The Road Past Mandalay
I own a copy of The Road Pqst Mandalay. lt is a great book!
It is not the work of a faceless historian. The type who gains his fame on the
deeds of others. No! This author brings reality to his work. For he was there!
His story is of the Chindits. They who were the l-ong Range Penetration Group.
The 111 Indian Infantry Brigade was part of this force.
This man would come to war as a young lieutenant. His youth and rank mean
little. Hundreds of others were the same. Yet, I bet not many reported for duty
the way that he did! He arrived driving a steam-train!
Later, he commanded an infantry brigade. He was a leader who led from the
front. His men helped break the power of a vicious enemy. Their work was
in a frightful theatre of war. The insect infested jungles of northern Burma.
John Masters, D.S.O., was that gallant soldier. He was part of the ghost army.
Today, his war exploits seem forgotten. It seems in bad taste to talk of such
things! Fortunately, we remember him as a great author.
In his brigade was Bill Tiavers. In another life he would break into movies.
He had a lead role in the 1956 movie Bhowoni Junction. They adapted this
from a bestseller novel written by Masters.
The Road Psst Mandqloy is a moving story. Masters knew the touch of fear.
In this he was the same as the rest of us. There was scant time for humour.
When it came along it was enjoyed. He would bear the same privations his
men endured. If they were wet, he was wet. If they were hungry, so was he.
His devotion to his men comes through with each word he wrote..Even so, the lucid words of any gifted writer have their limits. The memorial
to British troops at Kohima say it best:
When you go home
Tell them of us, and say:
For your tomorrow
We gave our today.
In late 1943, Masters came to Wingate's command. Brigadier Joe Lentaigne
was his commanding officer. He made Masters his brigade-major.
It is not the work of a faceless historian. The type who gains his fame on the
deeds of others. No! This author brings reality to his work. For he was there!
His story is of the Chindits. They who were the l-ong Range Penetration Group.
The 111 Indian Infantry Brigade was part of this force.
This man would come to war as a young lieutenant. His youth and rank mean
little. Hundreds of others were the same. Yet, I bet not many reported for duty
the way that he did! He arrived driving a steam-train!
Later, he commanded an infantry brigade. He was a leader who led from the
front. His men helped break the power of a vicious enemy. Their work was
in a frightful theatre of war. The insect infested jungles of northern Burma.
John Masters, D.S.O., was that gallant soldier. He was part of the ghost army.
Today, his war exploits seem forgotten. It seems in bad taste to talk of such
things! Fortunately, we remember him as a great author.
In his brigade was Bill Tiavers. In another life he would break into movies.
He had a lead role in the 1956 movie Bhowoni Junction. They adapted this
from a bestseller novel written by Masters.
The Road Psst Mandqloy is a moving story. Masters knew the touch of fear.
In this he was the same as the rest of us. There was scant time for humour.
When it came along it was enjoyed. He would bear the same privations his
men endured. If they were wet, he was wet. If they were hungry, so was he.
His devotion to his men comes through with each word he wrote..Even so, the lucid words of any gifted writer have their limits. The memorial
to British troops at Kohima say it best:
When you go home
Tell them of us, and say:
For your tomorrow
We gave our today.
In late 1943, Masters came to Wingate's command. Brigadier Joe Lentaigne
was his commanding officer. He made Masters his brigade-major.
