15 February 2019
|
Subtitled, The Furthest Battle, this is the story of the Japanese invasion of India in 1944 and the British and Indian forces defence of Kohima.
Author: LESLIE EDWARDS
Reviewed by: Duncan Evans
Subtitled, The Furthest Battle, this is the story of the Japanese invasion of India in 1944 and the British and Indian forces defence of Kohima. It was a siege that lasted two months before eventually the Japanese assault was broken then pushed back in a counter attack. Originally published in 2009, this version has been revised and updated. It actually starts with the situation in Burma and the Japanese build up before the invasion starts in part two.
As the action progresses various maps are used to show what was going on, and these are serviceable, if not great, thanks to the mediocre paper quality. The small typeface is no friend to older eyes either. There are copious quotes from diaries and reports that give you a taste for what it was like for the soldiers involved, but still, it’s largely perfunctory, rather than a thrilling narrative. However, it is packed with detail and this continues on into the appendices, giving you nigh on 500 pages on one of the most telling Allied battles in the Far East campaign.
• The History Press
• 498 pages • Paperback • £25
As reviewed in The Armourer February 2019.
Sometimes we may include links to online retailers, from which we might receive a commission if you make a purchase. Affiliate links do not influence editorial coverage and will only be used when covering relevant products.