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Please contact us if you would like to participate with the book reviews, you will be most welcome.
Please contact us if you would like to participate with the book reviews, you will be most welcome.
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The Autobiography of a Wanderer in England and Burma
by Charles Haswell Campagnac. Edited by Sandra Campagnac Carney. Available in paperback or file download (PDF). Extracts can be found here. ***************************************************************************************** Kelly´s Burma Campaign by Desmond Kelly. Index Desmond writes about his father Lt.-Col. N.W. Kelly, O.B.E., C.A.S. (B), S.C.A.O. and his life in the Chin Hills during the war, his recruitment of and work with the Chin Levies. Available from Tiddim Press, P.O. Box 28958, Mortlake, London SW14 8XE ***************************************************************************************** GOODNIGHT, SORRY FOR SINKING YOU The Story of the S.S. City of Cairo by Ralph Barker A few Burma folk are mentioned ***************************************************************************************** Last and First in Burma - (1941-1948) by Maurice Collis ABL note: The author quotes extracts from the official report by Professor Pearn. The full report is available on our website. ***************************************************************************************** U Thant of Burma by June Bingham. ***************************************************************************************** The OSS in Burma - Jungle War Against the Japanese by Troy J. Sacquerty. University Press of Kansas – 2013. Subversive war operations in Burma during WWII by Detachment 101 of the United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Troy Sacquerty writes a compelling history of Detachment 101 and provides extensive background research material that throws light on joint British/US clandestine operations in Kachin State, Arakan Division and Tavoy during the early days of the war when nothing went well with the Allied response to the Japanese invasion of Burma. Remarkably, the early clandestine operation by Detachment 101, (by air, sea and land infiltration) were led and manned by local recruits who had been born and raised in Burma. Not all operations were successful. Many good men gave up their lives and are now forgotten. Vivian Rodrigues has supplied us with a list of the names from this book and states "I have used this book by Troy J. Sacquerty to document the names of local recruits and what became of them. In my research, I was surprised that the men who gave up their lives in these subversive war operations by OSS Detachment 101, are not recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Rangoon Memorial or anywhere else." ***************************************************************************************** Behind the Burma Road by Genl. William Peers and Dean Brelis. A brief account of the activities of Detachment 101 can be read on this forces magazine (page 8) website. ***************************************************************************************** A World Overturned by Khyin Nyun Rossiter. An autobiography. Her granddaughter Kathleen Baird-Murray's journey to trace her Burmese roots appeared in a Telegraph article and is reproduced here. ***************************************************************************************** Almost Englishmen: Baghdadi Jews in British Burma by Ruth Fredman Cernea. Available from bookshops, Amazon and Google Books. ***************************************************************************************** What Happened in Burma by M. Thein Pe ***************************************************************************************** Desperate Journey by Capt. Arthur Leonard Bell Thompson, 1st Batt. Burma Rifles, (a.k.a. Francis Clifford) The story of his escape in 1942 through 900 miles of occupied territory. Index. Available from bookshops and Amazon. ***************************************************************************************** Exodus Burma by Felicity Goodall Stories of the evacuation from individuals and families. Available from bookshops and Amazon. ***************************************************************************************** Bullock Carts and Balichao by Robyn and Roger Cooper Roslyn Sherman's memoirs and other stories of Burma. Compiled, edited and published by Robyn and Roger Cooper. This family history book has woven the silken threads of memories into facts and photos for the generations to come. Extremely well researched and beautifully presented, I am bound at this point to say I know some of the families mentioned, nevertheless this book could act as a perfect template for anyone having difficulty knowing where or how to make a start documenting their own priceless stories. A few of the names mentioned are:- Daly, Cameron, Sherman, Steevens, Cooper, O'Leary, Hill, Gorton, Maymyo, St. Agnes' Convent Kalaw, Rangoon, Toungoo, Meiktila. Available from [email protected] Cost approx. 25$ (NZD) ***************************************************************************************** Irrawaddy Flotilla by Alister McCrae and Alan Prentice. Describes the formation of the company through to the war time role of their ships, Captains and crews. Available from bookshops, Google Books and Amazon. ***************************************************************************************** Scots in Burma by Alister McCrae Golden Times in a Golden Land - From the early traders to the final years. We have transcribed a short extract on the Japanese Invasion. Available from bookshops and Amazon. ***************************************************************************************** GOODNIGHT, SORRY FOR SINKING YOU - The Story of the S.S. City of Cairo by Ralph Barker ***************************************************************************************** Burma by F.S.C. Donnison. Click on the title to read an extract. Available from bookshops, Google Books and Amazon. ***************************************************************************************** Forty Years in Burma by The Rev'd. Dr. John E. Marks. Available as a PDF from The Digital Library. ***************************************************************************************** The Temple Bells are Calling by Robert Mole. The last years of British rule. Brief Extracts. Available from bookshops, Google Books and Amazon. ***************************************************************************************** The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh. An historical novel. Available from www.freebookspot, Google Books, and Amazon. ***************************************************************************************** A Civil Servant in Burma by Sir Herbert Thirkell White. Story of official life covering more than thirty years. Free download. Index ***************************************************************************************** Maymyo - More Far: A Walk Out of Burma 1942 by Joan Robertson. The author is advised to leave Maymyo, she describes Mandalay in flames, confusion, lack of food and water, the sick and the dying and the courage of those who walked out of Burma. Available from Google Books and Amazon. ***************************************************************************************** The River of Lost Footsteps by Thant Myint U ***************************************************************************************** Through the Jungle of Death by Stephen Brookes. The Brookes family become refugees, the author, a young boy in 1942, tells of the mud, leeches, mosquitoes, hunger, sickness and death. Available from Google Books and Amazon. ***************************************************************************************** MANDALAY AND OTHER CITIES OF THE PAST IN BURMA by V.C. Scott O´Connor. History, with some beautiful illustrations. Available from the Digital Library. ***************************************************************************************** Rough Pencillings of a Rough Trip to Rangoon in 1846 by Colesworthy Grant. Travel Log with lovely descriptions and sketches, Rangoon - Moulmein. Available in PDF form University of California Library. ***************************************************************************************** Distinctly I remember by Harold Braund. ***************************************************************************************** Beyond the Chindwin by Bernard Fergusson. ***************************************************************************************** Helen of Burma by Helen Rodriguez. A true story of courage, endurance and devotion to duty. This review was written by Sandra Carney. Available from empirebooks@bigpond.com Web: www.empirebooks.com.au F.A. Thorpe Publishing Ltd. Anstey, Leicestershire, U.K. ***************************************************************************************** The Burma Campaign by Frank McLynn. ***************************************************************************************** Defeat into Victory by Field Marshall Viscount Slim. ****************************************************************************************** In The Land of Pagodas by Robert B. Thurber. ***************************************************************************************** ..and some fell by the wayside by Major Alastair Ramsay Tainsh. We have provided a few extracts with photos ***************************************************************************************** Folk Tales of Burma by Maung Htin Aung ****************************************************************************************** I Lived In Burma by E.C.V. Foucar Extracts can be found here ***************************************************************************************** The Long Trek by John Friend ***************************************************************************************** Burma Surgeon - Burma Surgeon Returns - My Hospital in the Hills all by Gordon Seagrave ***************************************************************************************** The Forgotten Land and One More River by Gordon Hunt The following recommendations are from J. Watts an ABL member- "if anyone comes across these books. They are out of print but may exist in a library or second hand bookstore somewhere:- The Forgotten Land - Dedicated to his "colleagues in the Teak forests of Burma and to the indigenous people who shared their lives and hardships" - stories from his years in the forestry industry in Burma. and One More River - This book is an account of his trek out of Burma and escape into China during WWII. whilst the names have been altered the characters in this book are real. ABL comment - keep us posted. ***************************************************************************************** Recommended reading from Vivian Rodrigues:-
Surgeon- Major Arthur Newland was one of the intrepid that came to Burma in the 1890’s and made a mark by his publications and interest as a photographer/linguist in the Chin language/medical doctor/ administrator in the Chin Hills from the early 1890 to the mid 1920. The first edition of Orwell /Blair’s “Burma Days” has a front cover picture of 3 languid men and 2 dogs – that’s a photograph by Surgeon- Major Arthur Newland. On the Stanford University website you will find Surgeon-Major Arthur Newland's book about the Chin Hills in the late 1900’s. He married Sina the daughter of a Chin Chieftain, they are both are still remembered there. They had one son - Major Sam Newland D.S.O. Sam was unique: educated in Britain, worked as District Forest Officer and later Assistant Conservator of Forest in Burma from about the late 1920 to 1947. During WW2 he was a rather aggressive commander of Chin Leevies and irregulars that had defended the borders from 1942 to 1944. Mentioned in books like “Kelly’s Burma Campaign,” “the Jonnies.” Best above all: - Sam kept a very detailed diary that survived all these years!! - recorded are social and military acts of those times. He migrated to Gosnells, Western Australia and lived a happy life. Wim Vervest, author of The Lost Dictionary, follows on from those rather special people like Margret Standford “Burma Invaded 1942” – Major CM Enrigues," Sandra Campagnac Carney “The Autobiography of a Wanderer,” David Donnisson “The Last of the Guardians,” Desmond Kelly “Kelly’s Burma Campaign,” who have shared with us insights taken from their parent’s and grand-parent’s diaries and memorials that survived the times. ***************************************************************************************** Recommended reading from John Mealin: - “Burma Jack” by Jack Girsham with Lowell Thomas (ISBN 0-393-08647-X) (Synopsis by John Mealin) Lowell Thomas (1892 – 1981) was a famous American writer, broadcaster and traveler, best known as the man who made Lawrence of Arabia famous. In 1976, President Gerald Ford awarded Lowell the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1989. "Burma Jack" (Jack Girsham) was one of the great jungle men of his time --- a teakwood logger in Burma's "back of beyond", an intrepid hunter of the murderous man-eating tiger and the rogue elephant, and wartime guide with Merrill's Maurauders in their drive to the Burma Road. Jack was already a legend in his time when the war came. He was recuperating in St. Luke's Hospital in Chabua when Col. Carl Eifler (Commanding Officer of OSS Detachment 101) and Col. John Coughlin recruited him as the war time guide for Merrill's Marauders. Jack acted as scout, guide and interpreter with the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoons of Merrill's Marauders into Walabun and Myitkyina. In his biography of Jack Girsham, Lowell Thomas indicated that “...This book is the story of a different breed of hunter. The teller of the these tales, Jack Girsham, belongs to the ranks of those from whom you have to pry the truth – namely, that he’s taken his chances with sudden death on enough occasions to satisfy a reckless daredevil, but without the daredevil mentality. Jack is a cool professional who never looked for danger until he’d planned how to handle it. That’s why I persuaded him to tell his story...” In his Memorandum of 11 November 1944 to the Commanding General (Burma Army Hqrs, New Delhi, India) recommending Jack Girsham’s promotion to Major, Colonel Earnest F. Easterbrook (Infantry Commanding) included the following. “...Major General Frank D. Merrill, Commanding General of the American Unit during this period, stated that the Maurauders Columns would not have attained their remarkable success if it were not for Capt. Girsham...” Besides his biography by Lowell Thomas, Jack had numerous articles written on him, was featured in the CBS/Lowell Thomas “High Adventure” TV program aired on April 19, 1958 and the Dell Comic “High Adventure” series published in 1959. ***************************************************************************************** The Retreat from Burma by Tony Mains We have provided a short extract from his time on evacuation duty with Burma Railways. ***************************************************************************************** An English Girl's First Impressions of Burmah by Beth Ellis. Free download. ***************************************************************************************** Burma Painted and Described by R. Talbot Kelly A travel log from the early days. Index Free download. https://archive.org/details/burmapainteddesc00kelliala ***************************************************************************************** A Journey in Burma (1861-1862) by Adolf Bastian. Another well written, informative travel log for which we have compiled an index and a few extracts. Available from White Lotus Press, G.P.O. Box 1141, Bangkok 10511 - email [email protected] **************************************************************************************** Old Moulmein 1875-1880 by R.R. Langham-Carter. Published in 1947, it briefly describes the town and some of the people. We have provided a few extracts. **************************************************************************************** A History of Rangoon by B.R. Pearn This book is very difficult to obtain so we have provided extracts. Please take the time to read our work. Index **************************************************************************************** Wanderings in Burma by George W. Bird, published 1897. Brief extracts. |