Burma 1942 (Paperback)

R.E.S. Tanner

ISBN 10: 0750992360 / ISBN 13: 9780750992367

Published by The History Press Ltd, Stroud, 2019

About this Item

Paperback. In December 1941 a Japanese battalion of 143rd Regiment of 55th Division crossed the Burma-Siam border and seized Victoria Point, heralding the invasion of Burma. The first air raids on Rangoon were opposed by only two fighter squadrons - 16 P40s of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) and 16 Buffaloes of the RAF. What followed was a fighting retreat as the British forces struggled to the Indian border, harried by an experienced Japanese force which was supported by at least 200 aircraft against the Allies' meagre fifty. Burma 1942 is a unique assessment of this disastrous episode in British military history, taken in part from the diary and maps kept by Ralph Tanner, who served with 2nd Battalion The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry during the retreat, and from the official Battalion war diary by Major Chadwick. It includes background to the mobilisation of the Battalion in 1941, who they were, their equipment and what they were trained for, and considers the series of disasters at Moulmein, Sittang, Toksan and Yenangyaung which left them increasingly unable to fight as a unit. It also addresses the factors which prevented optimum military performance, includes discussions with the author's one-time enemies, and serves as a tribute to the strength of the men of the battalion - most of whom were conscripts - and of whom a fifth were killed and have no known grave. AUTHORS: Ralph Tanner was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant to the Second Battalion on January 1, 1942, joining them for the second part of the Burma campaign and the retreat. He was posted to the War Office in 1944, returning to Burma as an Intelligence Officer. Co-author David Tanner is his son. 24 b/w illustrations, 20 maps The Diary of Ralph Tanner, 2nd Battalion The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780750992367

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Burma 1942 (Paperback)
• Publisher: The History Press Ltd, Stroud
• Publication Date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0750992360
• ISBN 13: 9780750992367
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition: 2nd Edition
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

A gripping account of the disastrous 1942 Burma campaign, told through the diary of a British soldier.

In December 1941, Japan invaded Burma, initiating a brutal campaign against British forces. Burma 1942 offers a unique perspective on this conflict, drawn from the diary and maps of Ralph Tanner, a soldier with the 2nd Battalion The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Experience the harrowing retreat through his eyes, as the British forces struggled against an experienced Japanese army.

This book serves as a tribute to the strength and resilience of the men who fought in Burma, a fifth of whom were killed and have no known grave. Discover the challenges they faced, the decisions that shaped their fate, and the extraordinary bravery that defined their service. Perfect for readers interested in:

• Military history
• World War II
• Personal accounts of war

About the Author

Ralph Tanner was commissioned as a second lieutenant to the Second Battalion KOYLI on 1 January 1942, joining them for the second part of the Burma campaign and the retreat. He was posted to the War Office in 1944, returning to Burma in the British Military Administration. He was demobilized in October 1946. Historian David Tanner is Ralph's son.