The Burma Campaign

by Frank McLynn

Coogan, Jackie, 239

  Corcoran, Thomas, 68

  Cowan, Major General David (‘Punch’), 26, 31–2, 36, 62, 93, 251, 294, 295, 296, 309, 311, 313, 426, 427, 428, 432–3

  Coward, Noel, 185, 313, 339, 362–3

  Cowles, Gardner, 127

  Cranston, Brigadier General Joseph H., 259

  Crete, Battle of (1941), 184

  Crete West, 307

  Cripps, Sir Stafford, 94, 95

  Crocker, John, 451

  crocodiles, 13–14

  CULVERIN, 174, 218, 244, 248

  Cunningham, Admiral Andrew (‘ABC’), 184, 188–9, 190, 196, 197, 211, 239–40, 244

  Currie, Lauchlin, 117, 118, 119, 126, 410

  Daiku, 442

  Daily Express, 158

  Daily Mail, 158

  Davis, Patrick, 93

  D-Day, 186, 212, 432

  D Division, 293

  DDT, 104

  deception/disinformation, 415–16, 419, 431–2

  Delhi, 17, 67, 78, 81, 87, 90, 110, 121, 125–6, 129, 132, 133, 161, 172, 173, 177, 178, 182, 195, 196, 197, 198, 207–8, 211, 225, 247, 258, 265, 338, 339, 363, 372, 383, 397, 406

  Delhi Officers Club, 262

  Dempsey, General Miles, 450

  Detachment 101, 293

  Dieppe raid (1942), 185–6

  Dill, Field Marshal Sir John, 19, 20, 161, 207, 217, 218–19, 240, 248, 333

  Dimapur, 91, 133, 137, 181, 294, 295, 301, 302, 303, 304, 314, 317, 324, 365, 414, 421

  disease, 38, 104, 123, 124, 182, 323–4, 365–6, 375

  ‘Dixie mission’, 388, 398

  Dobson, Lieutenant Colonel, 205–6

  Dodds-Parker, Captain Douglas, 76

  Dodecanese, 218, 226

  Donbaik, 100–1

  Donovan, Wild Bill, 409

  Doolittle, James H., 65

  Doolittle raids, 65, 111

  Dorman-Smith, Sir Reginald, 20, 55, 446

  Dorn, Colonel Frank, 230, 409

  Douglas, Air Chief Marshal Sholto, 188, 211, 217

  DRACULA, 366, 367, 368, 369, 372, 373, 374, 375–6, 438–9, 440, 441, 442, 443–4

  drugs, 104, 182

  Drum, Lieutenant General Hugh A., 44, 45

  Dunkirk, 27, 142

  Dunlop, Captain George, 82, 85

  Dutch, the, 23, 24

  Dutch East Indies, 5, 23, 48

  Dyer Hill, 321

  East Africa, 19, 79

  Eden, Anthony, 164, 190, 237, 368, 372, 373, 393

  Eisenhower, General Dwight D, 189, 191–2, 194, 195, 196, 453, 454

  elephants, 10

  ‘English school’ of military strategy, 107

  Eritrea, 17

  Ethiopia, 70, 73–4, 76, 87 see also Abyssinia

  Europe, 47, 103, 160, 217, 404

  ‘Europe first’ policy, 22, 44, 47, 48, 64, 111, 192

  EXTENDED CAPITAL, 413, 414–43, 447, 448

  Far Eastern Command, 29

  Faridkot House, Delhi, 196, 213

  Farouk, King, 373

  Fasting, Field Marshal Sir Francis, 207

  Feifler, Colonel Carl, 409–10

  Fergusson, Bernard

  becomes a supporter of Wingate, 82, 85

  and training of Chindits, 89

  promoted to lieutenant colonel, 138

  on first Chindit expedition, 141, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 149–50, 151–2, 157

  writes report on LONGCLOTH, 172

  Wingate’s rudeness to, 178

  and new organisation of Chindits, 260

  at meeting between Stilwell and Wingate, 263

  resigns, then withdraws resignation, 264

  and Wingate’s plans for second expedition, 267, 275

  on Wingate’s character, 270, 271

  and second Chindit expedition, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 285, 286, 287–8, 342, 343

  as candidate to succeed Wingate, 340, 341

  Ferris, Brigadier General Benjamin, 237, 241, 361, 394

  flora, Burmese, 8–9

  Flying Tigers/American Volunteer

  Group, 12, 30, 52, 115–16, 119

  as 14th Air Force, 390, 396

  Force 126, 275, 293

  Foreign Office (Britain), 19

  Forest Hill, 312

  Formby, George, 435

  Formosa (Taiwan), 221, 345–6

  Fort Benning, 43

  Fort Dufferin, 430, 434

  Fort Hertz, 99, 138, 152, 428

  Fort Ord, 43

  Foul Point, 100

  France, 212, 394

  Franks, Captain Brian, 77

  Fraser, Bruce, 382

  Fraser, George MacDonald, 425

  FSD Hill, 316, 319, 320

  Fuller, J.F.C., 107

  Fullerton, Captain Robert, 444

  GALAHAD force/Marauders, 199, 200, 228, 240, 328–9, 330, 331, 332, 334, 335, 336, 337, 345, 346–7, 348, 351, 353, 354, 355, 356, 358, 359

  Gallabat, 90, 105

  Gallipoli, 16

  Gandhi, 50, 51, 94, 95, 454

  Gangaw, 416

  Gangaw range, 282

  Gangaw valley, 415, 416

  Ganges, River, 94

  Garrison Hill, 315, 316, 319

  Gauss, Clarence, 113, 117, 119, 120, 227, 386, 387, 389, 400, 406

  Geneva Convention, 32

  George VI, King, 27, 206

  Germany, 71, 369, 401

  ‘Gert and Daisy’, 362

  Gibraltar, 27

  Gibraltar (hill), 308

  Gibson, Wing-Commander Guy, 176

  Gideon Force, 73–4

  Giffard, General George

  Slim’s early impressions of, 107

  orders Slim to prepare for Arakan operations, 178–9

  name submitted for post of supreme commander in South East Asia, 189

  relations with Mountbatten, 196, 211, 240, 381

  and intelligence, 233

  Stilwell refuses to come under command of, 242–3, 358

  and Wingate, 261, 272, 275, 287

  and Battle of Kohima-Imphal, 303

  fired, but stays on as a stopgap, 303

  good working relationship with Slim, 380–1, 383

  delays in finding replacement for, 381

  returns to London, and has a meeting with Alanbrooke, 382

  brief references, 108, 197, 198, 263, 276, 278, 285, 321, 324, 327, 338, 341, 366, 367, 374, 384, 450

  Gilbert islands, 199, 227

  Gilkes, Major Ken, 152

  Glasgow, 83, 173

  Godalming, 69

  Goddard, Paulette, 239

  Godwin, Jim, 449

  Gokteik gorge, 37

  Gokteik viaduct, 36–7, 146–7

  Golden Fortress, 250, 254, 256

  Gordon, General ‘Chinese’, 56

  Gordon of Khartoum, 75

  GPT ridge, 315, 319, 320

  Gracey, Major General Douglas, 251, 294, 297, 300, 301, 307, 308, 436–7

  Great Depression, 3

  Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3, 5, 6, 97, 456

  Grigg, P.J., 96, 190, 238, 447

  Guadalcanal, 133

  Guinness Book of Records, 13

  Gurkhas, 15, 17, 37, 83–4, 136, 139, 143, 147, 155, 157, 172, 249, 259, 272, 273, 308, 311, 312, 351, 352, 443

  Gwalior, 84, 85, 156, 178, 262

  Haganah, 72

  HA-GO, 253, 254

  Haifa, 72

  Haig, Field Marshal Douglas, 107

  Hailakandi, 279, 288

  Haile Selassie, 74, 76

  Hamilton, Nigel, 186

  Hanaya Tadashi, Lieutenant General, 252–3

  Hankow, 390

  Hanoi, 268, 274

  Harman, Lance Corporal, 315

  Harrow, 27

  Hart, Admiral Thomas, 23

  Hartley, General Alan, 50

  Harvey, Oliver, 188, 191

  Hasted, Major General W.F. (Bill), 377, 416–17

  He Ying-quin, 203

  Himalayas, 110, 121, 170, 350 see also Hump, the


  Hintha, 151

  Hirohito, Emperor, 450, 451

  Hiroshima, 450

  Hodges, Lieutenant Brian, 288, 289

  Hollis, General Leslie, 189

  Honan, 160, 390

  Honda Masaki, General, 344, 345, 429, 440–1

  Hong Kong, 20, 29, 40, 48, 114, 164, 246, 393

  Honolulu, 452

  Hoover, Herbert, 214

  Hope-Thomson, Tim, 300

  Hopkins, Harry, 46, 117–18, 161, 165–6, 202, 217, 219, 224, 230, 396, 403

  Hopong, 62

  Hornet, 65

  Horrocks, Brian, 218

  House Foreign Relations Committee (US), 114

  Ho Ying-chin, General, 113, 161, 168

  Hsiao I-shu, 388

  Hsipaw, 434

  Huang Shan, 207

  Hukawng valley, 36, 130, 150, 233–4, 236, 241, 328, 330, 356

  Hull, Cordell, 386, 456

  Hump, the, 53, 56, 110, 115, 117, 121–2, 126, 129, 131, 161, 165, 166, 169–70, 171, 198, 199, 206, 216, 221, 222, 224, 227, 228, 257, 258, 260, 266, 275, 286, 302, 332–3, 336, 345, 349, 356, 366, 390, 391, 399, 404, 409, 434

  Hunter, Colonel Charles, 348, 354

  Hunter’s Hill, 321–2

  Hurley, Brigadier General Patrick, 214–15, 396–7, 397–8, 399, 400, 401, 403, 404, 405, 406, 410, 435, 436

  Hutton, General Thomas, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 80

  I-CHIGO, 390, 391, 393, 396

  Iida, General Shojiro, 24, 36

  Iland, River, 309

  Imperial Japanese Navy, 256

  Imperial War College, 27, 451

  ‘Imperial Way’ faction (Koda-Ha), 4–5, 302, 305, 325

  Imphal, 15, 36, 67, 90, 91, 94, 137, 139, 148, 152, 172, 233, 246, 253, 254, 256, 267, 280, 282, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 373, 375, 385, 412, 414, 417

  Battle of Kohima-Imphal, 255, 278, 293–327, 333, 336, 337, 338, 340, 342, 349, 364, 378, 380, 384, 432

  Imphal-Kohima road, 295, 302, 305, 306, 321

  Imphal-Ledo line, 301

  Imphal plain, 270, 294, 297, 298, 299, 301, 305, 307, 309, 311, 365

  INA see Indian National Army

  Indaw, 66, 145, 230, 233, 267, 275, 276, 277, 279, 285, 286, 287, 288, 342

  Indaw-Bhamo-Myitkyina road, 275

  Indaw-Myitkyina railway, 267

  Indaw-Wuntho railway, 143, 153

  India, 6, 7, 8, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 27, 29, 30, 50–1, 59, 115, 121, 129, 130–1, 133, 144, 147, 149, 150, 152, 157, 161, 162, 171, 177, 188, 193, 195, 252, 273, 336, 446

  British retreat from Burma to, 36–9

  Stilwell’s trek from Burma to, 65–7

  reception of Burma veterans in, 90–1

  training of Chinese troops in, 122–6

  Japanese offensive see Kohima-Imphal, Battle of

  training of Marauders in, 328–9

  gains independence, 454, 456

  see also names of places; names of personnel

  India Act 1935, 94

  Indian Army, 17, 76, 83, 84, 86, 98, 105, 138, 174, 195, 249–50, 258–9, 393, 446

  see also British Army/British Indian Army

  Indian National Army (INA), 252, 295–6, 308, 313, 378, 420, 424, 429, 442

  Indian Ocean, 30, 100, 221, 223

  Indian population in Burma, 7, 8, 31, 32

  Indian Tea Association, 91

  Indochina, 44, 48, 206, 268, 270, 274, 275, 285, 432, 436, 454

  Indonesia, 451, 454

  Inkangahtawng, 330

  intelligence, 233–4, 293, 347, 364

  Inter-Services Liaison Committee, 293

  In Which We Serve, 185

  Inywa, 150, 151, 155

  IRA, 455

  Iraq, 19, 180

  Ireland, 72

  Iril valley, 304, 306

  Ironside, Sir Edmund, 73, 87

  Irrawaddy, River, 8, 13, 32, 36, 37, 38, 61, 81, 140, 142, 144, 145–6, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152–3, 156, 157, 280, 349, 366, 372, 376, 380, 414, 415, 417, 418–19, 419–24, 425, 427, 432, 437, 438

  Irrawaddy valley, 444

  Irwin, Lieutenant General Noel

  relationship with Slim, 90, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106

  and the Chinese, 92

  transferred to Eastern Command, 94

  and the offensive in Arakan 1942–43, 96, 98, 99–100, 101, 102, 103

  sacking of, 103, 107

  personality, 105

  and Wingate, 172

  comment on morale, 179

  brief references, 83, 93, 178, 252, 268, 299, 384, 450

  Irwin, Steve, 251

  Ismay, General ‘Pug’, 188, 189, 223, 226, 261

  Israel, 72

  Italy, 394

  Jackson, Stonewall, 75

  Jacob, Alaric, 158

  Jacob, General Ian, 189

  Jail Hill, 315–16, 320

  Jambu Bum, 330

  Japan

  and international context before Burma campaign, 1, 2–6, 19, 456

  complacent views of the British about intentions of, 20

  rapid advances after attack on Pearl Harbor, 20

  fears of China making peace with, 21, 44

  falsely reported to have landed on US West Coast, 43–4

  attack on Burma not expected, 21, 28–9

  invasion of Burma begins, 24–5

  air power, 24, 30, 34, 56–7, 91, 256, 257, 310

  failure to capitalise on naval opportunity, 30–1

  and Chiang’s military doctrine, 48, 64

  Allied air power against the home-land, 65, 128, 199, 227

  perceived threat of seaborne invasion by, 94

  Burma under occupation of, 97–8

  under pressure in all theatres, 377–8

  new offensive in China, 390, 399, 401, 412–13

  surrender, 450–1, 452

  see also Japanese forces in Burma Campaign

  Japanese forces in Burma Campaign

  and crocodiles, 13–14

  advance in 1942, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 35, 37–8, 39–40, 56–7, 60, 61, 62, 108–9

  Slim develops principles and tactics in response to, 96–7, 179–80

  during Arakan offensive (1942–43), 100–1, 102, 103, 104

  during first Chindit expedition, 140, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 150–1, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157

  Slim sends patrols against, 179

  against Stilwell’s forces, 233–4, 235–6, 328, 329, 330, 331, 345, 347, 348, 350–1, 352, 353, 355–6, 370,

  during Arakan campaign (1943–44), 250, 251, 252–4, 255, 256–7

  and second Chindit expedition, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 287, 288, 342, 343, 344, 345

  and Battle of Kohima-Imphal, 293, 294–6, 296–7, 298, 299, 300, 301–2, 305, 306–17, 318–19, 320, 321, 322–3, 324–5, 326

  in retreat, 364, 365, 373–4

  personnel changes, 377

  situation by autumn 1944, 378

  and Slim’s strategy, 379–80

  withdraw across the Irrawaddy, 380

  and EXTENDED CAPITAL, 414–15, 416, 418, 419, 420–1, 422, 424, 426, 428–9, 430, 431, 432, 434–5, 437, 440, 441, 442, 443

  and DRACULA, 443–4

  last months of fighting, 444–5

  Divisions

  2 Division, 432

  15 Division, 295, 299, 300, 305, 306, 322, 342, 373, 374, 378, 421, 427, 428, 429

  18 Division, 234, 328, 345, 350, 377

  31 Division, 295, 299, 301, 342, 373, 374, 378

  33 Division, 295, 296, 310, 311, 313, 324, 344, 345, 373, 378, 419, 421, 429, 437

  53 Division, 345, 355

  56 Division, 348, 399

  Java, 24, 26, 30

  Jelley, Enid ‘Peggy’, 70, 71

  Jessami, 299

  Jews, 71, 72, 73

  Jinnah, Muhammad Ali, 454

  Johnson, Lyndon Baines, 78

  Jones, Stanley, 23

  Jorhat, 336–7

  Jotsoma, 315, 317

  Joubert de la Ferte, Air Chief Marshal Philip, 23
9, 283, 284

  Jung, C.G., 11, 51, 74, 75

  Kabaw valley, 37, 365, 373, 374, 416

  Kabu weir, 418

  Kabwet, 419

  Kachin hills, 142, 148, 150, 151

  Kachins, 7, 8, 79, 83, 233, 282, 328, 329, 330, 337, 345, 346, 347, 446

  Kaing, 37

  Kalemyo, 373, 374, 375

  Kalewa, 37, 137, 374, 379, 385, 414, 416, 418

  Kama, 444

  Kamaing, 330, 345, 350, 355, 356

  Kamaing road, 330, 358

  Kamye, 426

  Kandy, 338–9, 349, 367, 370–2, 373, 447, 449, 450

  Kangaw, 433

  Kanglatongbi, 305, 306

  Kangpokpi, 305

  Kaoliikung mountains, 350

  Karachi, 122, 177

  Karen hills, 7, 440, 444

  Karens, 7, 8, 29, 83, 98, 138, 440, 442, 446

  Kashmir, 171

  Kasuya, General, 426

  Katha, 199

  Kathaw, 66

  Kaukwe Chaung, 282

  Kaukwe valley, 267, 279

  Kawabe Mazakazu, General, 301, 302, 313, 322, 323, 377

  Kawlum, 66

  Kelly, HMS, 184, 185

  Kempeitai, 97, 98

  Kennedy Peak, 374

  Kenu, 282

  Kimura Kyotaro, General, 377, 378, 379–80, 385, 412, 414, 415, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 434, 437, 439, 442, 443, 451

  King, Cecil, 455

  King, Admiral Ernest, 47, 160, 165, 166, 192–3, 195, 202, 218, 220, 226

  Kirby, Major General S. Woodburn, 86

  KMT see Kuomintang

  Knox, Frank, 128

  Koda-Ha (‘Imperial Way’) faction, 4–5, 302, 305, 325

  Koga, General, 100, 101, 102

  Kohima, 278, 279, 286, 294, 295, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 307, 313, 314–20, 322, 324, 325, 350, 365, 417 see also Kohima-Imphal, Battle of Kohima-Imphal, Battle of, 255, 278, 293–327, 333, 336, 337, 338, 340, 342, 349, 364, 378, 380, 384, 432

  Kohima-Imphal road, 295, 302, 305, 306, 321

  Koiso Kuniaki, 325

  Konoye, Prince, 456

  Korea, 390

  Kuki Piquet, 319

  Kumon mountains, 345, 348

  K’ung, H.H., 396

  Kung, Madame, 121

  Kunming, 53, 56, 110, 115, 118, 122, 167, 345, 356, 399, 400, 434

  Kuomintang (KMT), 4, 45, 48, 52, 53, 111, 113, 114, 119, 120, 121, 124, 126, 132, 134, 159, 160, 162, 168, 169, 170, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 214, 221, 222, 226, 227, 229, 386, 391, 392, 400, 401, 403, 411, 452

  Kut, 17

  Kweilin, 401, 412

  Kyaikthin, 145

  Kyaukmyaung, 420, 421

  Kyaukse, 36, 62, 437

  Kyauktalon, 437

  Kyauktaw, 100

  Lakum, 351

  Lalaghat, 286

  Lan Yang, General, 123

  Lashio, 45, 49, 50, 56, 60, 61, 62, 232, 366, 421, 434

  Lashio-Bhamo road, 149, 267

  Lashio-Mandalay railway, 139, 157