Chindit Affair: A Memoir of the War in Burma

In March 1944, 2,200 battle-trained men of 111 Brigade flew from India to northern Burma to land on improvised airstrips cleared from the jungle. They were part of General Orde Wingates Chindit force sent to fight the Japanese deep behind their lines. Frank Baines, one of the eight British officers, commanded two platoons of young Gurkhas and was attached to 111 Brigade Headquarters. His account throws new light on the leadership of the Chindit campaign and captures the horrors of jungle warfare, including bodies, blood-sucked by leeches, corpses impaled by bamboo, Japanese soldiers reduced to eating human flesh, a court martial, and execution.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 28 February 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

In March 1944, a remarkable expedition unfolded as a group of 2,200 battle-trained men, belonging to 111 Brigade, embarked on a daring flight from India to northern Burma. Their mission? To land on improvised airstrips cleared from the dense jungle, as part of General Orde Wingate's Chindit force, tasked with engaging the Japanese deep within their fortified lines.

Five months later, the 111 Brigade had dwindled to a mere 118 fit men, including eight British officers, a score of British soldiers, and 90 Gurkhas. Among these valiant individuals was Frank Baines, who had the privilege of commanding two platoons of young Gurkhas and serving under the command of John Masters at 111 Brigade Headquarters. His firsthand account, vividly depicted in Chindit Affair, offers a unique perspective on the leadership of the Chindit campaign.

However, it is not merely a military narrative; it is a soldier's story, unfiltered and raw. Baines vividly recounts the horrors of jungle warfare, painting a vivid picture of bodies being blood-sucked by leeches, corpses impaled by bamboo, Japanese soldiers resorting to eating human flesh, court martials, executions, soldiers succumbing to illness and dropping by the wayside, and the tragic consequences of being killed or wounded in action. He also captures the essence of the jungle, its treacherous watercourses, towering trees, vibrant birds, and the simple way of life of the Kachin villagers.

No other account of the Chindit operations comes close to touching the same raw nerves, nor does it recreate so vividly the sensations of being present in that unforgiving jungle and hills that claimed the lives of nearly all who ventured into it. Baines' account serves as a testament to the bravery and resilience of those who served in the Chindit campaign, and it remains a powerful testament to the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity.

Weight: 442g
Dimension: 155 x 235 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399085250