Slim's Burma Boys

by John Hill

The battle for Burma was the longest and bloodiest campaign fought by the British in the Second World War. John Hill, one of the few men to survive the entire campaign, shares the personal experiences of men who fought against the merciless Japanese Army, painting a vivid picture of what it was like to be there – the intensity of war, the adrenaline rush and the fear and courage of those who took part in swollen river crossings, patrols, ambushes, skirmishes and major actions against a ruthless and determined enemy who would never surrender. Hill’s memoir is a fitting tribute to the courageous men who fought in one of the most gruelling campaigns of the Second World War.

160 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2007

Reviews

[Connor Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chapters felt a bit too short and disconnected but good overall

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book taught me so much and I could not put the book down no matter what. I will always carry what I’ve learnt from the book with me and never forget it.

[Andy Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essentially, the book was written by the commanding officer of a company of the Royal Berkshire Regiment of the British Army, in order to give an insight into the typical operations carried out during the Burma campaign of the Second World War.

He describes a number of separate events that took place in 1944 and 1945 including heroic actions by individuals as well as the operations carried out on a squad, platoon or company level. Although the book focuses on the infantry, there is some discussion of supporting elements, air crews and artillery batteries that interacted with Hill's company. Generally the stories are interesting and provide a flavour of what life must have been like for those men, and the book is well written throughout.

My one criticism is that some of the events described just aren't that exciting. However, it is claimed that the events reported were randomly selected for inclusion in the book, so this might be expected. This does give a more accurate feel for the sort of activities in which the company took part, and in that sense, the book is more genuine due to their inclusion.

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short non fiction account of the Burma Campaign in the Second World War through ten stories of the actions of B Company of The Second Battalion of The Berkshire Regiment. It follows the Company from their initial jungle warfare training in India, through the invasion of Burma and the ultimate retreat of the Japanese. It is written by one of the officers who was present through the entire campaign. Very readable and should be required reading for any young boy looking for a career in the military.