BURMA OR BUST

The jungle warfare in the Far East was both a tactical and political challenge for British forces in WWII Interview

-  by Jonathan Gordon

The efforts of Allied forces in Asia during the Second World War are all too frequently overlooked. The fighting carried on longer in this region - three months past VE Day (8 May 1945) - and covered a much larger area. In Burma (modern-day Myanmar) from 1941 to 1945, forces from across the British Empire battled to push back the Japanese occupiers and reclaim the strategically vital region. But just as important was showing solidarity with the United States and keeping them engaged in the fight. We are delighted to talk to Lucy Betteridge-Dyson, whose new book Jungle Commandos delves deep into the Burma campaign and its significance, with firsthand accounts informing her insight, including those of her grandfather.

What were some of the unique challenges faced by British forces fighting in Burma?