Jungle Commandos - by Lucy Betteridge-Dyson (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Drawing on unpublished first-hand accounts, this is a gripping history of the experiences of the Commandos and their unsung allies in one of the bloodiest battles of the Burma Campaign.

Following the battles of Kohima and Imphal in mid-1944, the tide was turning against the Imperial Japanese Army. By the end of that fateful year, the Allies were preparing to launch an offensive in the Arakan region of Burma, to deliver a knockout blow to the increasingly desperate Japanese 28th Army. This fascinating new history details the actions of 3 Commando Brigade, who would spearhead this attack in a series of daring amphibious landings into the depths of the Burmese jungle, culminating in the brutal fight for Hill 170.

They would be the only Commando Brigade to serve in the Far East, yet their story has never before been told in detail. With access to previously unseen primary sources, this book is the story of the men who volunteered for a fight against a fearless enemy, 5000 miles away from home in one of the most unforgiving environments in the world. Thrown into combat with limited jungle training and scant resources, it would be a baptism of fire, but the Commandos, alongside the brave men of the Indian and West African Divisions of XV Corps, would inflict a terrible defeat on an enemy once thought to be unbeatable.

Written by a granddaughter of a Commando veteran who fought at Arakan, this new book shines a light on a largely forgotten yet crucial battle of World War II.

Review Quotes

"This is a much needed account of a largely forgotten campaign." --Lieutenant General Sir James Dutton, KCB, CBE

"Betteridge-Dyson's expert eye picks out strategy, operational brilliance and all the extraordinary drama and detail of the war on the ground, at sea and in the air. This is a brilliant debut for a talented historian." --Robert Lyman, author of 'A War of Empires'

"Jungle Commandos is a haunting and beautifully written account of a complex theatre - a crucial contribution to our understanding of Burma in the Second World War. This is the sort of book that in the best possible way, you are not the same after reading." --Dr Sarah-Louise Miller, King's College London, author of 'The Lancaster Story'

"This book is a superb balance of theatre-level strategic and operational thinking, tactical detail, and the personal accounts that bring any history to life." --Prit Buttar, author of 'Into the Reich: The Red Army's Advance to the Oder in 1945'

"With the passion of a descendant and the objectivity of a scholar, Lucy Betteridge-Dyson has shed badly needed new light on the 1945 struggle for Burma, a campaign that did much to decide the future course of British involvement in Asia. Well written, absorbing, and highly readable." --John C. McManus, PhD, author of 'To the End of the Earth: The US Army and the Downfall of Japan, 1945'

About the Author