The Final Curtain: Burma 1941-1945: Veterans' Stories

The Final Curtain: Burma 1941-1945 is an oral history collection of interviews with surviving veterans of the campaign, including soldiers, sailors, and airmen, aged 95 to 101. Their accounts cover the retreat from Burma, the Chindit operations, the battles at Kohima and Imphal, and the final advance to Rangoon, culminating in a decisive victory. The veterans include a Primus (Archbishop) of the Scottish Episcopal Church, a former Chairman of Manchester City Football Club, and a Principal of the Accra Polytechnic in Ghana, as well as two career Army officers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 18 July 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The Final Curtain: Burma 1941-1945 is a captivating collection of interviews with a handful of surviving veterans of one of the most challenging campaigns in history. These soldiers, sailors, and airmen, now aged between 95 and 101, vividly recount their experiences from more than seventy-five years ago. The interviews feature officers and men from the 14th Army, a formidable force consisting of 100,000 British and other Commonwealth personnel, 340,000 from the Sub-Continent, and 90,000 East and West Africans. The interviewees represent diverse backgrounds, including individuals from all these groups. Their accounts encompass the retreat from Burma, the daring Chindit operations behind Japanese lines, the fierce battles in the Arakan, the pivotal battles at Kohima and Imphal, and the final advance to Rangoon, culminating in a decisive victory. Among the remarkable veterans featured in this collection are a Primus (Archbishop) of the Scottish Episcopal Church, a former Chairman of Manchester City Football Club, and the Principal of the Accra Polytechnic in Ghana, as well as two career Army officers. Regardless of their post-war achievements, all the contributors share the honor of serving in a demanding and ultimately victorious campaign against a ruthless enemy. Their accounts are inspiring and unforgettable, offering a profound insight into the bravery and resilience of those who fought for freedom.

Weight: 842g
Dimension: 165 x 240 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399070416