THE BATTLE FOR BURMA was the longest and bloodiest campaign fought by the British in the Second World War. It began disastrously in December 1941 with a humiliating retreat, but ended triumphantly in August 1945 with the crushing defeat of the occupying Japanese Army, thanks to the rigorous jungle warfare training of Allied soldiers and the use of more aggressive tactics under the command of Lieutenant General Sir William Slim.
John Hill, commander of B Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment and 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.