{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6467b7de03f4220011a934bd/6926eacfe85b4ee0f90fdcdf?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"279. Edgar Peacock and SOE in the Far East Deserve Better Recognition with Richard Duckett and Duncan Gilmour","description":"<p><strong>Jungle warfare that reshaped the war – and history forgot it</strong></p><p>Step into the dense, unforgiving jungles of Burma in WWII as Dr Richard Duckett and Duncan Gilmour uncover the astonishing, largely untold story of Lt. Col. Edgar Peacock – the man they argue was <em>Britain’s greatest SOE commander</em>. In this gripping episode of <strong>History Rage</strong>, we expose the scale, the bravery, and the strategic brilliance of Operation Character, the SOE mission whose impact rivals anything achieved in Europe… yet is almost never discussed.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Episode Summary</strong></p><p>Hear how Peacock’s unique upbringing in the jungles of India and Burma forged a commander with unmatched environmental mastery; how SOE recruited thousands from 19 different ethnic groups; how Operation Character halted entire Japanese divisions; and why internal politics and secrecy kept these achievements out of mainstream military history for decades.</p><p>This is military history at its rawest and most revealing.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>What You’ll Learn in This Episode</strong></p><ul><li>The <strong>true scale</strong> of SOE activity in Burma—far larger than in Europe</li><li>Why Lt. Col. <strong>Edgar Peacock</strong> may be the most effective SOE commander of the war</li><li>The astonishing numbers: <strong>12,000 Japanese casualties</strong> for just 22 Allied (Caucasian) losses</li><li>The pivotal role of <strong>Operation Character</strong> in enabling 14th Army’s race to Rangoon</li><li>The overlooked role of <strong>SOE’s 723 women</strong> working behind the lines</li><li>How ethnic groups long thought incapable of cooperation fought side-by-side</li><li>Why Peacock and his officers were <em>deliberately denied recognition</em></li><li>The brutal post-VJ Day fighting few histories ever mention</li><li>How secrecy and missing archives buried Burma’s SOE achievements for 80 years</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>About the Guests</strong></p><p><strong>Dr. Richard Duckett - </strong>Historian, researcher, and leading authority on SOE operations in the Far East.</p><p>Website &amp; SOE Burma Database: <a href=\"https://www.soeinburma.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>https://www.soeinburma.com</strong></a></p><p>Follow Richard on X/Twitter: <strong>@RichardDuckett</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Duncan Gilmour - </strong>Author, researcher, and grandson of Lt. Col. Edgar Peacock.</p><p>Follow Duncan on X/Twitter: <strong>@DuncanGilm4133</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Discover the full story of Edgar Peacock and SOE’s epic Burma operations in</p><p><strong>“Jungle Warrior: Britain’s Greatest SOE Commander”</strong></p><p><a href=\"https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781916556843\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781916556843</a></p><p>This is the definitive account of the unseen heroes who helped turn the tide in the Far East.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Further Listening</strong></p><ul><li>Episode 126 – Richard Duckett on why SOE is <em>not just France</em></li><li>Episode 150 – Claire Mulley on the Polish Home Army</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Support History Rage</strong></p><p>If you enjoy the show, spread the word—tell a friend, share the episode, or post online. Independent history podcasts grow because of <em>you</em>.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Support History Rage directly:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Apple Podcasts:</strong> £3/month for <em>ad-free</em> listening</li><li><strong>Patreon:</strong> £5/month for <em>ad-free</em> episodes, monthly livestreams, and the coveted <strong>History Rage mug </strong>→ <strong>https://patreon.com/historyrage</strong></li></ul><p><br></p><p>Follow &amp; Contact History Rage:</p><ul><li><strong>Twitter/X:</strong> @HistoryRage</li><li><strong>Instagram:</strong> @HistoryRage</li><li><strong>Email:</strong> historyragepod@gmail.com</li></ul>","author_name":"Paul Bavill"}