FORGOTTEN ARMOUR

FORGOTTEN ARMOUR 

by Jack Bowsher.

The economic situation following the first world war was still being felt through the 1930's. It effected modernisation across Britain's armed services. 

Here we begin by learning of the difficulties it brought to both improving the quality of armour for the British Army and further down the list, the Indian Army and the Cavalry Regiments. 

Jack's narrative then moves on to the Japanese invasion of Burma in December 1941. The invaders appeared unstoppable as cities such as Rangoon and Mandalay were captured. By May 1942 the retreating Allied forces had finally withdrawn to India. Their British commanders agreeing that had it not been for the tanks of the 7th Armoured Brigade, the army would never have got out of Burma.

It would once again prove how that lack of investment and foresight in not improving equipment and armour, the failure to provide the right training and tactics for the terrain in which the fighting would occur, would all prove to be a costly lesson.

Those lessons were still being learnt in the campaign of 1943. 

With the eventual arrival of better American equipment in greater numbers, vital supply air drops and a much needed change of tactics better suited to jungle warfare and not the open desert, 1944 and 1945 would see the Japanese now the ones to be pushed back, bringing the successful, though costly, reconquest of Burma.

Throughout Jack's fascinating account, the reader will have learnt so much more about those 'tankers' and the multinational troops fighting alonside them. Extraordinary men fighting in unimaginable heat and terrain, often with little or no rations.

Without them this story would have been very different. 

It is a story that is superbly told, made all the more remarkable for being Jack's first book. 

The hardback version of the book is available now, published by Chiselbury. 

I thank them for this review copy.