End Game Burma 1945: Slim's Masterstroke at Meiktila

by Michael Pearson

When the Burma campaign is discussed, the turning point battles of Imphal and Kohima are most often thought of. However General Bill Slim's bold but risky plan to outflank the Japanese on the Irrawaddy at Mandalay deserves far more credit.With the Japanese withdrawing, Slim's 14 Army (with two Corps - XXXIII and IV) risked a punishing crossing of the mighty Irrawaddy at Mandalay opposed by the main Japanese army. To avoid this is was decided to split 14 Army and send IV Corps on an arduous 300 mile march to seize the town of Meiktila, 85 miles south, a vital rail and road hub and the main Japanese administrative base.

Complete secrecy was essential as if the Japanese realized they faced only one Corps rather than two, they might have counter attacked successfully. In this detailed analysis of this crucial maneuver the author describes the plan, the risks, the actions, the seemingly insuperable logistic problems, and the efforts to retain US air support (for which Mountbatten was largely responsible).

150 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2010

About the author

I have had a lifelong interest in all aspects of history, but particularly naval and maritime - I worked in shipping for twenty years. This led ultimately to my writing four non fiction military history books, all set in World War II.

I was an advisor on the Yesterday Television documentary 'Operation Pedestal' and have written articles for various military magazines.

Another great passion of mine is motor racing, I even gave it a try 'back in the day', racing Formula Ford single seaters and Escort Mexico saloons, mainly at Brands Hatch - a great circuit, challenging and lots of fun to drive.

Reviews

[Martin Koenigsberg]

After their unceremonious ejection from Malaya and Burma in 1942, the British Empire wanted to return and turn the tables. But their wealthy Ally, the United States only thought about the entire theatre as a means to keep China in WWII. When the British General Slim had defended India from a Japanese attempt at Invasion and trained his 14th Army to feel comfortable fighting both their enemy and the Jungle terrain they faced- his access to the in-theatre US Air Commandos would be tenuous. The Americans gave him partial access- but only until the 1944 monsoon. That and a few other limitations meant that Slim needed to run an almost perfect series of operations - a tall order against an enemy as skilled and deadly as the Imperial Japanese Army. Michael Pearson, a former shipping executive and an author on WWII topics tells us the story quickly and sparely - assisted by photos and maps in this story of East Asian Allied Success. He explains Slim's solution to the puzzle- now seen as one of the great Campaigns of WWII.

If one is to liken Burma to the back of a right hand on a table- the Japanese were arrayed to defend the roads of the Finger tips to the north- knowing rivers protected their positions . Slim's solution was a secret column that attacked the thumb- taking the wrist before the fingers knew what was happening. As he himself described it- a "Knee to the groin" - his flying columns of American vehicles largely driven by South Asian and East African Soldiers taking the Logistical base at Meiktila - far behind the main Japanese combat formations. The British Imperial formations were all mechanized or air portable (no big paradrops- flying in to captured airfields) but traveling on Jungle tracks or poor road systems- the Japanese divisions had to move on foot or with animal carts. The result was a slow avalanche of units intermixed pouring south - leading to many sharp engagements. By the end- tattered Japanese units realized they needed to move east- not just south - a real reversal of the 1942 flow and a total defeat for the Axis. It's a quick and compelling story.

Most of the adult themes in the book are political and economic, so this is a good book for the Junior Reader over 10/11 Years. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast this is a mixed bag. The Gamer gets a great short history of the campaign, a lot of scenario ideas, and orders of battle that will be most welcome. for the Modeler less content- some diorama ideas- but I think other sources with more photos would be better. The Military Enthusiast gets a good close look at a classic campaign of Allied Armoured and Air assault- in terrain with a lot of its own challenges. This theatre was so overlooked at home that the Army called itself the "Forgotten 14th"- its nice to get a book on this topic that give them their fair share of credit for the Japanese collapse.

[Sarah]

31st May 2013
Received a free copy today as part of a first reads giveaway I am still reading another giveaway book at the moment but will read and review as soon as possible.
Thank you for this giveaway.

[Sonia]

I won this book though a goodreads giveaway and I thought the book was a good army read and it was also a fast-pace read it didn't take long to read and I thought the book was very interesting.