Share

cover art for 12. VJ DAY SPECIAL! With Lord Slim, Sylvia May, and Alex Bescoby

The Forgotten War Podcast: Burma Campaign WW2

12. VJ DAY SPECIAL! With Lord Slim, Sylvia May, and Alex Bescoby

Season 2, Ep. 12

Jack and Rob have a surprise VJ Day Special for listeners - bringing together a panel to discuss what is happening to support the memory, and spread knowledge of, of the Burma Campaign through their various work. Joining the FWP team are Lord Slim representing the Burma Star Memorial Fund, Sylvia May of the Kohima Educational Trust, and Alex Bescoby of Help 4 Forgotten Allies, and his new documentary on Sky History with Levison Wood - The Last Burma Star.

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 12. 12. Pangsha: The Story of a Naga Village

    55:41||Season 3, Ep. 12
    In this week Rob and Jack discuss the story of the very remote Naga village of Pangsha in the Second World War.
  • 11. 11. The Indian Air Force

    01:04:16||Season 3, Ep. 11
    This week Jack and Rob welcome KS 'Sree' Nair to the pod to discuss the Indian Air Force - its origins and early work in the Second World War. We will of course have him back in later series to discuss the IAF up to 1945, including its change to the Royal Indian Air Force in 1945.
  • 10. 10. The Assam Regiment

    01:12:58||Season 3, Ep. 10
    This week Rob and Jack are joined by Charlotte Carty, historian and granddaughter of Lt. Col. William Felix “Bruno” Brown who raised and commanded the 1st Battalion of the Assam Regiment.
  • 9. 9. India & Indian Independence

    01:26:46||Season 3, Ep. 9
    This week Jack and Rob are joined by Walter Reid to discuss India and Indian Independence - a controversial topic that is thoroughly misunderstood.
  • 8. 8. Forgotten Indian Prisoners of War

    01:02:20||Season 3, Ep. 8
    Joining Rob this week is Gautum Hazarika, discussing the research behind his book The Forgotten Indian Prisoners of World War II.
  • 7. 7. V Force - defending India

    01:17:08||Season 3, Ep. 7
    This week Jack and Rob look at the defences of the Indo-Burmese border, in particular the stay-behind, watch and ward, guerrillas V Force.
  • 6. 6. Force Viper & Shadow Boxing in the Indian Ocean

    01:22:44||Season 3, Ep. 6
    Landlubbers Jack and Rob are taking off their dusty jungle boots and removing their monsoon capes to take a look at the Royal Navy in the 1942 Burma Campaign - from the Royal Marine Force Viper raiding up the Irrawaddy, to Admiral Sir James Somerville's Eastern Fleet's shadow boxing with Admiral Nagumo's 2nd and 5th Carrier Divisions.
  • 5. 5. Preparing Assam for War!

    01:04:17||Season 3, Ep. 5
    Amateurs talk tactics, professionals talk logistics: in this episode Jack and Rob talk about preparing Assam and Manipur for war - including the incredible effort by the Assam Tea Association. Their vital work not only made it easier to defend an invasion, but would also be needed if Japan were to be pushed out of Burma in the future.
  • 4. 4. An Inniskilling's Tale - John 'Tim' Finnerty

    55:00||Season 3, Ep. 4
    This week Jack and Rob go through the extraordinary and harrowing tale of John 'Tim' Finnerty, a subaltern in the 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and one action at the Battle of Yenangyaung, April 1942. This episode was recorded at the same time as our last episode 'Last Ditchers' but Jack and Rob waffled on too long, and so the FWP team split it into two parts.