British sent a message to the Wazirs, expressing surprise at the enemy’s unusually poor shooting. The Wazirs replied in courtly fashion that their rifles were Short Magazine Lee-Enfields captured in previous fights with the British, and that they had failed to sight the guns to accord with a new stock of ammunition. Now, having calculated the adjustment, they would be delighted to demonstrate their bull’s-eye accuracy any time the British wanted. “One cannot help feeling,” Slim says, “that the fellows who wrote that ought to be on our side.” Slim genuinely enjoyed his virtually blood-free skirmishes with such foes as the Turks, the Wazirs and the Italians in 1940 Ethiopia.
“An attempt to depict the lives of ordinary men in and out of combat. The accounts are written with style, wit and exceptional humanity.”—Tom Hall
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1959
About the author
William Slim
14 books18 followersField Marshal William Joseph Slim, 1st Viscount Slim, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC, KStJ, usually known as Bill Slim, was a British military commander and the 13th Governor-General of Australia. Slim saw active service in both the First and Second World Wars and was wounded in action three times.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 10, 2026
This is one of my favourite books, which bears rereading. Having read a number of books about Slim's Burma campaign last year, I decided it really was time to revisit this and I haven't been disappointed. Slim is that unusual creature - a military officer who can actually write. He wrote novels and short stories under a pseudonym in the '30s as an extra source of income; some of his earlier writings are in this book, whilst some are later creations.
If 'Field-Marshal Sir William Slim KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC' wasn't on the front cover, or meant nothing to you, you could be forgiven for thinking that here was a man who found himself in the army in the First World War, decided to make a career of it but was only of middling ability, was unlikely to go very far - who may have been a better as an author - and may well have fallen by the wayside like so many brigade and divisional commanders in the early, dire days of the Second World War. Instead, he went on to become one of Britains greatest generals! There is a clue, in an aside about having taught at the Staff College, but he hides his abilities behind a self-deprecating humour and an emphasis on his doubts and mistakes. What really comes out, though, is his respect for and understanding of 'his' soldiers, be they Indian, Gurkha, British or whatever.
Aside from the insight into the early career and mind of this great commander, it's also a fascinating look at some of the less travelled bye ways of military history: Mesopotamia in the First World War, soldiering in India between the wars, and the early campaigns of the Second World War in East Africa, Iraq, Syria and Iran.
There are many humorous moments but one of my favourites is his recollection of a British soldier on the Caspian who, when faced with caviar and asked if he had any complaints, replied: "Yes sir, this jam tastes of fish!"
If 'Field-Marshal Sir William Slim KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC' wasn't on the front cover, or meant nothing to you, you could be forgiven for thinking that here was a man who found himself in the army in the First World War, decided to make a career of it but was only of middling ability, was unlikely to go very far - who may have been a better as an author - and may well have fallen by the wayside like so many brigade and divisional commanders in the early, dire days of the Second World War. Instead, he went on to become one of Britains greatest generals! There is a clue, in an aside about having taught at the Staff College, but he hides his abilities behind a self-deprecating humour and an emphasis on his doubts and mistakes. What really comes out, though, is his respect for and understanding of 'his' soldiers, be they Indian, Gurkha, British or whatever.
Aside from the insight into the early career and mind of this great commander, it's also a fascinating look at some of the less travelled bye ways of military history: Mesopotamia in the First World War, soldiering in India between the wars, and the early campaigns of the Second World War in East Africa, Iraq, Syria and Iran.
There are many humorous moments but one of my favourites is his recollection of a British soldier on the Caspian who, when faced with caviar and asked if he had any complaints, replied: "Yes sir, this jam tastes of fish!"
February 8, 2023
General Slim is the remarkable author of what I consider the best general's book of WW2, Defeat Into Victory: Battling Japan in Burma and India, 1942-1945Defeat Into Victory: Battling Japan in Burma and India, 1942-1945Defeat Into Victory: Battling Japan in Burma and India, 1942-1945.
In this delightful book, he discusses small action warfare of his own, from both WW1 and WW2, with a lot fo self-deprecating humor, and in a manner that somewhat explains what educated him into the winner oft he war in Burma.
A lovely and personal book. I wish Slim had written more :-)
In this delightful book, he discusses small action warfare of his own, from both WW1 and WW2, with a lot fo self-deprecating humor, and in a manner that somewhat explains what educated him into the winner oft he war in Burma.
A lovely and personal book. I wish Slim had written more :-)
February 10, 2026
Unless I got a strange version of the book from Amazon, this narrative made no sense to me. It was one of those pulp romances that we read so often.
November 30, 2012
This book is a compilation of essays which primarily concern Slim's pre-WWII experiences in Iraq, Ethopia and Iran. Slim is an engaging writer and his personal reflections are particularly interesting and, more importantly, objective. Throughout the book, his humanity is on display -- and the most cited quote in the book reflects sentiments of respect for his opponents, a common theme for his generation of officer raised on the frontier. He additionally experiences the complexity of operating as a military commander in police actions -- and the challenges when trying to bring together governmental, police and military elements in a confusing situation. This is a light read but exceptionally well-written -- Slim was clearly an excellent writer and this only reinforces why his "Defeat Into Victory" has endured over time.
April 18, 2009
Superb book on leadership by a master. A real gem of a book that sadly too few military officers know about.
August 9, 2015
Exceptionally well written. The author, a notable Marshall of WWII, exceptionally appealing. The topic the strange adventures of the inter-war British Empire.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews